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What is the best BC bullet commonly available that will shoot in a 10 twisted gun (Tikka) please

Shoot at what?

Targets?
Varmints?
Big game?

Please do not make the (all too common) mistake of thinking accuracy is what's needed to kill big game and ignore straight line penetration with good weight retention. The 243 fires small bullets as compared to many other calibers and a good bullet that holds together is more important the smaller you get. it is far more capable then many think, but bullets matched to the game is also more important.

95 gr Tipped Match King.

Paper and making red mist: 90 Scenars.

Bigger critters: 80 or 85 X's.

Lapua brass. Reloader 17.

Two out three is not bad, but for the third 95gr bt or 95 gr partion.

Szihn I am wondering what is the highest BC bullet that will reliably stabilise in a 10 twist barrel

Thanks Hibean, I haven't seen that one

Thanks Monti, have been looking at that one, BC is amazing

Thanks Una, the 95 BTip is my go to hunting load, and that isn't likely to change

The Sierra 100 grn. Prohunter is a good one.

My Tikka 243 w factory 10" twist barrel will stabilize the Sierra 100 gr btsp in the Federal factory load, those run 0.43 for BC.

This is one area where Remington got it right. When they started chambering the 700 in .243 they gave them a 1/9.25" twist.

Thanks
Just had a look at the 95 TMK, Sierra says it needs a 9" twist

95 grain nosler BT shoot very well out to 500 yds in my son's tikka. In fact there isn't a lot of difference between it and my 105 hybrids at that range, .2 or . 3 mills with the same powder charge. (41 grains of h 4350.) After that the gap widens,but they will work well at distance. Awfully good performance on game with the 95s as well.

I've used the 87 Vmax out to 800yds on steel and it flies nicely.

That recommendation is for all conditions. If you are 4000' asl, it will be fine. Even if you aren't, you should be fine, but you'll lose a few percent of the BC.

My daughter has a Savage Model 10 plain Jane blue/wood, blind box .243 bought new in 2001. Don't even know the twist. It easily shot Federal premium ammo loaded with 100 grain NP with sub minute groups. My cousin loaded us some 100 NP with a hot load of IMR 4350 which produces the same tight groups. Don't understand all the BC stuff but this load shoots dandy out of her 22 inch rifle. Has killed 22 deer at all kinds of ranges out to 300 yards (I know that does not qualify for long range) and bunches of hogs. If we can shoot 1/2 inch groups off a bag of corn on the truck hood y'all could probably really drive nails.

Has anybody tried the Berger 87 VLDH? They have about the most BC that can be used in 1/9-1/10 twist at lower altitudes. I bought a box to try but won't get to shot anything big till Nov..

I know this thread is about 243's with a 1:10, but after lots of experiments trying to shoot longer bullets in Rem 1:9.125 and Savage 1:9.25, I decided to go with a 1:8 on a 243AI so I can fully stabilize some of the longer bullets. It's really not worth it in my opinion to try to chase LR shots with inferior twists. Yeah, shots to 500 are no biggie in still air, even with slower twists, but the wind becomes so much more a factor when stuck shooting the stubbier bullets. I also plan to try out the Nosler RDF 105 on an animal this fall.

You'd have a hard time convincing me a 95 or 100gr partition isn't tops for killin' in a 243.

Give the Horn 105 HPBT a try.

If it doesn’t shoot these well, it won’t shoot any heavy bullet well.

Any 243AI loads DW?

105 HPBT and 43-44gr 4350, Lap brass and Fed210.

I use the 105 HPBT over 47.0 Gr 7828 SSC, or the same in RL-22, with fire-formed Winchester brass. This in a 8" twisted barrel.

I keep the data from a thread a while back with lots of suggestions, like 41.5 RL-17 under the 105 HPBT, or Calvin's load of 48 grains of RL-22 under the same.

I know Tanner was working up loads in this rifle using RL-17, but since the 7828 SSC is shooting 1/2" groups at 100 yards, I haven't experimented much.

I may play with RL-17 once my supply of 7828 SSC runs out, if for no other reason than I have an 8 lb keg of it.

I use the 105 HPBT over 42.0 of RL-17, lapua brass, cci 200 primers in my 243 AI--deadly.

This load for .243 or .243ai? If .243 will it stabilize in 9 twist?

AI.

In the SAAMI version you want 41-41.5gr. And yes it will.

Thanks, Jordan

IMR or H4350?

Either. I’ve used both

I shoot a 243 AI 10 twist with RL 19 and 47grs, Shoots everything from 85 gr Gamekings, 85 partitions, 87 gr Hornadys, 95 gr Bergers all into .5 MOA providing I do my part. I have also shot some 103 gr customs into small groups. Just finished shooting some 100 gr partitions into just less than 1". figured I didn't need to keep shooting just put them up until deer season. Good luck

The 85gr and the 87gr vmax shoot so close to the same POI out of my 243 AI that I don’t bother adjusting the scope when swapping between rounds. Simple is good!

I like the 95gr btip and 95gr Berger classic. They both stabilize out of my Sako a7 with a 10twist. The hornady 100gr btsp punched oval holes and did not stabilize. This is a 243 that was AI punched and loaded hot with Lapua brass.

Every 243 I've owned shoots the 95 BTip lights out. And for hitting steel at 600 yards...its a pretty good bullet. For killing stuff...its a great bullet.

Further than that, and it wouldn't hurt to hunt down some extra BC.

I've killed about ten NC whitetails with the 87 grain VLD outta my BAR .243. I can't tell any difference between it's performance and the 6.5 creedmoor with 130 grain VLD . That's shooting them high in the shoulder. They go down immediately!

The Berger 95 Grain Classic Hunter should work in a 1-10 even though Berger says 1-9 is optimal. The Hunter has more conventional ogive than the VLDs so they fit the magazine and are more seating tolerant. I have not shot any game with them yet. Berger says 1-9 for the 87 VLD but usually 1-10 shoots then fine.

If I could have only one bullet to use in the 243, it would be the 85 grain Sierra HP. It has been the bullet that I've loaded and shot the most, and I've yet to try it in a 243 that didn't shoot it very accurately. While not the best choice in the 243 for deer, it will do the job, and do it very nicely. As a varmint bullet, it will absolutely ruin a coyote's day.

I don't use this bullet as much as I used to, as I've started using the 95 grain BT's for deer, and 58-70 grain bullets for coyotes. But, for a bullet that is accurate, and will handle different applications, the Sierra is hard to beat.

I think a lot of BT's fit that description, including the 120 grain 7 mm and the 150.

I shoot Ballistic tips in over 20 rifles. All of them shoot Ballistic tips really well. 243 up to 338 Win Mag. I really like the different color tips!

High shoulder don't prove much. I've shot a bunch high shoulder and every one dropped instantly no matter what cartridge and bullet, including .223 with 55 grain Hornady sp..

I must agree with Blackheart.. High shoulder shots prove nothing..

Hahaha! That's what makes this forum great.

It sure does.

I use an 85 grain Barnes in my 6mm rem, my wife uses a Nosler 90 grain lead free in her 243

Back in the day when there was little thought to a sniper rifle being needed in LE situations that had to be 1000 yard accurate, I was issued a .243 Remington 700 ADL that shot CoreLokt 100 grain factory ammo into less than dime size groups. Never had to use it, but it was capable. BTW, the glass was a 4X Weaver.

Jack

one shot ,one kill

95 gr Nos Bal Tip on two antelope were both bang flop.

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