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tbox61 Member
Joined: Aug 31, 2005 Posts: 76 Location: Great Bend, KS
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 2:52 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Frankly, .243 brass is readily available and not i short supply, so I would question the hassle of trying to re-size .308 brass, but that is just me.
My Ruger American is a 1-9” twist and shoots the 58 gr. Vmax Superformance Varmint round very well. This is the 3rd .243 I have owned, and found they all shot very well with whatever I fed them. The best load I found with my 2 previous guns was with the now obsolete 85 gr. Nosler soft point over IMR-4350 powder. Unfortunately, can’t get those bullets anymore.
I think Varget will be my go to powder now. My gun will be primarily used for coyotes coming to the call, so I will stick with the lighter bullets.
_________________ There are 2 theories to arguing with a woman...neither works.
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tlo7mm Super Member
Joined: Nov 15, 2010 Posts: 426 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 9:24 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Im also thinking Nosler Partitions for hunting deer size game and bear.
_________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." ~ The Dalai Lama
Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence. - Napoleon Bonaparte
The wisdom of man never yet contrived a system of taxation that would operate with perfect equality. - Andrew Jackson
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain |
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chambered221 Super Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2007 Posts: 3455 Location: Lost for good !!!
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Posted: Tue Dec 16, 2014 10:23 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Not saying you can't kill bears with a .243 but how big and how far we talking here ???
_________________ Ask as many people needed, sooner or later your question will be answered the way you want it answered !!!
A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.
~George Washington |
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tlo7mm Super Member
Joined: Nov 15, 2010 Posts: 426 Location: Oregon
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:11 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Most black bear here could be dropped with a .243 even some of the bigger ones I know of being killed. We aren't talking brown bear. Most are between 150 and 250 with a 400 pound bear being big. I know of many people who hunt and kill elk with the .243 quite often as well. Not my cup of tea but it can be done humanely and with one shot kills.
_________________ "If someone has a gun and is trying to kill you, it would be reasonable to shoot back with your own gun." ~ The Dalai Lama
Never ascribe to malice that which is adequately explained by incompetence. - Napoleon Bonaparte
The wisdom of man never yet contrived a system of taxation that would operate with perfect equality. - Andrew Jackson
Patriotism is supporting your country all the time, and your government when it deserves it. - Mark Twain |
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SingleShotLover Super Member
Joined: Dec 26, 2007 Posts: 1005 Location: Illinois
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Posted: Wed Dec 17, 2014 6:36 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Bullet placement and proper bullet choice makes the difference. If one can shoot a .243 more accurately than a .300 Magnum, so be it, though I wouldn't do it myself. Even though I have shot several deer with the .243 I still am more comfortable with calibers starting at .25 for game. Silly I know, but just me.
When I had .243s, my "go to" varmint load was Hornady's 75-grain hollow point pushed by 41 grains of IMR 4064. "Book" velocity of the time was about 3,300 fps but I probably beat that a little with my 24" barrel. Today's powders and bullets give a lot more choice.
_________________ If you can't hit it with one, you probably can't with two either!
The biggest problem with a closed mind is that it never seems to come with a closed mouth.
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chambered221 Super Member
Joined: Aug 17, 2007 Posts: 3455 Location: Lost for good !!!
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Posted: Thu Dec 18, 2014 10:01 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Not gonna argue the virtues of a .243...... I think we all know it can be done !!!
I personally just prefer heavier bullets when messing with anything over 200lbs.
If there's a chance I'm gonna encounter a bear pushing 400lbs. I'd have my 7mm08 with 150gr. copper type bullets in hand.
_________________ Ask as many people needed, sooner or later your question will be answered the way you want it answered !!!
A free people ought not only to be armed and disciplined, but they should have sufficient arms and ammunition to maintain a status of independence from any who might attempt to abuse them, which would include their own government.
~George Washington |
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Grant Super Member
Joined: Aug 28, 2006 Posts: 325 Location: Grande Prairie, Alberta
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PaulS Super Member
Joined: Feb 18, 2006 Posts: 4330 Location: South-Eastern Washington - the State
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Posted: Fri Apr 03, 2015 11:56 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Using "small" calibers really brings the shooter to the forefront. It proves that the most important part of the kill is bullet placement and having a bullet that can do the job that is asked of it.
My brother uses a 6mm TCU with 85 grain bullets for dear and black bear. He is a good hunter and can get a lot closer than necessary. He shoots for head and neck shots normally and the animals go down on impact. The 85 grain bullet is considered a hunting bullet but it expands fast and hard. Neck shots often do a fair job of separating the bones in the neck and destroying the arteries and airways with a single bullet. I have seen him use the same rig on a body shot and the deer acted like it was hit with a big gun. It went down and stayed there dead! That kind of shooting is what he likes and I prefer the "bigger is better" thought where game is concerned. My 257 can easily take a deer or elk at the ranges I am used to hunting at but I am way more familiar with my old '06 so that is the one I use.
_________________ Paul
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Speer, Lyman, Hodgdon, Sierra, and Hornady = reliable loading data
So and So's pages on the internet = NOT reliable loading data
Always check data against manuals
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DrWatson Rookie Member
Joined: Jun 11, 2015 Posts: 3
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 5:11 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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tlo7mm wrote: |
I am looking at gearing up for reloading for .243 Winchester real soon. I was curious if anyone has resized .308 brass to .243 and what are the concerns of doing so?
I have avoided resizing brass from one caliber to another (IE 30-06/.270, .223/.222 etc) in order to avoid not mixing them up however in this case I have no intention of acquiring a .308 (never liked em and don't want one. Personal preference) and I have a fair amount of brass I have dug up for one. I would say if I found one for a steal I might buy one but then sell or trade it.
I am also interested in everyone's personal pet load and what you may use it for? |
I have a lot of 7mm08 that started life as 308 with no issues
I personally shoot 90 gr Nosler accubond and get good groups and they kill deer as well as the 7mm08 does ?
My load ? Hogdon 4350 43 grains
Personally I wish I had gone for the 260 because it is the best of the litter [308 case ]
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3571 Location: Utah
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Posted: Thu Jun 11, 2015 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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Welcome to the site DrWatson,
My wife hunts primarily with a .243 and has killed one heck of alot of deer with it. We hunted caribou in Alaska and she carried her 243 with 100grn partitions, long story short she got a dandy and those partitions went in one side and out the other. Caribou are way bigger than a deer. Alot of the natives up in Alaska use 243's for everything.
My boy got a 7mm08 and I've just loved shooting it as we worked up loads. If you have a 7mm08 I really dont see the need to downsize, you can if you want but the the added bullet options alone make it pretty snazzy with roughly the same recoil.
I have a 243 as well... but I haven't fired it in years I'm ashamed to say.
-DallanC
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Elvis Super Member
Joined: Jul 27, 2008 Posts: 9239 Location: south island New Zealand
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Posted: Fri Jun 12, 2015 1:08 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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no shame in that DallanC,,,,,, Keep it just incase you get a plague of rats, you will have perfect rifle if you do LMAO.
_________________ You shot it You pluck it !
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OldSchoolRanger Member
Joined: Feb 15, 2017 Posts: 88
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Posted: Wed Feb 15, 2017 12:25 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question |
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[quote="tlo7mm"]I am looking at gearing up for reloading for .243 Winchester real soon. I was curious if anyone has resized .308 brass to .243 and what are the concerns of doing so?
/quote]
You can resize commercial 308 Win brass to 243 without any problems. I've done it for years. Back when Winchester (the company) created the 243 Win, they just necked down the 308 Win. to make the 243.
With military 308 (7.62x51mm Nato) brass, you have to take into consideration that the brass has less capacity, and may cause higher pressures, so go with a lower starting load. Most loading manuals recommend 10% lower.
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