Encore in 243 for target shooting

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I'm looking for some suggestions for my 26" heavy T/C custom shop barrel in 243 win 1/10 twist I had this barrel made about 15 years ago
in the hopes of going on a Antelope hunt but life got in the way and barrel got put away until now I decided to just use it as a target Rifle
anyway looking for some bullet and powder suggestions And just how far can a 243 reach out and touch And will this make a good target rifle setup say out to 400 yards
Thank's

[tdoyka]

i've only used a 243 for deer hunting(m7, m700adl and m700bdl) some years ago. now i don't like the 243, but for target shooting, i'd say imr4831 and any 100gr bullet.

[BK7saum]

10 twist may be limiting factor on bullet weight. If you are shooting short range, the lighter bullets will work fine. The standard twist for remington 700 243s was 9 1/4, which would handle up to 100 grain.

I shoot a 243 caliber rifle for long range target and I had an 8 twist put on to handle up to 115 grains for better BC and less wind deflection. However I shoot 105 amax bullets now with H4350 powder.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I did try a box of black hills 95gr factory bullets yesterday they didn't shoot that great about a 1" 1/2 group at 100 yards I picked up some
58gr V-max today to try out just need to see if i have any powder on hand to use with them

[country gent]

My model 70 match rifle is 243 tight necked .267 with a hart over the coarse contour 26" long twist is 1-7. with 1o5 jlks or 107 sierras it was a laser out to 1000yds. 105 or 115 grn bergers did very well also but occasionally one disappeared between the firing line and target, LOL. with one in 10 twist the 95 bergers or 87 grn hornady should perform very well. For 200yds I shot 87 grn hornadies. (offhand and rapid sitting) 300 yds was 95 grn bergers ( rapid prone ), 600 yds was the 107 sierras or 105 JLKs ( slow prone) Here it wasn't unusual to hit the 1 1/2" spotter disk 4-5 times each string. 1000 yds was the 105 JLKs or 105grn starke flat base when they could be had. For powder IMR 4350, VV 560, IMR 4831. With the90 grn range Start with 4350, 4895 or 4064 might produce a good load also. Test at 200yds 300 is even better. Come up from 200-300 was 2-3 mins, from 300-600 was 9-10 mins. The only draw back to the 243 with these loads is barrel life, I averaged around 2400 rds a barrel before the throat was gone and X count at 600 on out started dropping. There are some better 6mm rounds as to barrel life now but I don't believe they beat the accuracy of the 243. Recoil is much easier than the 30s also.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

country gent thanks for all the information I will pick up some 87gr hornady to try out my range is 67 miles from my house so it will be a couple of weeks until i get to make and test out my loads any powder suggestions

thanks

[MT Gianni]

I bought an Encore in 243 because i got a great deal on it and wanted to rebore to 358. I made the mistake of shooting it first. Try some of Graf and Sons bulk 87 gr and 8028 powder.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

I bought an Encore in 243 because i got a great deal on it and wanted to rebore to 358. I made the mistake of shooting it first. Try some of Graf and Sons bulk 87 gr and 8028 powder.

thanks will put some 8020 on my list too

[Love Life]

Twist will limit bullet choice.

The .243 will shoot accurately way out there.

I use 1 in 7 twists, 105 to 115 gr bullets, and Retumbo powder or H4831SC. Norma or Lapua bras.

[Randy C]

My Winchester Model 70 has 1-10 it shoots good with every thing I've tried. I shoot 85 to 115 gr bullets, I use 95 the most it will put them in a group smaller than a dime at 100yds if I do my part right, I don't shoot hot loads, I'm wanting a 6x45 to shoot 45 to 65gr bullets, at a moderate speed no hot rodding.

[LUCKYDAWG13]

thank you all

[hornet112]

My 243 Encore shoots under a half inch at 100 yds with 68 gr Berger with 42 grs of Varget.