How much can wind effect a 243??

[264 WIN MAG]

Okay, the other day at the range my buddy hauled out a 243 that he says he wants to start hunting with because his 300 mag seems to be a little much for him. I know he's complained about the kick quite often.

When he shot the 243 the best group he got was about 4". There was about a 20MPH wind (not really crossing 100%) and gusts were a little higher. He seems to think the bad groups were because of the wind...

Is it possible that the wind can move a 100gr. round that much at 100 yards? I'm very unfamiliar with 243's so I don't know what to tell him.

[smokepolehall]

Real stout wind gusts can and will move bullets. Generally not that much at 100 yds. 4" groups off a bench at 100 yds. . Either he has a severe flinch or his rifle doesn't like those loads.

[DalesCarpentry]

I would have to agree with smokepolehall. I shoot out to at least a couple hundred yards before wind even crosses my mind. Then again when I go Groundhog hunting I will not go out on a real windy day. I know that the wind does effect the way the bullet travels. On some days when it is a little windy I try to shoot between gusts. I don't know really if that helps because just because it calmed down where I am don't mean it calmed downed out to 400 yards or more. I have had a chance to get out the last couple days for some Groundhog hunting. The first day I killed 2 out of three. They were better than 300 yards. The first one I got was the biggest I have ever saw. He was huge. I swear he must have went 25 pounds. The second was not near as big but chunky. The third I just plain missed. Dale

[JustaShooter]

Well, without knowing a bit more about the load all I can give you are some ballpark estimates.  A 100gr Speer BTSP at 3000fps will be deflected about 1.7" at 100yd in a 20mph full value wind (direct crosswind). 

Of course, if the wind is reasonably consistent, it will move all of the shots the same amount.  But, if you figure that maybe it was varying between 15mph and 25mph, the difference would be less than an inch (1.3" vs. 2.2").  So, a 4" group in those conditions means the load, rifle and shooter were holding around 3".  I'd be looking for another load if I were him.

Just a Shooter

[coyotejoe]

I'd chalk it up to too much experience with the 300 mag, likely an ingrained flinch. He should work with a .22 for a while.

[264 WIN MAG]

He was shooting 100gr BTSP Federal Premiums. The rifle is a Golden Eagle. The scope is a Redfield 3x9.

When he shot the rifle it was out of a rifle evaluator that holds the rifle steady, but is not anchored to the bench so there is still room for error.

[JustaShooter]

Federal shows a muzzle velocity of 2960fps for that cartridge, and it is a very similar bullet to what I used, so the numbers I gave you are close enough.  Everything is really pointing to the rifle not liking that load. 

There's a pretty good chance that the barrel has a 1 in 10" twist, which may not be able to stabilize a 100gr bullet, especially a longer one like a BTSP.  If he really wants a 100gr, I'd look at other brands / styles, but even that might not get him one that groups.  I'd really be looking at a little lighter / shorter bullet to see what it would do.  (I'd also want to evaluate them in better conditions, but that's a different subject... )

Really, you just have to keep looking till you find what the rifle likes.  That's where reloading comes in handy, but not everyone is willing or able to go that route.

Just a Shooter

[264 WIN MAG]

Okay, I went back and talked to the guy who owned the rifle before my buddy got a hold of it.

He said the last time he used it someone shot it for him in a rifle evaluator and it shot fine. The guy is pretty sure he was shooting 100gr. bullets, which is the same weight my buddy is shooting. He is not certain on that, but said he still had some bullets at his house that he was shooting back then and he would double check. He said he was not certain on the distance they shot, but thought it was at least 50 yards.

One thing he did tell me that was kind of odd was that he had used the rifle and shot it and then put it up in a closet for storage without cleaning it. The rifle sat in the closet for years without having a proper cleaning for storage and my buddy bought it several years later. He has not cleaned the rifle either...he just brought it to the range and started shooting...that's when it put up the bad groups.

I'm wondering if it's possible that him not cleaning it, storing it for many years, and then my buddy getting it has something to do with the inaccuracy. I don't know anyone that would store a rifle for over 4 years without giving it a proper cleaning and oiling first.

I know the cleaning thing is a long shot, but it's about all I can come up with...my buddy still is thinking it's the wind, but I don't buy it after looking at various ballisitc charts. I know it's something, but can't pin what it is.

[backstrap]

Sounds to me like he needs to clean the gun real good and start with new factory ammo in different weights and brands and i bet it will start shooting good for him never herd of any body buying a New gun or used gun and not clean it before he shot it

[264 WIN MAG]

Yea, well I was thinking the same thing...I've also never heard of someone putting a gun up for a 5+ year storage without cleaning and oiling it.

[Lone Star]

Anyone who puts up a dirty rifle (in a closet!) for five years in Louisiana can expect the bore to be severely corroded.  The powder residue is hydroscopic - meaning it will pick up water from the air.  Gulf Coast air is pretty humid.... 

Perhaps a good cleaning with a mild abrasive like JB Bore Compound will help - but for goodness sakes - have the boy clean that rifle with something !
.

[huntswithdogs]

 I'd clean the crud out then try again. Try shooting at a closer target to verify whats happening. After sitting in a closet for that amount of time, the stock may have warped just a bit from the position it was leaning or from moisture. Try "loading" the gun for your bud. Hand him an UNLOADED rifle, that he thinks is loaded and see if he's flinching. It's a very good possibility. Been there, done that and it ain't easy to overcome. Lot's of time spent with an air rifle or 22 is the best medicine for it with limited amounts of centerfire.

HWD

[264 WIN MAG]

Well, he brought the rifle over and I cleaned it up real good. I brought it to the range and sited in at 50 yards. I then moved the target out to 100 yards and this is what I got on my first two shot group.

[Jim n Iowa]

I shoot a 243 parker-Hale and it does not shoot 100 g well, 85 g bthp's 3 will clover leaf if I am up to it. However it coppers up real fast, requires cleaning every 20 rds. That is a nice 2 shot group, must like the 100g's.
Jim

[264 WIN MAG]

Well, shooting the 100gr. Federal's it wasn't quite as accurate. Went to the 100gr. Winchester and it was shooting 1 bullet inside the other the whole time.

[backstrap]

Well it looks to me that u found the ammo that the rifle likes and u got your buddys gun shooting great for him couldnt have woked out any better

[flintlock]

It's always amazing to me that some guys don't know what their gun's favorite ammo is...When he said it was shooting 100gr and didn't know what it was it's obvious that he isn't a gun nut...That's also why you hear some folks knocking the .243 as a deer gun, they don't know if they were shooting 80 or 100grs...

Nice shooting...That's a CoreLokt box...Did you try them as well???

[264 WIN MAG]

The core-lokt box was for his 300mag. For the 243 I bought some 100gr. Federal and Winchester and then some 90 and 85gr. Winchester's. I shot the Federal's first and they seemed to shoot accurate to a certain point, but there were several flyers in the groups. I then went to the Winchester...put up a 4 shot group that measured well under 1/2", then a 3 shot group that measured under 1/4". I had to leave the range because my wife hurt herself...I left the target up hoping that no one would mess with it, but when I got back someone was shooting on my previous target and had covered up my previous groups with those black dots from the shoot and see targets. I set up a new target at 100 yards and took two shots. When I came up with this group I went and measured the group at 1/8" and decided to simply adjust the scope about 1/4" left and leave it alone.

I also shot his 300 mag that he said wasn't shooting well and put up about 3/4" groups...

On a side note he did come over after I was done siting the rifles in and shot them. He put up about a 1.5"-2" group with the 243 and about a 2"-3" group with the 300mag. It's nothing to brag about by any means, but enough to kill a deer at 100 yards. When we get up to the camp I told him that I'm going to set up targets from 100 yards out to 600 yards and let him get some serious practice shooting...his main problem is he's never actually shot his rifle. He's always shot it out of a vice that straps down to the bench. I told him from now on, never bring that thing to the range, but rather shoot only off bags. Hopefully he'll make some progress and start shooting up to par with what his rifles are capable of.