Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

[andrews1958]

What are your thoughts on a 243 build? Did a search for links on 243 build experiences and its accuracy but did not find much. Looking for extreme accuracy at 100,300 and 600 yard. Would any one like to share their experience with building or shooting one? How about a 1:8 twist from a 22” cut length barrel? Any info on the accuracy of this caliber would be greatly appreciated.

 

[OutlawTen5]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

www.6mmbr.com/243win.html

Read what George Gardner of GA Precision has to say in this article.
I personally wouldn't build one with a barrel under 24". I recently had my first 1/8tw .243 built (26" barrel) and it handles the 107gr/108gr and 115gr bullets great.

 

[Goodwood]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

I had a factory 700 BDL in .243 for a number of years. The gun was very accurate, perhaps the most accurate Remington I've owned with a factory barrel.

The gun was traded to a mentor I had for use in one of his projects. He rechambered the gun in .243 ackley, and continued to kill stuff with it until he died. I don't have pictures or anything, so without making any amazing claims and turning this into internet folklore, I'd just say he could shoot - It frequently made one ragged hole at 100 yds.

He rebarreled the gun a year or two after getting it from me. That is when he got the good groups from it. As I remember he was shooting about 3400 fps with the ~105 grain bullets. The barrels don't last long in the ackley, at least by my standards. He shot so much (bench rest) that it seemed he was rebarreling something monthly.

In short, the .243 will get it done for all but the most accurate. (way more accurate than me).

His gun was a 26 inch bbl. 1/8 twist.

 

[Cegorach]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

My .243 has always shot much better than I can. In the right hands, not nessicerily mine, it has shot easily below 1/2 MOA from a bi-pod. Benchmark Barrels put the rifle together.

For me this is all the accuracy I need and then some for the type of shooting I do.

If your definition of "extreme accuracy" is more along benchrest lines then it might not be sufficient. Who knows, with the right equipment and set up it could be, but a high strung bench gun isn't my cup of tea.

As far as length goes I went 24" and will be going longer next time. I would rather get the velocity I want without hot loads. If you are content to run a little slower or push loads then 22" will probably serve you just fine.

 

[GUNNER75]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

Listen to this:

I have built many and I am talking many .243's. All std chamber.

True and or buy a custom action, screw on a Bartlien 8 twist barrel cut at 24" plus, load 115's, charge with (use caution as normal and start low) 42gr's of H4350....I run 43gr's in one as a max (not with suppressor). and go to town.

Thank me later....load up and be happy. FWIW, I favor 25" on carry rigs and 28" on heavies.

FWIW, I have never run anything other than Bartlien on .243 and it was 8 twist. YMMV, but with Barlien, 8 twist has been true.

 

[264highlandhunter]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

Why not a 22" barrel? How much velocity would you loose from say 24" to 22"?

 

[Pusher591]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

My buddy's 26" .243AI shoots 5" clay pigeons we throw out on the berm with boring regularity. It's a trued Rem700, with rock creek barrel.

**Edit- When I say boring regularity, that meens shot after shot they hit clay.

 

[andrews1958]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">What are your thoughts on a 243 build? Did a search for links on 243 build experiences and its accuracy but did not find much. Looking for extreme accuracy at 100,300 and 600 yards. Would any one like to share their experience with building or shooting one? How about a 1:8 twist from a 22&#148; cut length barrel? Any info on the accuracy of this caliber would be greatly appreciated. </div></div>

What is the best twist for a 22" barrel and shooting at 100,300 and 600 yards.. I plan on using a 1:8 on a 22" barrel Thoughts?

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

We have two .243's with Bartlien 1:8 twist #5 contour 22" barrels. One rifle pushes the 105 VLD's to 3000 fps and no pressure signs. The other I don't have as much time with but it is loaded with the 105 AMAX to 3000 as well. Both are easily 1/2 MOA rifles, one of them much closer to 1/4 to 3/8 MOA but I don't have pics of any groups to share. I guess if you need more speed than 3000 fps you might want to go longer, but I found no hindrance with 22" and it makes it feel more portable. The most accurate rifle is my wifes match/hunting set-up.

Geb

 

[Lofty]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: OutlawTen5</div><div class="ubbcode-body">www.6mmbr.com/243win.html

Read what George Gardner of GA Precision has to say in this article.
I personally wouldn't build one with a barrel under 24". I recently had my first 1/8tw .243 built (26" barrel) and it handles the 107gr/108gr and 115gr bullets great. </div></div>

They mention cleaning techniques in that article that are supposed to promote barrel life.

Any idea what they are talking about?

Also, anyone have any experience with how much added life you'd get from meloniting a .243 barrel?

 

[RSA-Raven]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

I swear by my .243.
I've made headshots on Blesbuck out to 400m. Only limitation is a poor bushnell banner 4x32 scope. As soon as I upgrade the scope, I'm sure I'll be able to do the same out to 800m and paper out to 1000m
Rgds
R-Raven

 

[dzlfarmboy]

Re: Your Thoughts on 243 Accuracy

Waiting on my Manners stock for my .243 but it's gonna be a 24" M40 contour screwed on a Defiance action. Looking to push the 105 berger hybrids @ 3000fps with it.