243 for Target shooting

[NorCalFocus]

How is .243 vs .308 for long range? I've wanted to build one for a while, and I've heard the 6mm bullets are ballistically superior to the .30 cals

A heavy .243 bullet (100-110 range) is much better at long range than a .308. It will cut the wind better and drop less.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1570/243-dia-6mm-107-gr-HPBT-MatchKing

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2275/308-dia-175-gr-HPBT-MatchKing

Looking at Sierra's numbers you can see the .243 has a better BC at a lower speed. It takes a hot load to get a 175 Match King moving 2800 FPS in a .308/

[Jimmy's]

I shoot a 243 Improved and it is an excellent performer.

[Horrendo Revolver]

Question for Randall. I've heard Howa/Vanguards are not harder to rebarrel than Remington 700's but since they have metric threads many gunsmiths don't have the tools to do a rebarrel on a Howa/Vanguard. Is this true?

[SixPointEight]

A heavy .243 bullet (100-110 range) is much better at long range than a .308. It will cut the wind better and drop less.

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/1570/243-dia-6mm-107-gr-HPBT-MatchKing

https://www.sierrabullets.com/store/product.cfm/sn/2275/308-dia-175-gr-HPBT-MatchKing

Looking at Sierra's numbers you can see the .243 has a better BC at a lower speed. It takes a hot load to get a 175 Match King moving 2800 FPS in a .308/

Good point. Might have to go buy me a Tikka finally

[NorCalFocus]

Good point. Might have to go buy me a Tikka finally

Also note that Sierra says a 1:8 twist is recommended. Don't know what Tikka or any other brands twist is. So make sure you look into that first.

[BigBamBoo]

That is the "problem" with most production .243's. They pretty much come with 1:10 twist.

So you can not take advantage of the long, high BC bullets.

.

[ar15barrels]

How is .243 vs .308 for long range? I've wanted to build one for a while, and I've heard the 6mm bullets are ballistically superior to the .30 cals

http://www.caprc.com/forums/viewtopic.php?f=9&t=34

[ar15barrels]

A heavy .243 bullet (100-110 range) is much better at long range than a .308. It will cut the wind better and drop less.

And recoils less.
And costs less to reload.

[ar15barrels]

Question for Randall. I've heard Howa/Vanguards are not harder to rebarrel than Remington 700's but since they have metric threads many gunsmiths don't have the tools to do a rebarrel on a Howa/Vanguard. Is this true?

Yes and No and Yes and No...

Howa are harder to remove the barrels, but the actual process of chambering/threading is very similar.
Setting up a lathe to cut metric threads takes a fair amount of extra time as well as does actually cutting metric threads as most lathes are setup for inch threads and take some special techniques to cut metric threads.
For someone who has not done metric threads on their lathe, it is a legitimate hurdle to overcome and some people just never do.
It's enough extra hassle that I bought a 2nd lathe and leave it setup for metric threading jobs so that I do not have to switch my primary lathe back and forth between different jobs.

[ar15barrels]

Also note that Sierra says a 1:8 twist is recommended. Don't know what Tikka or any other brands twist is. So make sure you look into that first.

Ruger's recent heavy barreled 243's have been equipped with 1:8" twist barrels.

[Horrendo Revolver]

Thanks Randall.

[NorCalFocus]

Ruger's recent heavy barreled 243's have been equipped with 1:8" twist barrels.

That's because Ruger seems to listen to the market and knows the trends.

[JackEllis]

Also note that Sierra says a 1:8 twist is recommended. Don't know what Tikka or any other brands twist is. So make sure you look into that first.

My Tikka .243 is 1:10 twist. Hmmmm. all those 100 grain bullets I have may not work terribly well.

[NorCalFocus]

My Tikka .243 is 1:10 twist. Hmmmm. all those 100 grain bullets I have may not work terribly well.

The only way to know is to choot em and see what happens.

[LynnJr]

Buy a Remington short action from gunbroker or grabagun for $350.
Buy a barrel from Grizzly or Bruno or whomever has one in stock for $350.
Have Randall chamber it up in 243 for whatever he charges.
Use Lapua brass a Sierra 110 and some H4350 or H1000.