Bullet suggestions for my new .243

[Bill Allen]

I bought an old Sako .243 a couple of months ago and today I ordered a new scope along with rings and bases. I plan to use this rifle for deer hunting so what factory ammo do you guys suggest I try?

[Classicvette63]

Remington Core-Lokts. Period. Unless they shoot horrible groups, then Nosler's or Winchesters will do.

[TreeDoc]

What's the twist rate on the barrel?

[Bill Allen]

Good question. I will try and find out. It is a pre-Garcia Sako from the early 70s.

[TreeDoc]

Well, I figured it's a start! If it's a fast twist (1:10) that would be good since you're looking to use it on Deer and would probably want to use the heaviest bullets. If you can't find the info then maybe a cleaning rod with a swivel handle and a real tight patch might get you close, it's worked for me! ;)

[L. Cooper]

If it was my rifle and I did not plan to reload for it, I would go to the store with the best selection of ammunition I could find and buy a box of every brand they sold with 100 grain bullets. Then you go to the range and shoot them all until you find which one shoots best in your rifle. I'd shoot the rest of the ammo for practice.

Go back to the store and get a good supply of that brand and bullet with (hopefully) matching lot numbers, and then go deer hunting.

[Ken14]

Federal Premium's with the Sierra 85gr HPBT...it's a death ray in my rifles.

[Cal Sibley]

My .243Win. is an older Savage 110 with a 1 in 10" twist. While very accurate with most bullets it doesn't do all that well with most 100gr. bullets. It does quite well with the Hornady 95gr. SST though, in front of IMR4831 42.0grs. I get a velocity of 2930fps., and it groups around .75" This is with Rem. cases and Rem. 9 1/2 primers. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Jack]

Never heard of a factory 243 barrel with anything but a 1-10 twist. I can tell you for sure that a Sako of that generation has a 1-10 twist- mine does.
L. Cooper's given some good advice. I'd try 3 or 4 factory loads with 100 grain bullets, and use the one that shoots best.

[300 RUM]

If I understand the ? you are looking for factory ammo, not reload help.

I have 2 .243's a Remington and a Ruger both guns really like the Hornady Light Magnum 100gr BTSP Interlock Bullets. The box says 3100fps muzzle velocity.

My sister inlaw and nephew both shot cow elk this year with a Ruger M77 youth in .243 using this ammo and both were clean kills. Both shots were over 100yds and the bullets exited the opposite shoulder.

[foto]

95g nosler ballistic tips by whatever name the ammo companies call them. Pick your favorite brand. I haven't run across any of them in .243 that don't shoot fine and drop deer almost instantly.

[JimHnSTL]

my buddy shoots a older sako in .243 and the remington 100 gr core locks are some of the toughest bullets out there (for the .243) barring partitions. 150 yrd. shot, quartering away, entered high right side at the base of the ribs (shooting high from tree) and full penetrated and exited the front left lower shoulder. bullet rested beween the hide and fless fully expanded and in perfect shape. good weight retention. deer went down.

[Bill Allen]

Thanks for the good number of suggestions. I am making a list of ammo to buy from these posts and then it is off to the range for some shooting. I have never shot a .243 so I hope I am in for a good experience and it sounds like I am, based on what you guys posted. There are just a few short months left to get this gun ready for deer season. I had better get busy...thanks for the help. ;)

[Cal Sibley]

I have both a .243Win. and a 6mm Rem. My favorite bullets tend to be the Sierra 70gr. HPBT, excellent at the bench and a good killer on groundhog; the Sierra 85gr. HPBT very accurate and a very hard hitting varmint bullet; and the Hornady 95gr. SST. I just starting using this bullet this year, and it's very good on deer.
My rifle is a Savage 110 with a 1 in 10" twist. It has a bit of a problem with getting top accuracy from the 100gr. bullets so I try to stay below that weight. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

[Bill Allen]

Thanks for your response, Cal. I always find what you have to say interesting and helpful. I'll pick up some of those 95 grain Hornadys and give them a try. :)

[Cossack]

Do check the twist rate and purchase you bullets accordingly: 1 turn in ten inches will benefit from a heavier (longer) bullet like a 100gr.
But if its a 1-12, like some Remingtons from that time frame were, then a lighter bullet like 70 to 80 griner will likely shoot more accurately. And yes, do try several brands to see which it shoots best.
To measure twist: Insert a cleaning rod with brush and patch into back of the action until it starts to turn. Mark the rod with a felt tip marker where it is even with the back of the action (mark 1). Without moving the rod, make another mark closer to the handle. This one should be along the horizontal axis of the rod, narrow and about an inch long, so you can tell when the rod has turned one complete revolution. Now, push the rod in until it's turned one full revolution. Mark the rod close to action like you did for Mark 1. (we'll call this mark 2)
Now pull the rod out and measure between mark 1 and 2 .

[model 70]

Federal Premium 100gr. Nosler Partitions. See how them suckers shoot.

[Bill Allen]

The rifle has a 1x10 twist and thanks for explaining how to measure it. I didn't know that is how you did it.

I just installed the new Leupold VXIII 2.5x8x36 scope on it and hope to get to the range in the next few days. So far, the bullets I have purchased are the 100 grain Rem Core-Lokts, Federal 100 grain Sierra Gameking BTSP and Winchester 95 grain Ballistic Silvertips. I will also try the Noslers when I find them. I am anxious to start shooting the ammo. Maybe Monday.......;)

[bosveldjag]

Bill Allen,

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