I'm sure it's been asked before , but , .243?

[IcerUSA]

Are they any good with cast ? Do they need a heavy boolit too work good ? 1 in 9 1/2 twist is fast . If cast works , what boolit is best ?

Just trying to justify getting a barrel for the SPR 18 . :)

Thanks Guys and Gals .

Keith

[Bret4207]

I hear it's best to stay south of 100 grs. 85-90 is supposed to be better.

[IcerUSA]

Thanks Bret , don't seem to have many on the board that shoot this with cast .

Keith

[shooterman]

i have had very good luck with the 243 in the encore. the mold is rcbs 243 95 sp. it seems to like either 20 gr of 3031 or 24 gr of 4895. the velocity is around 2000 fps using a chrono. no one was more surprised than me when it shot like this. i never would have guessed that the 243 and the semipoint bullet would shoot this good.

13730

[ktw]

I shot one for a while using the RCBS 24-95-SP and the Lyman 245496. Both shot well but the RCBS bullet was easier to deal with because it fit the throat better. The relatively short neck was a bit of a hassle. The rifle was a Ruger M77 Ultralight. There are some older threads here discussing a 12?gr 2400 load with the RCBS bullet if you want to search them up.

I traded off the rifle a couple of years back before getting too far into it. I still have the molds.

I recently started over in 6mm by picking up a Contender Carbine 6x45 barrel.

-ktw

[carpetman]

I too use the RCBS 95 grainer and I am puzzled about the velocity. I don't have a chronograph, but did use a guys at the range. I not only used it with the .243 but several others and they all seemed to be where I expected. The owner of the chronie said all his loads were as expected. It was showing my loads at 2900 fps and by the book they should have been no more than 2400??? Accuracy was good but performance on a deer was dismal.

[JesterGrin_1]

The .243 is a big puzzle to me as well. As I was going to start casting for it along with my 30-06 with the Lyman 311284. But was informed by more than a few if you are going to hunt with the .243 stay with j word bullets. So I as of this time I do not have a mold for the .243.

So I do like this thread. Lets see where it goes :)

[Rockydog]

ktw, Let me know if you come up with a good load for the 6X45. I just bought a 6 TCU. I also have a 245497 lyman mold. I'm not casting yet but if there is a good load out there I might just have to start. RD

[Bret4207]

The .243 is a big puzzle to me as well. As I was going to start casting for it along with my 30-06 with the Lyman 311284. But was informed by more than a few if you are going to hunt with the .243 stay with j word bullets. So I as of this time I do not have a mold for the .243.

So I do like this thread. Lets see where it goes :)

IF you want to hunt deer with cast in a 6mm, then I'd do the following. Work up a good accurate load and learn my deer anatomy. Then I'd be very picky about my shots and shoot either for the brain or to break both shoulders. Use it like the guys use a 22 mag for poaching and you'll do fine. At all costs avoid lung type shots. All you do is wound them.

[MT Gianni]

The .243 is a big puzzle to me as well. As I was going to start casting for it along with my 30-06 with the Lyman 311284. But was informed by more than a few if you are going to hunt with the .243 stay with j word bullets. So I as of this time I do not have a mold for the .243.

So I do like this thread. Lets see where it goes :)

I use 12 gr of 2400 in 243 with 244496 and RCBS 95 gr. It works well. I have a 244497 HP that has 50% rejects but should strafe ground squirrels and coyotes. I would use it on deer if I was sure I could put it in the ear hole. Too many other heavier, bigger diameter bullets.

[9.3X62AL]

I use the same load and boolits listed by Gianni, and they are VERY accurate in my rifle (Rem 788). I wouldn't try them on deer, but they do jack up jackrabbits and ground squirrels right proper.

The 243 is a very economical and accurate VARMINT caliber with cast boolits.

[carpetman]

The spike buck my grandson and I shot with the cast .243 could have been shot in the ear. I never suspected such would be required. Never found one drop of blood. With jacketed we have shot a bunch with .243. Folks that haven't used it says it requires a premium bullet---marginal at best. I use cheap Winchester bulk packed 100 grainers and I don't recall a one that got away or required shooting twice.

[Bret4207]

There have been lots of tales of lost animals with the 6mm's and 25's and lots of tales of DRT kills. I've always figured anything south of the 6.5 cals needed a bit of help unless you had something a little extra in the velocity or bullet area. We use Partitions in the 250-3000 and have no bad news to report. If I was going to use that or my 6MM Rem with cast on deer I'd be picking my shots. There just isn't a lot of boolit there to do the work, especially in the metplat area and since I'm a lazy son and don't play around above 2K fps much I don't have much "shock" factor.

I can't help but wonder if pure Pb and paper patching might be the answer for those who like the lung/heart shots. A fairly heavy 6mm boolit driven hard with soft lead might act like a Ballistic Tip.

[IcerUSA]

I was thinking it would be for paper and up to Coyote size game , like others have said , I have bigger cal's for deer on up . :)

Thanks , helps to get a little info on calibers one is not familiar with .

Keith

[dakotashooter2]

i have had very good luck with the 243 in the encore. the mold is rcbs 243 95 sp. it seems to like either 20 gr of 3031 or 24 gr of 4895. the velocity is around 2000 fps using a chrono. no one was more surprised than me when it shot like this. i never would have guessed that the 243 and the semipoint bullet would shoot this good.

Gonna have to try those loads. So far I can't even get that boolit on paper at 50 yards and 1/2 are keyholeing.

[Gee_Wizz01]

I have a 24597 and Saeco 95 gr mold, but I haven't had much luck get an accurate load yet. The Saeco mold casts the bore riding nose at .235, which is way to small for both of my .243 barrels. The .24597 casts a little to large for my barrels and backs into the case when chambered. The best loads I have seen so far are around 3 1/2" at 50 yds using RL-7. I haven't experimented much with .243 so far. . My orginal thought was to have a good light varmint load for coyotes, porcupines and armadillos. One thing I have noticed, is that no one seems to carry the .243 gas checks anymore. Has anyone had any luck finding them lately? Right now I have almost a full box, but I would like to get another box before getting serious about working on a load. I have also thought about paper patching the Saeco bullet, which might make for a pretty good high velocity load . Right now I have other projects going, but this might be the next one to get back on.

G

[Treetop]

I can't seem to find any .243/6mm gas checks anywhere... Can anyone give me some leads? My wife has asked me several times to start casting for her Remington 700 in .243 Winchester. I can find the RCBS moulds at several of the usual internet sites, but no one lists gas checks. :confused:

[ktw]

Hornady still lists them as in production. The trick is finding a dealer that carries them. Maybe a local dealer will order some for you?

Alternatively, you can order some directly from Larry "The Gator" (address is in this thread (http://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?t=20238)) or wait for Blammer to include some in his next Gatorcheck Group Buy shipment.

-ktw

[Jim_Fisher]

I can't seem to find any .243/6mm gas checks anywhere... Can anyone give me some leads? My wife has asked me several times to start casting for her Remington 700 in .243 Winchester. I can find the RCBS moulds at several of the usual internet sites, but no one lists gas checks. :confused:

Try Buffalo Arms http://www.buffaloarms.com/browse.cfm/2,46.html. I ordered Hornady .243 gas checks a month or two ago.

They were out of stock, but took the time to call me to let me know that they were ordering them and that they would ship as soon as they got them in. I had them within a couple of weeks.

Jim Fisher

[Bret4207]

Order direct from Hornady, same for 270, 338, etc.

[Big Boomer]

I recently came across a Browing A-Bold in .243 with a Redfield scope at a very good price from the original owner that I haven't even fired as yet. I've been tossing the idea around of casting for it. I already cast for a Winchester M670 (a lower grade M70) though not greatly successfully. I'm hoping this thread will provide me with some useful information. Are gas checks a necessity for the .243? 'Tuck

[MT Gianni]

Tuck, I have never shot them without checks so I would not know. I have not had good success with a gc bullet sans checks.
I shot a 5 shot 100 yard group today 1 5/16" @ 100 yards, 10X with my 243. With checks, primer and powder it still runs less than 6 cents a shot. 22 lr in a 550 rd bulk pack are 3-4 cents, not as accurate or powerful.