Thread: Short barrel 243

Has anyone got experience with a 243 in a 18” barrel or shorter?

I’m after a flat shooting rifle for hunting to 300m with factory Ammo in the 80-90gr weights.

Specifically the 80gr GMX from Hornady or 85gr federal trophy copper.

Shooting fallow and sika mostly and will suppress it.

Cheers.

Mate use to run an 18" 243. 80gr barnes ttsx or nosler 80gr flat base. Smashed sika

Ran an 18" T3 with 85 Sierra hp at 3100 then switched to a dual load :95 VLD at 3000 and 95 SST at 2950. Stiff loads of 2209. All three killers on Fallow, Reds and Tahr.

My current 243 is dedicated to 95 Berger at 3050. Dynamite killer.

@257weatherby what brand is the 243?

Originally Posted by 300_BLK

@257weatherby what brand is the 243?

Rem 700 - 22" in Bell and Carlson stock.

Have posted this before but may help, run a model7 at 16in with 85tsx 3031 close on 3k suppressed

Mean cheers lads. What’s your load data @Huk if you don’t mind sharing

Pretty new to the 243 but 95gr fusion has gone well so far

Obviously the trick with the traditional 10 twist is to make sure the ammo you pick will stabilise okay. For monolithics its around the 80 grain max, due to the additional length.

The Rem Model 7 is made for this kind of build as it has a 1:9.125” twist which is that little bit extra to help stabilise the longer copper bullets.

The other thing to consider is the suppressor, I’d be looking at a DPT with the stainless steel baffle. The short-barrelled 243 makes a right mess of an alloy baffle in fairly short order.

A bit odd I went from 243 to 300BLK for fallow. I was finding that the 243 would do a huge amount of meat damage. (Howa Ranch 243 with a 20" barrel suppressed, and federal 80 grain). I did headshot one fallow at 250m, and heartshot one at 335m.

I went to a Ruger 300BLK American using 125 grain. What I found was the 300BLK had bigger wound channels but less overall meat damage. Have since sold the 243.

Using a scope with drop marks (Nikon BDC) I have worked out the different range drops. I write them on my arm before heading off hunting. You can also do some basic range finding using the reticle subtensions (for example if the deer is the the 3rd hash down in height then it is ~ 200m), which is the 2nd circle down for zero.

I was running a Remington Model 7 .243 shooting 95 gr Targex projectiles behind some AR2209 which did a fine job on Sika & Fallow.

Never tried any factory loads but people always rave about the Federal Blue box

Bought a Marlin XS7 in 243 several months ago and had it chopped from factory 22" to 18". Extremely accurate. Mate shot it in at 100m and was grouping 0.75" with factory Highlands 100gr, and touched 0.5" with Federal Powershok 80s. Standard Hushpower suppressor. Haven't put a round through it myself yet but very promising little unit:

My next toy will be a chopped 243 that's for sure...

Iv used two 18 inch 243s with factory 80gr Winchester for as long as Iv been hunting
I have to burn thru it before I handload before I start a load
It is just so easy to use, low recoil, suppressed
I use a kimber Montana so it's as light as can be
200m zero 30cm drop for 300m and 70cm for 400m

I treat it like a 223 rather than a 308 (if that makes any sense) and it drops things like a hammer

Like you @Bill999 used those win 80,s before reloading accurate as in my rifle