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55 grain bullets for 243 and accuracy

Mark LeonardMark Leonard Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
edited April 2009 in Perry Shooter Competition Shooting and Reloading Forum
Just wondering if anyone is loading a 243 with 55 grain bullets for varmints. Looking to utilize another gun for prairie dog shoot next year, so I don't have to buy another one. I'm already taking a 22-250, 17HMR, and 22/22 mag. Have been thinking of buying an inexpensive 223, but would like to explore this option first. Thanks, Mark
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Comments

  • FWAdditFWAddit Member Posts: 918 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I get excellent accuracy using Varget with 55-gr. Nosler .243 bullets. My rifle is a 6 mm Rem, not a .243, so the exact charges I use won't transfer. However, the case capacities are so similar that the same powders work well in either caliber. Consult a couple of good loading manuals and work up carefully.

    Sorry, I haven't used my loads in a windy prairie dog town, so I can't comment about wind drift, which some writers warn about with such light bullets.
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  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
    edited November -1
    While I am sure there would be a couple very minor difference why not just use your .22-250? A .22-250 is a .243 case necked to .22 cal shooting a 55gr bullet (assuming you are using 55gr bullets).
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  • mbsamsmbsams Member Posts: 1,076 ✭✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    IMHO 55 is a poor choice for .243 considering the rest of your battery. For long shots in the wind try 75-85gr. A superior performer at long ranges.
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  • Mark LeonardMark Leonard Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    Nwcid,
    I am going to take my 22-250, a 17HMR, and a 22LR for close shots. This will be my first ever prairie dog hunt trip, and I want to make sure that I take enough guns so that any one gun doesn't get to hot and hurt the barrel. Maybe someone with more experience could chime in with suggestions? Mark
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  • jimdeerejimdeere Member, Moderator Posts: 26,159 ******
    edited November -1
    I tried some 55's in my Ruger 77 target. I don't believe that gun has the proper rate of twist for this bullet.
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  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mark Leonard
    Nwcid,
    I am going to take my 22-250, a 17HMR, and a 22LR for close shots. This will be my first ever prairie dog hunt trip, and I want to make sure that I take enough guns so that any one gun doesn't get to hot and hurt the barrel. Maybe someone with more experience could chime in with suggestions? Mark


    Well I guess since I dont have any guns or experience especially the .243 (which I have of course never loaded for) I have nothing else to add. Sorry for wasting your time.
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  • Mark LeonardMark Leonard Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    John, You took what I said ALL wrong. What I meant is someone with more experience than ME at hunting prairie dogs, and the recommended number of guns a person should take to prevent damage to their investments by overheating them. Fellowship and learning more about reloading/long range shooting is what I'm here for, not infighting. Mark
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  • RCrosbyRCrosby Member Posts: 3,808 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    For those long shots you might consider going to the 70 grain in .243 though I don't see that extending you range on the 22-250. (Which, by the by, the last time I checked) is NOT a .243 necked down to .224. .243 is basically a 308 necked down. .250 Savage has same head size, but is shorter and more taper; less capacity.
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  • groundhog devastationgroundhog devastation Member Posts: 4,495
    edited November -1
    If you're going to shoot 55 grain bullets, shoot them from a chamebering they were meant for!...........the 223, 22-250,220Swift. The BC of the 55's in .243 is pretty junky when looking at other projectiles! Sure you can push them out the end of the barrelat tremendous speed but they slow down and fall fast too!! I'd think of nothing less than 70 grain Nosler BT's ahead of 41.0 grains of Varget for the 243 and even that load doesn't gain you over a 22-250 using 55 Vmax's or BT's! Step up to the 87 grain VMaxs for the 6's at least! Just my thoughts!...........my thoughts really are to take about 3 good .204's to the field and have at it out to 500 yards using the 39 grain Sierras! Anything longer(next 150 or so) the fast twist 223 using 75 grain Hornadys gets the nod and after that it's the 6mm with 105AMaxs and then for the long shots the .260 with 140 AMAX's! Main objective is to HAVE FUN SHOOTING!! GHD
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  • NwcidNwcid Member Posts: 10,674 ✭
    edited November -1
    quote:Originally posted by Mark Leonard
    John, You took what I said ALL wrong. What I meant is someone with more experience than ME at hunting prairie dogs, and the recommended number of guns a person should take to prevent damage to their investments by overheating them. Fellowship and learning more about reloading/long range shooting is what I'm here for, not infighting. Mark


    I stand corrected then. [:)]

    My buddy has shot some of the 55gr but he has had way better luck with the 70gr bullets in his. I know he has tried several weights in his and got better accuracy and "end results" with the 70gr. I mostly just shoot the 100gr for deer hunting.
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  • mariodavemariodave Member Posts: 9 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I have gotten good results using the 58Gr. hornady v-max with 44 gr. of varget in a savage 243.Guys with 223's may complain about the muzzle blast.My rifle gets .750" groups at 100 yrds.That is about 3800 fps.The rusults are spectacular on prarie dogs.
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  • Mark LeonardMark Leonard Member Posts: 31 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I appreciate all of the posts guys. The way things are looking around my neck of the woods it may be hard to reload anything for very long. Can't seem to find powders or primers! I think I will experiment with the 70 grainers and 58 grain Hornady's for fun. Thanks again for the help! Mark
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