Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Competitive Shooting Silhouette Cartridge Question

Has anyone used a 243 win. for Metallic Silhoutte using the 105 gr. bullets?Will it tip over a ram @ 500 meters?

I want to shoot Hunter Class this year and being left handed,I don't have many choices with factory 260's or 7/08's.

I could also re-barrel to 6.5 x 284 with a donor LA Rem.700 I have but prefer to shoot a factory sporter rifle.I also have a 25-06 but bullet selection is not the greatest plus it burns a fair amount of powder.Opinions on what will work? Thanks!

Yea a 243 will knock rams over ................. part of the time , some ranges seem to have "hard" set rams more than others. If you are new to the sport I would just run the 243 and really work hard on the first 3 lines and take fallen rams as a bonus, now if you like it and stay in the sport I would rebarrel to a 260,7-08,6.5x47, and roll. The 6.5x284 is ok IF one loads it down just remember at most ranges if you damage targets you will be asked to leave and you can out run your bullets at the rams meaning; that if you run a bullet too fast at that 60 pound steel ram the bullet may "explode" on impact and not transfer the engery into "pushing" over the target , lots of people will disagree aon just how fast this is and will also vary on what bullet is used.

Great explanation.

When I started shooting silhouette back in 1976, the .308 Winchester was the cat's azz. Over time, the contribution of reduced recoil to overall scores became recognized, and smaller rounds came into vogue. But there is a practical lower limit, and there is a reason why the .243 is seldom encountered.

Paul

Thanks for the reply.I know some use the 6BR and that many on the LR forum like the 105 A-Max out of the 243.

I see what you mean about finding the right combo of bullet weight,energy,and manageable recoil.

I'm leaning toward a 7-08 or 260.

Good choices. You can't go wrong with either, and in Hunter Class Silhouette legal, you'll have a versatile hunting rifle as well.

Paul

Paul, when we were down at Wright City last June, Pat was extolling the virtues of the 7-08 for that game. I recall he was saying that in hot weather some cartridge wouldn't be able to take down the rams. Was that the .260? I am pretty sure it was not the .243. I don't recall what the supposed reason for this was, but it was interesting to listen to. I'll stick with my .45-70 though.

I dunno. The 7mm-08 seems to be about as good as it gets, but between it and the .260, it's hard to nail down.

Pat has a lot of experience, but I'm skeptical about theories involving heat.

Who knows?

Paul

Are we talking that Omalley guy ? Lol

Not that I'd have any clue, but seems in the heat your rounds will always be a bit faster and as such have more energy.

Not sure I could think of anything that would make the rams harder to tip in the heat.

Unless he is thinking the steel is so hot it flexes a bit to absorb some of the energy?

IIRC David always just said you can knock down most every ram with a 243, as long as you hit em high. I need all the target area I can get, but thats worth noting. I believe he won a few nationals runing the 243.

Yep.

LOL there is a freindly .260/7-08 fude going at that range with some including myself ,I backing 260 (but have just as many 7-08's)just to agervate a few including Chuffa .Just ask O'Malley about ringing rams with a 7-08 and 175gr matchkings wrightcit would be my "home" range you could say when it comes to HP shilhouttes but dont get there as often as I would like (240 miles one way ) should be there atleast for thr regonial match this summer.

http://ridgwayrifleclub.com/

I shoot at Ridgway and use a 6.5x47 running 140g Bullets.
Dont have any problems.
Shoot against guys running 6mm BRs and 6x47s usuing the 105 and they dont seem to have problems knocking over stuff either.Once and awhile the 6mm BR will hit without knocking over the Coyote.The yotes 40 pounds and 1000 yards out.
I had a 243 WCF.
I cant say I'd want to use it for this kind of work as your going to have a Very short barrel life.
The 6XC or 6x47 or Creedmore.Yes
The 243 Not so much.


dave

6.5BR is one that has been used quite successfully, as 7BR, dope drop/wind and they take rams down. Another option.

Dan Theodore in California has shot alot using a 6.5 TKS, 'BR AI'

Not many 270s on the line but a 135SMK over IMR4064 will completely flip a ram when hit on the high on the back.
Very mild recoil.