243 win.

[John S]

Has anyone tried a 55 gr. Bullet in the 243 win.? What power did you use.

 

[Luckyducker]

I sold my S-I-L my Ruger M77 Allweather that was one of the most accurate rifles I have ever owned using 100 grain bullets. He wanted it for a light weight varmint rifle and proceeded load development with 55 grain Nosler BT bullets and it wouldn't shoot them. We started low and worked up using H4895 and as we increased the charge the better it grouped but by the time we got into 1 MOA we started getting flattened primers and sticky bolt lift. He then loaded 58 grain Hornady bullets and they shot very accurately with no excess pressure signs whatsoever. I don't know if we could have tried another powder and been more successful with the 55s or not, but I had the feeling that it wouldn't have mattered. Who knows?

 

[Mike Armstrong]

I've noticed that unlike many other calibers, many .243s shoot better the hotter you load them, especially with the lighter bullets. Over the years I've had 5 (77, custom Mex. Mauser '98, Savage 99C, and my current Savage 110 and #1A). They all "like 'em hot."

Then of course there's TOO hot, but the brass tells you when it's hurtin' and to back off. At some point you would theoretically reach a pressure when it would be the bullet, the bore, or the action itself that would start warning you, assuming VERY strong ctg. cases. But I've never got there, even with my old '99, which was extremely accurate with 55gr. I just let the weakest link, the brass ctg., be my "canary in the coal mine."

 

[flinthead]

i don't reload brother.... but I have fallen in love with this awesome round. I plan on doing all my deer and hog hunting this year with a Hornady 95 grain SST in a Ruger Hawkeye standard with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40... it's just a sweet rifle with a sweet round!!

 

[John S]

Yesterday I shot the 55 gr. Bullet at 100 yds.. used imr 4895 at 42.5 , 43
0, 43.5, 44.0.. don't do good. Best group was about a 3 in. Group. Maybe try a new power

 

[gunzo]

IMR 4895 is a popular powder for light bullets in the 243. It can be the problem but powders don't seem to affect accuracy as much as other variables. But, if I had other powders near that burning rate I'd sure give something else a try if I was getting 3" groups. A different brand bullet may be in order. Hard to do much with seating depth with such a short bullet, but you have to be sure it's deep enough for good bullet alignment. You can't usually chase the lands with light bullets in factory chambers.

At 3" I'd be looking for loose fasteners, like action screws or scope mounting. Barrel been properly cleaned? Those 55's are gonna be moving along pretty fast & ain't gonna like a badly fouled bore.

You didn't mention rifle model, & do you know the twist rate of the barrel? How about trying some control ammo. Something with a more standard bullet, 80 or 100 grain, & see how they shoot. If they are at 3" also, then you gotta look at the gun, or the screws or scope or your bench procedure.

Keep us posted.

 

[Coyote Hunter]

i don't reload brother.... but I have fallen in love with this awesome round. I plan on doing all my deer and hog hunting this year with a Hornady 95 grain SST in a Ruger Hawkeye standard with a Leupold VX3 3.5-10x40... it's just a sweet rifle with a sweet round!!

I do reload and decided to try the 95g SST first because it was pretty inexpensive. The plan was to find an accurate load and then try to duplicate the trajectory with a TTSX or AB. When the SST were cutting one hole with my first development effort, I just stuck with them.

Sadly, not a Ruger. A Savage FXP3 with a 3-9x Burris. Homely but sweet to shoot.

 

[John S]

Just for the fun of it tried trail boss power 10.5 grs. With the 55 gr. Dog town sp. At 25 yds.. 3 shot group about the size of a dime.

 

[teuthis]

I remember loading the 95 grain bullets in my .243. It is an outstanding round. I am looking out for a used one to come along these days. I don't need it but desire usually wins.

 

[picketpin]

When the 55s first came out I tried them in several of my 243s, #1s, 77s and a couple others. I got the claimed velocities BUT I never got a single one too shoot the 55s well. Took a look and frankly 55 grain .224s have a higher BC and shoot as fast and gave it up. I think I still have a couple of boxes on the shelf. To me they are more of a marketing ploy based on velocity than actually being useful.

Now 90s-100s and even 105s are a whole different story. Every 243 I own ashoots thos.. great.

RWT