Any long distance 243 shooters out there?

[CigarStone]

My son, my nephew, and I are setting up guns to do some long distance shooting 500-800 yards. The gun I will use is a Ruger M77 Mark II 243 and I am not sure what bullet this gun likes best. I'm not going to go with $40/box match grade ammo or buy reloading equipment, it's just going to be a side hobby for now.

The realistic options (without getting stupid expensive) are the Remington green box (hunting grade) 80 gr. PSP or the Hornady Varmint Express 58 gr. V-max. The Remington 80 gr. is cheap but probably not too accurate and the Hornady 58 gr. pushes 4000 FPS and is a bit more expensive.

Anybody have any experience?

 

[stepthirteen]

Jeff,

I know there is lots of weapons gurus here, but I would PM markmarksman and ask him for feedback. He is constantly reloading and retooling ammo and may have some very informative feedback for ya.

Jim

 

[Satchmo]

The only real way to know is to shoot them both and check the results. Rifles can be finicky about what they eat. One load will work in rifle A, but not in rifle B.

I think you've painted yourself in a corner with these two constraints: Factory ammo and 500-800 yards.

You don't really hear those two statements in the same sentance unless you are buying some premium ammo. Best I can tell is that the 58 grains will be to short to stabalize in flight to provide decent accuracy. Based on the ballistic coefficients, I would say my SWAG would be that the Remingtons at 80 grains will have a better BC and the extra weight will help with the windage, etc. I'm not sure what kind of accuracy you are needing or hoping for.

 

[CigarStone]

The only real way to know is to shoot them both and check the results. Rifles can be finicky about what they eat. One load will work in rifle A, but not in rifle B.

I think you've painted yourself in a corner with these two constraints: Factory ammo and 500-800 yards.

You don't really hear those two statements in the same sentance unless you are buying some premium ammo. Best I can tell is that the 58 grains will be to short to stabalize in flight to provide decent accuracy. Based on the ballistic coefficients, I would say my SWAG would be that the Remingtons at 80 grains will have a better BC and the extra weight will help with the windage, etc. I'm not sure what kind of accuracy you are needing or hoping for.

Yep, I hear what you're saying. The BC of those two rounds are virtually the same .250 and .255 but stability and wind would be an issue for the 58 gr. I would really like to find someplace to get the Hornady 75 gr. V-max which has a BC of .330 but I can't find it anywhere.

 

[scubagrunt]

Jeff,
My 2 cents would be make sure you have quality optics.......Having the right ammo makes life easier, but having the ability to accuratly factor in your environmental factors is the sign of a true shooter IMHO.

Oh by the way.......am extreamly jelous of your Ruger M77 Mark II 243!

 

[Satchmo]

The only real way to know is to shoot them both and check the results. Rifles can be finicky about what they eat. One load will work in rifle A, but not in rifle B.

I think you've painted yourself in a corner with these two constraints: Factory ammo and 500-800 yards.

You don't really hear those two statements in the same sentance unless you are buying some premium ammo. Best I can tell is that the 58 grains will be to short to stabalize in flight to provide decent accuracy. Based on the ballistic coefficients, I would say my SWAG would be that the Remingtons at 80 grains will have a better BC and the extra weight will help with the windage, etc. I'm not sure what kind of accuracy you are needing or hoping for.

Yep, I hear what you're saying. The BC of those two rounds are virtually the same .250 and .255 but stability and wind would be an issue for the 58 gr. I would really like to find someplace to get the Hornady 75 gr. V-max which has a BC of .330 but I can't find it anywhere.

Maybe someone will chime in that reloads .243, and you can get a "sampler" to try out. I don't reload that caliber.

 

[Unclebillybonz]

.243 wouldn't be my 1st choice in long distance shooting as there are a lot more flatter shooting calibers.

I do reload and I'll check my data that I have. Most of the loads I do are for hunting purposes, but I can check for you.

I would really like to find someplace to get the Hornady 75 gr. V-max which has a BC of .330 but I can't find it anywhere.

Varmint express

Natchez shooting supplies

midsouth

 

[CigarStone]

.243 wouldn't be my 1st choice in long distance shooting as there are a lot more flatter shooting calibers.

I do reload and I'll check my data that I have. Most of the loads I do are for hunting purposes, but I can check for you.

I would really like to find someplace to get the Hornady 75 gr. V-max which has a BC of .330 but I can't find it anywhere.

Varmint express

Natchez shooting supplies

midsouth

None of those places carry that round.

I have now decided that I am trying the Hornady 100 gr. BTSP factory ammo with a BC of .405. If that load works okay I would like to see if a reloader can load some for me for cash or trade (sticks for bullets ) .

Any takers?