243 Encore rifle accuracy

[sportsman223]

  I am looking for information on accuracy of this Cal ?  I am thinking of 243 or 6BR for long range coyote hunting.
                                                 Thanks in advance.

[Davemuzz]

ProHunter .243 Barrel. Nosler 85 grain Ballistic Tip. H414 powder (Max Nosler reloading book charge). This was a 6 shot group at 100 yards. One of the holes is a double....cause I only counted 5 holes.

[sportsman223]

 That's pretty good shooting thanks for info.  Have you shot it out 400 or 500 yards to see what she is doing?

[Davemuzz]

S223,

No not that far. I've shot it at 200 yards and have a 3 shot group at 1.75". I've killed a raccoon at 200 yards with it. Here in SW PA the longest shot that I would "most likely" get would be about 200 yards. I've takein this gun out for coyote (not shot any with it) and on those set up's the longest would be about 80 yards. We have lots of rolling hills here so long shot's are not the norm. My gun club has a 400 yard range and that is one of the few clubs in SW PA that has a range that long. Most clubs have ranges that go 200 yards.

Dave

[Fearless]

Sportsman223,

The .243 is a great round...I have a 21" Bullberry barrel on my encore...shoots sub 1" at 100 yards.  Great variety of bullets too...am going to load up some Barnes triple shock and varmint grenades soon!  Don't know what you're going to hunt with it, but I love it...light kickin' and great for the kids!  Fearless

[Davemuzz]

Sportsman223,

The .243 is a great round...I have a 21" Bullberry barrel on my encore...shoots sub 1" at 100 yards.  Great variety of bullets too...am going to load up some Barnes triple shock and varmint grenades soon!  Don't know what you're going to hunt with it, but I love it...light kickin' and great for the kids!  Fearless

Fearless,

Give a report on those varmit grenades (good or bad). I'm curious as to how they shoot. Also, the Barnes T-shock in 243 errrrr 6mm.

Dave

[sweetwyominghome]

Davemuzz wrote: "Nosler 85 grain Ballistic Tip. H414 powder"

Dave-Nosler never made an  85 grain BT in 6mm. Is it the 80 that you shot the group with?

[sportsman223]

Fearless:  Long range Coyotes 300 to 500 yards and some paper punching.

From what I am seeing the 6br produces the same as 243 with less powder accuracy is outstanding on both.
      More shots per pound any thoughts on this? As either one will be a MGM barrel
                                               Thanks for the replies I am still on the fence

[Davemuzz]

Davemuzz wrote: "Nosler 85 grain Ballistic Tip. H414 powder"

Dave-Nosler never made an  85 grain BT in 6mm. Is it the 80 that you shot the group with?

SWH---Thanks for the save! Yes, I've been loading stuff for my 308, 357, 45-70 and 7-30 Waters lately. A mind is a terrible thing to.....how did that go?  I am loading the Nosler BT for the .243 in 70 & 80 grain using H414. Nosler does make a Spitzer bullet in 85 grain.....but I've never loaded or shot it. I also load the Nosler 95 grain BT over H414.

Dave

[Fearless]

Davemuzz and Sportsman,

I've been a fan of Barnes bullets for quite a while having used them in bigger bores to take brown bear and mountain goat.  Accuracy with my .338 mag using the Barnes was excellent.  Only recently got my Encore in .243 and now am starting to reload using both triple shock and varmint grenades.  A friend of mine has used them on coyotes (varmint grenades) explosive...dumping all their energy after impact.  (I don't know about them out to 300-500 yards that's a far piece...my scope on my Encore does have a nice hunter reticle (sp?) that should help with farther distances and is a variable up to I believe 14X, but that still is a long ways...5 football fields!!?)  I have been impressed with the results.  He has not experienced any problems with accuracy that I am aware of.  Barnes has come a long way...so many bullets and not enough time!  But now that winter is closing in I am starting to find some more time to make ammo.  Regarding .243 vs 6BR...I got the .243 just because if I ever ran out of my own homemade I could buy some premium, over the counter ammo that could do the job...there is some great ammo out there.  Otherwise you are probably right about the 6BR outperforming the .243.  Hope this rambling helps you choose and enjoy!  Shoot straight - Fearless

[sportsman223]

  Thanks Fearless  I think I am going to have MGM build me a fluted barrel in 6BR this summer for my encore.