.243 bullet weights and why

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G4ZZ

G4ZZ

Well-Known Member
I’m just curious as to what weight bullets your all using in your .243 and how they perform in the wind?
My reason for asking is I’m about to start reloading for my .243 and I’ve tied myself up in knots as to whether to go for a lighter 55/65grn bullet or a heavier say 87grn bullet, currently I’m using 75grn factory rounds but would like to try something different.
I’ll only be shooting fox so I’ve no need for a deer legal load.
 
Physics denotes the lighter bullet will leave the barrel with the highest velocity (MV).
All of the bullet weight you have identified will kill a fox and @Eric the Red said it right ...
For a quick and easy to understand view of the difference that MV has on the trajectory, download Hawke Chairgun it has a handy function that calculates the optimum zero for a given max height above the point of aim (they call it the 'kill zone') relative to the speed of the bullet. You can also define a 'wind profile' which will give you some useful info.
 
Up to around 200m there isn't a lot in it regarding trajectory from 55gr-87gr etc.

The 87gr Vmax has a good BC and can achieve quite high velocity from the .243 so will probably give you the best trajectory as you reach out further. Anything lighter and stubbier might be faster and flatter initially but will lose velocity faster and drop more at longer ranges.

I don't see the sense in using different bullet weights for foxes, although I appreciate that excessive carcass damage isn't as much of a concern.
 
In your .243 it will not make the blindest bit of difference to the fox which one of the V-Max or similar bullet weights you pick. Work out the best zero distance for each bullet’s ballistics, and calculate the maximum point blank range accordingly. Point and fire to ~250-275m is the objective.

I use the 75 grain but only because that’s the one that I was given, several hundred projectiles. I ran the numbers for the 87 grain recently on behalf of a mate, and there isn’t enough in it to not share my projectiles with him as I’ll never use them all.

The only caveat to this is that if you are shooting particularly windy ground then obviously go for the heavier bullet.
 
I started with 55 Sierra and 58 Vmax
Devastating zeroed at around 150 iirc was basically point and shoot to 240.
75 not quite as explosive but better in the wind.
87 Vmax is what I settled on. Better in the wind and were the most accurate of the lot out of my rifle. You can at a push use them for Roe if you’re careful on bullet placement (i.e.know when not to pull the trigger).
They served me well for many years although I have just sold my 243 as I have alternatives for foxes and a 6.5 suits better due to lead free requirements etc in some places.
 
Ed is right about zeroing 1 inch high at 100 for fox shooting with light-mid weight 6mm's in a .243win.

I tend to use the .222 for foxing but if it is really blowing, I use 70grain Nosler Varmegeddons in the .243win. They are cheap, hugely destructive but longer than the shorter lighter bullets, so seem to be buck wind better. You give up not much velocity and for me, they are best bang for buck varmint bullets out there.

You will not be disappointed with them.
 
with the distance you are likely to shoot a fox, probably lighter is better, some people get confused about the BC factor with bullets, this is really of use to long range target shooting, if the bullet has a very high BC, in long distance use, it just wont slow down as much as one with a low BC, ( even if it starts out slower) so a flat based light bullet from a 243, leaves the barrel really quick, but slows down relativly quickly because it creates lot of drag, and will get moved about by the wind as it slows. If you look at the trajectory of a 243, with a heavy high BC bullet it can match a 300win mag! however over a short distance (100yds) a poor BC bullet, travelling at 3600fps, in simple terms doesnt spend enough time in flight mode to get moved around by the wind as much .....however the general mass of the bullet ( heavier takes more force to move) does make a difference, but probably not noticeable. Also its the hydro-static shock that tends to kill foxes from a 243, and just about any 243 expanding bullet will end them abruptly. good luck
 
Digging this up but about to put in for 243 - how much of a poi shift is there switching from lighter to heavier rounds in 243?
 
BenBhoy said:
Digging this up but about to put in for 243 - how much of a poi shift is there switching from lighter to heavier rounds in 243?
Click to expand...

Once you know the velocities of your bullets you can use an external ballistics program (Hawke Chairgun Pro f0or example) to show you this, without knowing the velocities it is very difficult to calculate.
When you get you .243 get one with a 1:8" twist which will help you to stabilise the longer, non-lead bullets.
 
BenBhoy said:
Digging this up but about to put in for 243 - how much of a poi shift is there switching from lighter to heavier rounds in 243?
Click to expand...
I swap between 58gn Hornady Superperformance Varmint rounds and 100gn RWS T-Mantel rounds with no difference in POI whatsoever.
Switching between other makes and weights hasn't been so good, but this particular pairing just works.
 
Depends on the ground topography , prevailing exposure to wind .
If we say any and all conditions ( ie none specific location) at all ranges for fox and smaller? Its very hard to beat a 70 grain Nosler ballistic tip from a std twist 243. It expands well out to 2-3 times most peoples max effective shooting range. Going lighter will reduce barrel life ie the 55 / 58 grain bullets and there is a very long jump to the rifling . Heavy 95 / 100 grain stuff can be a bit hard to expand within a fox vitals , this means you will experience many chest shot foxes going down well then getting up and running on ( sometimes into awkward places , like where you have no access for clear up ) .
Copper and 243 win bullets i have no first hand knowledge but i have a couple of decades shooting 243 win on deer , fox and crows. Oh the 70 grain Nosler BT is a fine bullet for Roe but at shorter ranges you will find many bullets break up fully in the cavity , expect difficult to follow if they run ! isn't an issue with your intended quarry " fox " at short ranges little hole in and a big one out .
Dont get side tracked into the real light/ short stuff without good reason , poor windages and they burn barrels out faster.
 
My old faithful A-bolt has been fed a varied diet over the years.

Despite the widespread noise that .243 won’t shoot 100g+ It loves Geko 105g SP which are great on the fallow and reds and even though heavy for calibre really don’t drop all that much out to 300yrds

I found on lighter framed roe at typically closer ranges that the 105s didn’t expand well. No lost deer but plenty of runners. I do like a bang 💥 flop where possible

I turned to 95g SST….a more frangible bullet and everything if I do my bit drops where it stands

On picking up a .308 I repurposed the .243 rifle too designated NV and now reload for both. I tried 55g VMAX but the rifle didn’t like them but 75g VMAX are pretty much point and shoot and deadly accurate from 100-300yrds

Personally I’d go with the 75s for your usage purely as they are a great compromise between flat & robust against the wind….devastating on the Charlie’s 🦊
 
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