.243 95gr Nosler ballistic tip

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Weave8144

Member
Hello

i have a .243 with a 22" barrel 1in 10 twist and am getting erratic results on groupings. I'm hand loading 42.5 of N 160 into lapua brass. 1st round smack on, 2nd round about an inch or two away, 3rd round again 1"-2" away forming a rough triangle.
Thr Americans think 95gr through a 1-10 22" barrel should stabilise
Range 100m
prone supported (bipod front and bag rear

Haenel Jager 10, GRS Sporter stock S and B 3-12x50 milspec optics. ASE Ultra moderator

anybody any ideas?
 
Nice rifle!

It could be any number of things. It should stabilize. Use this calculator to check:

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

Make sure you enter the plastic tip length, it makes all the difference. If you set the field to zero, you will generate a "marginal" stability result.

I had all sorts of problems trying to get my .243 to group with Sierra Gameking 1520 100gr (too long), so I switched to the slightly shorter, stouter Sierra ProHunter 1540 100gr. Second thing I did was change powder thanks to advice on here, from ADI 2206H to ADI 2209 - this because the fill ratio with the former was too low, and the latter gave me very close to a full case.

I see you are loading in the middle of the published N160 powder weight range, so it might be worth trying out the next bit, it’s what worked for me:

With 2209 the ProHunters were giving me better - but still slightly erratic - accuracy, similar to yours, but as I worked up the powder weight range in 0.1gr increments, they suddenly grouped tight as a nun's chuff well inside an inch, right at the top end of the powder weight range.

I wasn't getting any pressure signs, so I pushed on a little past the max published load, the group opened up again, so I went back to the high "node" and have stuck there ever since.

If you search under my name for ADI 2009 you should find the thread. The photos don’t show up anymore cos I won’t pay Photobucket for the privilege.

There are lots of other threads on here describing similar problems. Look for the one about the Sako that wouldn’t group – it’s only a couple of months ago. I think he ended up in a dog fight with Sako and ended up rebarrelling.

Check for free floating as the barrel warms up – is there any possibility of a pressure point on the barrel? Are you shooting hot, one after the other, or allowing a cooling period between shots?

I’m right at the bottom of the “accurizing” expertise list on this forum, as I don’t bother trying to get better than MOA accuracy at 100yds with a standard rifle, as I’m a hunter not a paper puncher. So maybe one of the other guys will have some more detailed tips.

Good luck!
 
FWIW I never could get 100 grain Nosler Partition to stabilise in my 6mm Remington Parker Hale. Bullets were going side on through the target at 250 yards.
 
I use 44.5gns of Viht N160 with the Nosler 95gn BT. Barrel is 20", 1-10 twist, Steyr Mod L .243 stutzen.
It's a hot load but no pressure issues and Works a dream.
The Nosler bullets usually like a bit of a jump & mine are .040" from the lands.
 
How did you settle on your chosen load of N160? Did you work up the load and how did lower / higher charges group?

has it always grouped at 2" or has it just started?

FWIW first shot bang on then erratic shots - my money is on contact between barrel and stock as the first shot warms it up. What happens if you shoot 1 then leave it 10 mins until full cold - does it shoot another through the same hole?
 
For me, the best accuracy came at 44grn N160 with this bullet. Obviously, that's only relevant in my rifle. What charge range have you tried, lowest to highest? And are you loading to book length, or trying to reduce the jump to the lands?
I'm using it in a Win Mod 70 with a standard, 1:10" 22" barrel and it gives a shade under 3100fps.
 
Last edited:
My 243 is average at best with any bullet over 90gn it seems. The groups aren't terrible but nowhere near as good as my 70gn & 55gn varmint loads. Is there a reason why you need a 95gn BT? Might it be better (and save a bunch of headaches/ tail chasing) to go for something a little lighter that will definitely stabilise?

My 55gn load is like a laser btw.
 
Mick Miller said:
My 243 is average at best with any bullet over 90gn it seems. The groups aren't terrible but nowhere near as good as my 70gn & 55gn varmint loads. Is there a reason why you need a 95gn BT? Might it be better (and save a bunch of headaches/ tail chasing) to go for something a little lighter that will definitely stabilise? My 55gn load is like a laser btw.
Click to expand...

Mick, I've used .243 with 100gr pills all my shooting life, 35 years now, and yes some of them in the 1:10" twist can be a bit fussy with projecticles in the 1.04" - 1.08" length, but in my experience all they need is a little fiddling with the loads and they will come right. The current one (Howa) was fussiest of all and I got that sorted pretty simply as per post above. And often stability - or lack thereof - is blamed for poor accuracy when fact there's something else wrong. Family of mine use 105gr A-Max in CZ .243s with sub-MOA accuracy all day long and have for as long as the A-Max was in production, and beyond cos they bought up thousands of them last year.... I say persevere- when it clicks into place the 100gr and 3000fps+ is a sweet combination for all sort of purposes.
 
No I get it, I just wonder why struggle to get a 95gn BTip to stabilise when a lighter bullet could be so much easier to work up a load for and not be a that much of a disadvantage. 100gn soft point, now I get why you would have to spend time with those to meet minimum legal requirements for stalking but BTips suggest varminting and for that a slightly lighter bullet has more going for it in terms of trajectory and ease of load development.
 
Hi,
I'm normally on a bipod and preload the legs prior to firing. Never had any great dramas with it, less the irregular groups which should be far better at 100m
 
Hi,
and thanks for all the advice. I'm a hunter too, so every shot is from a cold clean barrel, as generally that is what you would have in the field. I'm not aware of any hot spots on the barrel, but will check. I will try loading a bit closer to the max and see what happens. I was told that H414 was designed for .243 ammo, but after all the load development, i am loath to change, but perhaps i should to try and achieve that better level of accuracy?
I have no pressure signs on the base of my cartridge or percussion cap strike either, so assume all is well in that department. Will come back in a few days or so and do an update. I just wish manufacturers would do try before you buy quantities for powder and bullets, so you don't end up with something you don't want.
 
Hi
I'm on the lans with a COAL of 2.290, so will try easing back a bit. I am hoping to get a micro seating die off a bloke on here next week if all goes to plan. I will try that load you suggest, although thats on the limit for 95gr i think? Will post an update in a few days or so, once I've given all the ideas on here a go. Thanks for the reply.
 
Hi
I worked up to that load, went over, and the group really spread so i dropped back to 42.5 again. I shoot all 3 rounds cold cleaning the barrel in between shots , and it has always been around the 2".I know i'm breaking my position each time, but it should still be shooting better than that. After chatting to somebody about it recently they said it should be grouping far better than that so hence my question. thanks for the reply and i will post an update on here in the near future.
 
When i did my load development i started at 40.5 and went in .5 increments to 43.5, and it seemed to be performing best at 42.5, and from 42.1 to 42.9 42.5 was still the best. i'm loading to my COAL which 2.290, so sitting on the lans, although someone else here said try going off the lans as the 95 likes a bit of a jump.
Will post a reply in the near future to update all who have answered.
 
Hi, i went for the 95gr after doing some research as it seemed to be a good stopper, and should be stable. I'm not key holing, just getting erratic groups. I was under the impression 55gr might be too light for deer?
If i get chance, i will try a few different weights, and see what happens. Will post an update in the near future.
 
Hi,
I may try the 100gr, but after all the load development i am keen to try and stick with the 95gr. On paper, it should be perfect, so i will persevere with distance from lans, load size and see what happens. As a hunter i am attempting to get maximum accuracy 1st time every time with minimum fuss. Will post an update in the near future to let everyone know how things are going.
 
dodgyknees said:
Nice rifle!

It could be any number of things. It should stabilize. Use this calculator to check:

http://www.jbmballistics.com/cgi-bin/jbmstab-5.1.cgi

Make sure you enter the plastic tip length, it makes all the difference. If you set the field to zero, you will generate a "marginal" stability result.

I had all sorts of problems trying to get my .243 to group with Sierra Gameking 1520 100gr (too long), so I switched to the slightly shorter, stouter Sierra ProHunter 1540 100gr. Second thing I did was change powder thanks to advice on here, from ADI 2206H to ADI 2209 - this because the fill ratio with the former was too low, and the latter gave me very close to a full case.

I see you are loading in the middle of the published N160 powder weight range, so it might be worth trying out the next bit, it’s what worked for me:

With 2209 the ProHunters were giving me better - but still slightly erratic - accuracy, similar to yours, but as I worked up the powder weight range in 0.1gr increments, they suddenly grouped tight as a nun's chuff well inside an inch, right at the top end of the powder weight range.

I wasn't getting any pressure signs, so I pushed on a little past the max published load, the group opened up again, so I went back to the high "node" and have stuck there ever since.

If you search under my name for ADI 2009 you should find the thread. The photos don’t show up anymore cos I won’t pay Photobucket for the privilege.

There are lots of other threads on here describing similar problems. Look for the one about the Sako that wouldn’t group – it’s only a couple of months ago. I think he ended up in a dog fight with Sako and ended up rebarrelling.

Check for free floating as the barrel warms up – is there any possibility of a pressure point on the barrel? Are you shooting hot, one after the other, or allowing a cooling period between shots?

I’m right at the bottom of the “accurizing” expertise list on this forum, as I don’t bother trying to get better than MOA accuracy at 100yds with a standard rifle, as I’m a hunter not a paper puncher. So maybe one of the other guys will have some more detailed tips.

Good luck!
Click to expand...

+1. My 10 twist 6mm Lapua will not shoot 100 SBT's (you can see the letterbox entry holes in the target) but it bug holes with the 100 SPT's. 1.050" appears to be too long for a 10 twist unless it has a long plastic tip. I want to try the 90 grain Accubinds next at 1.110". According to JBM they should just about stabilise but I am yet to find out.
 
Weave8144 said:
Hi mick,
I was under the impression BT was acceptable for stalking. If this not where is this written down please?
Click to expand...

I had assumed, wrongly, you were after a varminting round, that's my error.

I guess you're using the Nosler hunting BTips? There's no restriction on using ballistic tips for stalking at all it's just most folk opt for a soft point, but those Noslers look like they'll do the job just as well.
 
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