243 Help

[stubear]

Give it a real good clean and then try a few different types of factory ammo to start with.

Once you have one that groups then reload to duplicate/refine from there.

 

[Bramble]

Thanks, bought it from Greenfields, I can get hold of some Sako 100grn which I will try,

 

[Smellydog]

I’m using 44.3gn

That's more like it.

 

[Tim1]

Your problem is the bullet. I assume when you say you're using a 90 grn Gameking that you mean a Tipped Gameking/Gamechanger. You will need a fast twist barrel to stabilise them.

Tim

 

[Smellydog]

"This bullet requires a barrel twist rate of 1×9” or faster."
From Sierra.
The sako 85 is 1x10".
Winding up may just work though by increasing the RPM.

 

[VSS]

, they said they knew the chap who traded it in and he would have looked after it and wouldn't have put a lot through it!

Of course they did. What else would you expect them to say?

 

[Scotty99]

I’ve had two 85s one in .243 with a varmint barrel the other in .308 with a hunter barrel. Neither shot particularly well with factory ammo but groups tightened significantly with reloading. As others have said give the barrel a deep clean, I use Wipeout Tactical Advantage. Check all the usual suspects, scope mounts, rings, crown, loose mod if fitted. I would switch powders and load N150 and go up a load ladder from min to almost max in .5 grn increments, there may be more than one accuracy node in the ladder.

Also switch from Gameking to ProHunters. Gamekings are boat tail and ProHunters are flat based, at that bullet weight in a 1:10 twist (if I remember correctly) the flat base will stabilise better than the BT.

Here is what I achieved with my .243 with Gamekings, the squares are 1 inch squares, more than adequate for stalking. Could have probably tightened up a little more if I’d done some .1 grn sensitivity testing around these nodes and switched to ProHunters.

 

[Bowland blades]

You simply cannot complain about a rifles accuraccy till you have put a few different FACTORY rounds through it .
Not all 243 like 100 grain bullets hence the 95 and 100 grain are available in the same range from many ammo makers .
After a reasonable bore scope inspection of a used rifle , if it doesn't shoot decent factory get it re-crowned and threaded and try again or return it for the seller

 

[Bowland blades]

Of course they did. What else would you expect them to say?

A private seller expect a few fables a trade seller ? well they wont last long if they dont take a pill on one now and again ! Expect to pay the transfer fees though to be fair if required

 

[Bowland blades]

I’ve had two 85s one in .243 with a varmint barrel the other in .308 with a hunter barrel. Neither shot particularly well with factory ammo but groups tightened significantly with reloading. As others have said give the barrel a deep clean, I use Wipeout Tactical Advantage. Check all the usual suspects, scope mounts, rings, crown, loose mod if fitted. I would switch powders and load N150 and go up a load ladder from min to almost max in .5 grn increments, there may be more than one accuracy node in the ladder.

Also switch from Gameking to ProHunters. Gamekings are boat tail and ProHunters are flat based, at that bullet weight in a 1:10 twist (if I remember correctly) the flat base will stabilise better than the BT.

Here is what I achieved with my .243 with Gamekings, the squares are 1 inch squares, more than adequate for stalking. Could have probably tightened up a little more if I’d done some .1 grn sensitivity testing around these nodes and switched to ProHunters.

View attachment 306281View attachment 306282

Anything under 300 yards will be easier to get shooting with a flat base bullet ( especially at the long for calibre / twist rate end of things )

 

[User00040]

The 1st thing I would do is email the dealer and let them know the problem.
Ask their advice.
Get the crown inspected, try a different scope., try factory rounds.

There is a similar post on here where the buyer has let 18m go by before talking to the dealer.
Let them know now is my advice.
M.

'You used handloads' will be the cop-out.

 

[Scotty99]

Anything under 300 yards will be easier to get shooting with a flat base bullet ( especially at the long for calibre / twist rate end of things )

Yes indeed, I was not aware of the difference between bait tail and flat base until it was recommended to switch to flat base by Norman Clarke when discussing with him how to load for a 100 grn bullet in my .243 with 20 inch barrel and 1:10 twist. So I switched from Gamekings to ProHunters and the groups you see on the photos tightened up to almost touching groups. It turned out to be my most accurate rifle / load setup I had for quite a while.

 

[Bramble]

Thanks everyone, I will try to get some flat based heads, cheers

 

[NullMac]

Don't test with handholds. Buy a box of decent factory. See what you get. More than 1 moa take it back.

 

[Smellydog]

will try to get some flat based heads

 

[Brighty3006]

Another vote for federal 100 grain.

 

[Smellydog]

Thanks everyone, I will try to get some flat based heads, cheers

Load them up and pull the plastic nonsense tip out and file the jackets back. Easy.

 

[HandB]

You need to increase the powder charge imho. I shoot 90gr Sierra Gamekings with quite a stout load of 44gr of RS62 in my .243 and it gives decent accuracy without pressure signs, so probably could go a bit higher. If I drop down into more moderate loads such as 41.3gr I also get decent accuracy but fail to get adequate obturation so they are not safe. As always work up to it in gradual stages in your rifle.

 

[Bramble]

Thanks everyone, I loaded some more today and went over the safe load in the Lee manual, only by .4 of a grn, the group was slightly better but I would want to use it on deer, I then put some Sako 100grn, Norma 75grn and 70 grn, all of which shot under an inch?!!
So I guess I try and find some 100grn heads, does anyone know what heads Sako use, they were soft nose?

 

[tikkathreebarrels]

Thanks everyone, I loaded some more today and went over the safe load in the Lee manual, only by .4 of a grn, the group was slightly better but I would want to use it on deer, I then put some Sako 100grn, Norma 75grn and 70 grn, all of which shot under an inch?!!
So I guess I try and find some 100grn heads, does anyone know what heads Sako use, they were soft nose?

Oh good: real progress for you.