Author Topic: 243 sight in report. (Read 1042 times)

oktx · « **on:** October 03, 2004, 12:50:43 PM »

We went to the deer lease today to sight in my son's 243. I had sent it back to NEF with play and daylight in the action. They recieved it 9-17 and I got at back 9-27, very pleased with the service. I also had the trigger job done and this helped alot. On to the report, I tried the two shot method and could not get it to work so I did it the regular way. It grouped very well with fed. 80 gr. and got it dead on at 100. Then I got the bright idea to let my son do some practice and loaded it with rem. 100gr. core lockts, he could not hit the 3 ft. by 3ft. box the target was on and he can shoot pretty good. I started to get nervous because this is how the rifle acted when I was having problems with it. Next I took some win. 80 gr. and I shot it this time, getting about a 3 in. group that was about 7in. high at 100 yds. My son then said, Let me shoot the feds. he shot a 1 in. group that was about 3in. high at 100 yds. I think this is close enough for me. oktx. p.s. I hope the 80 gr. are enough for small Texas deer because this is all it will shoot.

shaner · « **Reply #1 on:** October 03, 2004, 01:43:18 PM »

from my experience with the 243 u hit a deer good with one they go down i always used 100gr soft points , and they work, did use a 75 gr once and it did the job also , load some of the hornady 55gr or nosler 58 gr for varmints they really cook ifi remember right with the 55's u get up in the high 3000fps

handirifle · « **Reply #2 on:** October 03, 2004, 03:23:39 PM »

oktx
Glad to hear they set you up right this time.

Many have posted great results here with 80-90gr loads. There are some premium bullets like the 90gr Partition, 85 gr Barnex X etc so it shouldn't be a lot of problem. Honestly, that 243 with a bullet like the Barnes should easily do a double shoulder from 300yds, if you do your part. It is an ofetn underestimated cartridge.

Mohawk · « **Reply #3 on:** October 03, 2004, 04:36:06 PM »

I'll agree with the group. I've had to use 80gr. loads when I would not have any 100gr. loads available. For some strange reason my Remington Mohawk 600 would shoot both loads pretty much the same. On deer the 80gr. worked as well as the 100gr. According to my log(yes I keep one) I've shot 3 deer with the .243 80gr. Federal Hi-shok soft-points.

1. 85lb.dressed-doe, lung hit, ran 30yds.
2. 110lb.dressed-9pt, spine hit, dropped.
3. 73lb. dressed-spike, lung hit, rand 55yds.

BuzzKill · « **Reply #4 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:56:05 AM »

I am comfortable with using either the Win 80 gr. or Fed. 85 gr. HPBT on deer. I would think that the Fed. 80 gr. load with Speer Hot-Cor will be fine. I would like to use the 95-100 gr. loads available on the market, but like what you are finding out, many NEF/HR .243 rifles will not shoot these heavier loads well!? Go figure. Use the accurate shooting 80 gr. load and don't look back. Tell us what kind of critters he gets this season. BuzzKill

gwhilikerz · « **Reply #5 on:** October 04, 2004, 05:03:25 AM »

243 will do the job with 80 gr. bullets just fine.
LOL Mohawk I wish I had started keeping a log back in 61' when I first started deer hunting. I would be a wealth of information now, instead of "trying to remember" :grin:

Mohawk · « **Reply #6 on:** October 04, 2004, 03:58:04 PM »

Yep, I started keeping a log back in 1987 and have used it ever since. Includes gun, load, and effect on game. I actually can say, all shots being equal, that the .30-06 does a little better than the .243, but the .280 is about equal to the .30-06. Though I've never lost a deer with any of these calibers. By looking at the log it appears I inadvertently tend to hit the spine quite a lot. I've always pulled a little high anyway. Oh, and a side note, the .22 LR Remington Viper load fired out of a Remington Nylon 66 is a great game getter, at least according to the log. Everything from rabbits to armadillos have dropped and not moved. Don't know why, that's just the way it happened.

Paul5388 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 04, 2004, 07:04:12 PM »

I kinda thought the mention of an 18.5" barrel and a nick name of Mohawk would refer to a Model 600!

I have one bought new in 1965 chambered in 6mm. I used 85 gr Nosler solid base Zipedos for years, until I gave the gun to my son. I now find myself loading for his 6mm and a .243 and decided to use the Nosler solid base BT in 90 gr.

Those of you familiar with the 6mm will know it was called a .244 when it was conceived and was thought of as a varmint rifle. With a twist of 1 in 12" it wouldn't stabilize a 100 gr bullet, so the name was changed to 6mm and the twist was increased to 1 in 9". The .244 was very capable of killing deer, it just couldn't be done with 100 gr or heavier bullets. That's where the comparison comes in for some of the Handis that have a slow twist.

The small Texas deer Mohawk and I have probably don't need more than an 80 gr bullet, but heavier deer probably need a 90 gr or 95 gr bullet. The Nosler BT in 90 gr and 95 gr are considered to be hunting bullets by Nosler, not varmint bullets. The jacket material is heavier toward the solid base and that allows good expansion and good penetration in the same bullet.

It's just my opinion, but if it worked for the 1 in 12" .244, it should work for the slow twist Handis.

Mohawk · « **Reply #8 on:** October 04, 2004, 07:54:10 PM »

Paul, you're right. My .243 is a Mohawk 600. My dad bought it used in 1980, put a cheap 4x Tasco, and has harvested close to 30 deer since and is still in 99% shape throughout. I retired it two years ago when I bought my .280 handi to save it for my kids.

bubba · « **Reply #9 on:** October 05, 2004, 12:41:28 AM »

I am in agreement that the 243 is a great gun for deer. But in my situation the Handi was for my daughter and her firsrt deer rifle. I wanted all the odds possible in her favor without thumping her shoulder to the point she was not liking it. A heavier bullet was one of them with shot placement a necessity. The handi just wasn't making the grade as far as I was concerned. For myself or any other seasoned hunter it would be great with 80 to 85 grainers. I just dent think it wise with a green hunter. We went with a savage bolt that shoots 100 grain ammo very well and accurate. So, I use the handi with lighter loads and hunt coyotes etc.

Highbrass · « **Reply #10 on:** October 05, 2004, 02:55:48 PM »

I bought my wife the .243 handi.She sighted it in using the 100 grain softpoints.Then she fine tuned it with the 95 grain Winchester supreme ballistic silvertips.She gets 1" or better groups every time.The funny thing is she refuses to use a rest when sighting her gun in.She is just a natural I guess.She still hasn't shot a deer yet,but hopefully that will change this year!