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This is the calibre I've applied for as I want to do deer stalking and the land I have permission on is cleared for that.

It has around 50 to 60" drop at 600yds. Very doable.

Anyone else use this calibre?

This guy did OK

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... cartridge/

Hello i don't shoot this caliber for target but i know a guy that does just found some good reading material that can be found here http://www.accurateshooter.com/cartridge-guides/243win/

There are three problems with most off the shelf 243s for serious target use - relatively slow rifling twist pitch rates of 1 turn in 9.25 or more commonly 10-inches; barrel life with the round counts involved in regular range work; rapid barrel heating with sporter weight barrels even for most heavy barrel factory 'varmint' models.

To use the very high BC 105-108gn Match bullets, a 1 in 8-inch twist is required. Standard factory models are limited to a handful of lower BC 90gn models, 95gn for those with 9.25. Berger introduced an efficient 87gn Hunting VLD for standard 10-inch twist barrels a few years back (but with the revised higher Coefficient of stability values now regarded as desirable, it doesn't achieve them in the 10-inch twist rate). The company advertises it as a dual purpose match and 'hunting' bullet, but under our silly laws, it's only available to those with expanding bullet authority for sporting purposes.

Some American long-range competitors, in particular the very successful prone sling shooter John Whidden, use the 243 in fast twist barrel rifles throated to suit 115gn bullets. The Savage 12 LRP and new Ruger Precision Rifle have now followed this route, the Ruger in particular being useful with a 7.75-inch pitch and I'm assured throated for the longest (ie 115gn) match designs. With a reasonably heavy barrel, it'd make a very effective range gun in this chambering, but very few 243s are selling here. Compared to the other options (6.5mm Creedmoor and 308 Win) barrel life will be low at likely under 2,000 rounds (possibly well under 1,500 with 115s and hot loads), but it'll be a nice light recoiling target piece.

Although most L-R precision shooters will go for an 'improved' version such as the 40-degree shoulder 'Ackley' form, the standard 20-degree heavily body tapered 'cooking' version is a very good accuracy cartridge offering excellent external ballistics in a good barrel and set up for 'heavies'. Its biggest downside is a tendency for rapid case length growth even when correctly sized for a good match chamber - trimming on every reload or at the very least second is common with heavy bullets and high pressure loadings.

I've been intrigued for a while as to what you can do with a standard 243, long before the RPR arrived with its fast twist rate. I did a lot of shooting with an ex-police Parker-Hale M87 some years back and it was a good rifle for a couple of seasons (before the barrel went West) on the standard NRA 2-MOA dia. 5-ring centre to 600 yards, although not with factory ammo which tended to be at its accuracy limit at 500 yards if not before. I acquired a secondhand Howa 1500 Varminter in the heavy all-metal Knox stock a couple of years ago and will use it in club F-Class, maybe the occasional benchrest match in Factory Sporter class in due course as a tool to see what 243 will do in a standard 10-inch twist rate barrel. I enjoyed handloading for and shooting 243 in the old P-H M87, so am looking forward to this exercise.

aris wrote:This is the calibre I've applied for as I want to do deer stalking and the land I have permission on is cleared for that.

It has around 50 to 60" drop at 600yds. Very doable.

Anyone else use this calibre?

This guy did OK

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/201 ... cartridge/

Possible but not very popular mainly because of scarcity of suitable non expanding ammunition in .243win for target shooting. You will probably end up reloading for the rifle if you don't already do so.

To be fair - i'm not an overly competitive person. My idea of being competition is with myself. Did I do better than myself than the last time I shot.

One thing which does worry me is the shot count. 2000 shots and the barrel is toast - sounds expensive!

aris wrote:To be fair - i'm not an overly competitive person. My idea of being competition is with myself. Did I do better than myself than the last time I shot.

One thing which does worry me is the shot count. 2000 shots and the barrel is toast - sounds expensive!

The 243 is grossly over-bore - 308 necked-down to 6mm and a large powder capacity. 2000 rounds is very optimistic - more like 1000 - 1500 if you're lucky.

Most 243s are deer rifles so it's just the odd shot every now and then - last for years but, start using it on range and it's a different matter.

My first "proper" Rifle after the pistol ban was a .243 Ruger VT. Hornady used to do a 90gn FMJ which they dropped, then on to an 87gn HPBT. Loved it! Completely shot it out in two years. Estimates I would honestly give would be 3000 rounds. But then my idea of "useable accuracy" may not be as tight as others!

Don't get me onto my .22-250 "target rifle"!!

My 22-250 is fire cracked for the first few inches and still shoots thumbnail sized groups at 100m, best estimate is well on the wrong side of 2000 rounds as it has accounted for 2000 Fox plus numerous other species. The trick is to not copper strip it as it sulks for a good 20-30 shots afterwards.

Our DTA came with a .243 barrel (1 in 8 twist) as well as .308. We haven't used the .243 much yet but as we're now getting into paw loading we might seek out some bullets (advice welcomed) and give it a try for range work at 300 and 600 mards