Author Topic: New To Me 243 (Read 1068 times)

bigvarmnt · « **on:** November 23, 2009, 11:22:52 AM »

Big Brown Truck Just Here!

I bought a Stainless 243 barrel and just got the scope rail today. FYI H&R was out of the rails and Hammer Ex. for 3 weeks. (They Said) I ordered 5 from Buds. It's a better deal, glad HR was out.

Dinny, you mentioned a Weatherby 243. That is standard Win. right?
I wish I had a pumpkin patch nearby. Are you using factory or reloads.
Also am wondering what scope power and reticle, would be good for the new barrel. Mostly for long range coyote for now. Antelope would be cool someday.

I bought 10 boxes of Fed 100 gr Hi-shock soft points years ago for $2.99 a box. I think Target thought they were shotgun slugs. The other store had another 10 boxes marked the same. I'm still kicking myself for not grabbing them. So I've been needing a 243 ever since.

Have to get dies and misc. stuff now.
Those $2.99 boxes are starting to cost me money.

Anyone else with 243 ideas, loads or bullet weights, please share your thoughts. Thanks!

Dinny · « **Reply #1 on:** November 23, 2009, 02:56:34 PM »

You will never go back to another cartridge now that you got that .243. Yes, I shoot a standard .243 Win in my Weatherby. I really like the Hornady 58gr V-Max factory load with the molycoated bullets. It really puts the hurt on everything it hits, including pumpkins.

I have shot only a few reloads through this rifle, buy I do plan on more reloading for it someday. I have a Leupold Vari-X III 3.5-10x50 with the illuminated reticle inside a set of Nightforce rings. I have some Barnes Varimantors that I plan on loading someday and I am quite curious to see how they shoot. BTW, Barnes has them listed on their Closeout page in lots of 250. It's a good price and I really need to load mine before they're all gone for good. It will be just my luck that they shoot better than anything else and I don't find that out until it's too late to get more.

Thanks, Dinny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #2 on:** November 25, 2009, 06:24:49 AM »

Dinny, I wonder how fast those 58 grn'ers are going. I was thinking along the lines of 70-75s. Polishing some brass I shot out of a friends Ruger a couple years ago. Ordering cal. conversion for press and heading out shopping soon.

Getting some rings and mounting a cheap scope for now just so it can go BANG!
Have you ever found the need for more power than 10 for long shots? Over 300 yds. What ill. reticle is in your scope. Ever looked through the Varmint Hunters ret.? Thought about Nikons BDC but not sure I'd like it. Are those Varminators lead or tin bullets? I've had good luck with the Var. Grenades in .224 so far. Thanks!

Dinny · « **Reply #3 on:** November 25, 2009, 08:40:47 AM »

Quote from: bigvarmnt on November 25, 2009, 06:24:49 AM

Dinny, I wonder how fast those 58 grn'ers are going. I was thinking along the lines of 70-75s. Polishing some brass I shot out of a friends Ruger a couple years ago. Ordering cal. conversion for press and heading out shopping soon. Getting some rings and mounting a cheap scope for now just so it can go BANG!
Have you ever found the need for more power than 10 for long shots? Over 300 yds. What ill. reticle is in your scope. Ever looked through the Varmint Hunters ret.? Thought about Nikons BDC but not sure I'd like it. Are those Varminators lead or tin bullets? I've had good luck with the Var. Grenades in .224 so far. Thanks!

Bigvarmint,
I think they are flying close to, if not faster than, 3600fps. I have used the 75gr Remington Varmint loads in the past, but in a Winchester I had then. They shoot good, but you don't need the extra weight for coyotes. I have a good friend who uses the 55gr Winchester B-tip loads with great success. Even though they are the same weight as some .224" bullets, they just seem to hit quite a bit harder. I had a Zeiss Conquest on my Winchester that was a 4.5-14x44 and I wish I still had it. That may be just about a perfect power range for coyote hunting. IMO, there's no need for more power than that. Again, just MHO, the Varmint hunter's reticle is for prairie dogging and the BDC for bigger game. I have a standard duplex reticle that is illuminated. I'm sure about the Varminators, they may be copper coated tin or lead bullets. Hope all this helps, it's just about all I know.

Dinny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #4 on:** November 25, 2009, 10:56:38 AM »

Dinny, Sounds like we are about on the same track.

I like the Conquest with the 600 ret. I can't seem to get my mind away from the reticles that holdover for you. I have a Burris and have never used the lines. Then I read that they only work on high power.

Wonder if they are all that way. Then some show 223 50 gr. on one side and 22-250 55 gr on the other. So are they only accurate settings at very precise weights and velocities. I have 22-250s but only with heavy barrels. I'd like to sit on a hill with a good view and play sniper. Those would work for that. I think I need to learn how to use mil-dots. Only other standard reticle I really like is Leupolds wide Duplex. I like Leupolds length and weight also. The Handi or I may not shoot good enough anyway. $:-\$
I was bird hunting in Iowa once and a guy pulled up to us in a pickup. He had a 220 Swift and a 22-250 laying on the seat. In the bed were two red fox. He had a friend set up the same way quite a ways away. You set on a small hill out there and you can see a LOOONG ways. He said he was watching us from a far piece. I wondered which scope he was watching us through

I have 223s for calling, so I guess I need to figure what the 243 will be used for mostly and go from there. My son came home and side tracked my shopping. I ordered most of what I needed from Dillon and will go from there.
Wish I would have never bought those $2.99 a box 243s

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #5 on:** November 29, 2009, 05:54:13 AM »

Here she is. Just set a cheap scope on her that I had laying around. Now to fine tune and shoot. I got this barrel off the classifieds and it only fits my 44 mag frame. Looks and feels sweet to me. But I kinda like ugly women too.

I think I was right about the barrel length and contour best for ME. I now have Superlight 20" and that seems good for a calling rifle. Have a 24" 223 H.B. and is nice but a little muzzle heavy. The 44 mag barrel is a little heavy and I would like a little thinner barrel as you only shoot it once anyway. Hard to do with the bore size. This standard contour 22" seems to feel right for a carry rifle. Now all I need is a 22" 223.

Wish they made a 22" Superlight in 223 and 17. AND!!!!
Sposed to rain so better go.

Dinny · « **Reply #6 on:** November 29, 2009, 06:13:50 AM »

Quote from: bigvarmnt on November 29, 2009, 05:54:13 AM

I got this barrel off the classifieds and it only fits my 44 mag frame.

Bigvarmint,
The rifle looks nice, but you have me slightly concerned. The 44mag frame, is it a SB1 or SB2? Normally they come on SB1 frames, but I have no idea which you have. I believe the SB2 is for centerfire rifles like the .243 and the SB1 for low pressure shotgun and pistol calibers only.

Like I said, I have no idea which you have, but wanted to say something just in case.

Dinny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #7 on:** November 29, 2009, 06:43:35 AM »

Thanks Dinny, It's a sb2. Gander Mtn had about a dozen sb2 with open sights, I bought two and two friends bought one each. Was thinking of picking up a third but they sold them all. They are HX prefixes so I think they were the last of the sb2's made in 44. I may buy one from the one friend but the other will not let his go as it was for his sons 16th Birthday and he shot a 7 point buck with it.

Dinny · « **Reply #8 on:** November 29, 2009, 09:28:22 AM »

Sounds like you had it all figured-out. Good to know you'll be back to post more after you sight it in.

Dinny

Lon371 · « **Reply #9 on:** November 29, 2009, 01:06:13 PM »

Nice set up BigVarmint.

That is the same frame sb2 that came on my .44 mag. My barrel went to a sb1 frame and a .223 barrel went one the sb2, also for coyotes

Lonny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #10 on:** November 29, 2009, 03:13:31 PM »

Never hung a target. At my 100yd backstop there was a leftover orange clay bird. I shot and was about 2 foot high and 1+ foot left. Found a penny and cranked a bit. Still a little high and left, cranked a little more and clay dust.

At 150 backstop had a half gallon jug been sitting full of water and it popped. Tryed a couple shots at 200yds at jugs and no pop. Think I'm a tad low from the dirt (mud) kicking up. Didn't really feel like shooting anymore 100 gr bullets. I know, Wussy! I don't know how those real men shoot those 45-70s. Been thinking of getting one but KNOTTT NOW!
Reloding dies should arrive this week. Deprimed and cleaned fired brass. Need to find some bullets and I'm GTG! Will probably suffer through another box of shoulder busters for the brass.

Next time I'll try to hit a target. Looks promising.

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #11 on:** December 01, 2009, 02:01:57 PM »

Had to work today

Came home and the box from Dillon with my dies and misc. other essentials were on the counter. My wife must of busted me cause I don't think the dogs brought them in for me. Have to find some bullets tomorrow so I can roll a few. Have to put everything in its place now so she don't see much different.

Lon371 · « **Reply #12 on:** December 01, 2009, 02:07:53 PM »

Well you could say, you are in the middle of a trade

Lonny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #13 on:** December 01, 2009, 02:24:49 PM »

Did that work?

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #14 on:** December 17, 2009, 05:41:50 AM »

Guess I need a different hammer to drive tacks.

Top target I shot a couple days ago and was adjusting scope as I shot.
Bottom target I shot yesterday.

Five with the + were with forend on and ones with O were with forend off. No scope adjustments.
This was with Fed 100gr factory. Needed brass to start reloading. Cheap Tasco scope may be the problem. I will load a few 75 gr vmaxes and hope the Feds were just too old

Welcome to the wonderful world of the Handi rifle.

Old Syko · « **Reply #15 on:** December 17, 2009, 06:02:23 AM »

Dang! I wish ya luck. I was shootin some 12ga. 15 pellet 00buck from Paraklese yesterday that grouped tighter than that.

Might want to try it again sober and with your eyes open.

Just sayin.

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #16 on:** December 17, 2009, 07:27:29 AM »

Does look like a #4 buck pattern I shot before

Dang, I forgot,That's why I don't shoot early. I do shoot better with a couple cocktails in me

Thanks for the solution, I would have checked mounts, changed scope, tried several different powder, primers, bullet weights and then found all I needed was 6 ozs of Bourbon

Better get my glass and get started on my load development

Dinny · « **Reply #17 on:** December 19, 2009, 06:39:46 PM »

That's some good shooting at 600yds.

Your Handi may be one of those that likes a little forend pressure. Try sliding a business card in there and tightening it up. Can't hurt to try. $:-\$

Good luck with it.

-Dinny

bigvarmnt · « **Reply #18 on:** December 19, 2009, 06:55:18 PM »

I wouldn't feel so bad if it was at 600yds.

Been cleaning one of my Rem 700s. It hits what I point it at.

I will try with this Handi a little and if it wanders then down the road it will go. I'm getting too old to try to be a half arsed gunsmith. I've been playing with a few now and what you save in money you loose more in time. I want to pick it up and hit what I shoot at. I still have hope and the afliction.

Dinny · « **Reply #19 on:** December 19, 2009, 06:58:41 PM »

Quote from: bigvarmnt on December 19, 2009, 06:55:18 PM

I've been playing with a few now and what you save in money you loose more in time.

Well put, makes sense.

-Dinny