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Wing master View Drop Down
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    Posted: 17 January 2022 at 18:29
I have a .243 that is really accurate but I shoot 100 grain Sierra Pro hunters through it. I have heard people say that 100 grain bullets aren't the best choice for a .243. The thing I've never heard anyone say why a lighter bullet is better. 

What are your thoughts on this?

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I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 17 January 2022 at 18:52
Just remember you asked.
Find a ballistic chart/program.
IF you can reload your lighter bullets will be going much faster. Energy doubles with weight but it squares with speed.
Out to about 500 yard a lighter faster bullet has less drift and drop and more energy then a typical 100 gr bullet. If your plan is LOOONG range the a heaver longer bullet is the way to go.
I don't remember the speeds we run our 243's but we use 85 gr sierra bullets and there energy out to about 500 yards exceeded any factory 100 gr load.
In my 6mm (243) I use a 80 Barnes TTSX at 3600 fps+ and they put the 100's to shame on energy.
If you use a copper bullet you get the extra length like in your swede, that makes it preform more like a heaver bullet only faster.

At 300 your drop is 10" on the 85 and over 12 on the 100. At 500 there near the same.

That's factory if you reload you will see a greater disparity. Till about 500 there there the same again.
I did not find an easy energy chart, but you can fill in the blanks and see what you come up with.

JUST MT and "CB's" two cents...

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 10:24
Very interesting. I have always thought about heavier bullets equal higher energy. Not taking speed into account. 

I'll look and see how fast my 100 grain loads are going and compare what the manuals say about the speed of lighter bullets. I'm sure I'm not launching them at 3600 FPS. Without looking I'd guess closer to 3000. That's a big difference. 

It sounds like I have a new/old project to work on. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 10:27
"JIM" used a 95 gr Nosler I think.

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 10:33
Thanks D

I'll look through the bullets I have. I might have a few lighter ones. I'm thinking I'll be limited by what the stores have on the shelf. They haven't had much as far as reloading supplies for a while. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 12:11
For instance.
A 100 gr Hornady bullet loaded with a max load of Varget will get about 2700 fps and generate about 1619 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.

 the same bullet only 85 gr loaded with a max load of Varget should get 3100 fps and 1814 foot pounds of energy at the muzzle.

Then if you look at my 8 it is not quite the same, no idea why.
On it a 200 gr bullet sent out at 3200 fps will generate 4800 FTP that's less then a 220 gr at 3100 fps 5100 FTP ???Dead
 BUT one is a Serria  and one bullet is a Barnes.



Edited by d4570 - 18 January 2022 at 12:13
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 13:39
That's interesting. It seems like your 8mm would be the same but on a larger scale. Ballistics are a complicated thing. I'm not smart enough to figure it out. 

I scrounged around and found some 70 grain flat base and some 70 grain boat tails so I'm using them for my example. Robert MT sent them to me a few years ago to try and I loaded a few to try but don't remember how they shot and evidently didn't write anything down in my log book. 

The load I have been using is a 100 grain Pro Hunter with 39.1 grains of IMR 4350. According to my Sierra manual they should be going 2800 feet per second and have 1741 foot lbs of energy at the muzzle. 

If I go down to a 70 grain bullet it shows a max speed of 3500 FPS and 2040 foot lbs of energy. That's a considerable increase in speed and energy. 

Do you have any powder recomendations? I have quite a bit of Varget, IMR 4350, H4350, and some IMR 4064. I think I have one pound of H4831. I also have some Reloader 26. I have seen where it has worked really good in smaller cartridges but the data on it is hard to come by. I had to come up with my own data for the Swede. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 13:50
Alliant's web data has 100 grain bullets going 3200 FPS using Reloader 26. That's 200 FPS faster than the Sierra manual shows for any other powder.  HMMM. 

I have always considered myself to be quite the bullshitter, But ocasionally it is nice to sit back and listen to a true professional......So, Carry on.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote d4570 Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 13:51
We use a LOT of Varget, not the fastest powder but very stable in temps from -20 to 100+.
We are going to try RL26 in some of our 6mms and see if we get an increase in speed and performance.
A 70 gr is going to be more varmint then deer bullet I would guess. I shoot a 55 but would never attempt a deer with them. 80 or 85 is about as light as I'm willing to attempt. I use superformance with the 55s and IMR8208 for the 80s in my 6mm.
but varget with the 75 and 85s I use in a 243.
I have red if you find a load for RL22 if you start out low I is good with RL26 BUT you can get a LOT more 26 in to the case so be careful. Watch for sign and use a magnetospeed when you get the published speed for 22 then prosed slowly of find some one with the program "Quickload" and have them work you up a starting point.

"Alliant's web data has 100 grain bullets going 3200 FPS using Reloader 26. That's 200 FPS faster than the Sierra manual shows for any other powder. "

That's really fast for a 100 6mm.
That's why we are trying it.
On the 8 I'm 200/300 fps faster than any thing published and no sigh of problems.


Edited by d4570 - 18 January 2022 at 13:54
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 18 January 2022 at 14:02
I use a lot of Varget too. It has worked really good in a few rifles. 

I will try a few different powders with the 70 grain bullets since I have them. I'm thinking I'll probably settle on an 85 grain bullet when it's all said and done. That way I can use it for antelope and deer. 

If I try Reloader 26 I'll do like you said and use Reloader 22 as a starting point. I use it in my Swede and it seems pretty stable. Maybe not as stable as Varget but I've had good luck with it. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 January 2022 at 20:10
Good point. 

I have a lot of Reloader 26 but I use a lot of it too. I think I'll start with IMR 4350 and see what it does. I also have quite a bit of IMR 4064 if 4350 doesn't work out. Reloader 26 is an option if they don't work. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Go-ddaed Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 19 January 2022 at 23:51
70gr is a varmint bullet.

My .243 has scratched 5 antelope and two white tails.

The reason I switched from 100’s (Game Kings) to 87’s was lack of shock and expansion at about 320 yards. Bullet passed straight through. The thing stood there like it hadn’t been hit. Changed to 87’s. The kid hit one in the neck and it ran about 100 yards but all the others shot with the 87’s have dropped in their tracks.

87 Berger VLD 43.2 H100V 3200fps

100 GK 42.0 4350 2930fps

Edited by Go-ddaed - 19 January 2022 at 23:53
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 20 January 2022 at 15:17
Good information Go-ddaed. 

I think I am going to be limited by whatever bullets I will be able to find on the shelf. I've been keeping an eye out for Berger VLD's for a buddy and haven't seen them. I've seen some Barnes but I wasn't really looking for .243 bullets so I didn't see what weight they were. 

I'll see what I can find and go from there. 

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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote MapleHill Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 January 2022 at 15:17
I use 100gr SGK in my 243. Shot a couple whitetails with it, they died quickly with huge blood trails, although I didn't need a trail to find them. I have no complaints, if it ain't broke, don't fix it.
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Post Options Post Options   Thanks (0) Thanks(0)   Quote Wing master Quote  Post ReplyReply Direct Link To This Post Posted: 21 January 2022 at 15:25
MapleHill

It is effective using the load I have now but I enjoy working up loads. And I think their is a better load out there if I find it. 

Wing master
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