.243 12VLP questions

[BowElkStalker]

Hello all,
I have shot Winchester superX 100gn spbt and it seems to shot at or just under 1 MOA. I have not made any modifications. Close to a hundred rounds down the tube including my reloads I have been working up. Does that sound about right? I am new to reloading and have been working up loads for 65gn Vmax, 87 gn Vmax, and Hornady 100gn spbt. I also have 95gn SST and 105 Amax to work with but it is WAY to cold to shoot right now! I have Varget, RL-17, and H4831sc powders that I am working with.

I would like to know what I should expect out of this rifle. How far off the lands would be a good starting point. What weight bullet (or range) should I be looking at. I know these are very vague questions but I do not mind loading and shooting a lot just for the fun of it and the learning experance. I would like to shoot the 300yrd gongs at the range, praire dogs, coyotes, and maybe deer out to 300yrds.

Thanks

[ironheadmike81]

My .243 12 VLP LOVES 105 Grn A-Max @ .007 Jump

90 grn Nosler E-Tips have been grouping well also

I start with .005 jump and work up from there

[Dennis]

My VLP 243 loves 107smk & 39.5 IMR4350

Any Federal Nossler Ballistic Tips I have shot out of mine drives nails! 55's, 70's, etc., it seems it love just about anything I put in it!

[BowElkStalker]

have you guys done anything to your VLP's? Are your VLP's shooting 1/2moa or better with the federal NPT? I am just trying to get a feel for how tight of a group I should be able to obtain. Good to here that anything from 55 to 105 shots well.

[82boy]

Let your gun tell you what it likes, each barrel is diferent and what works for one may not work for another. If your looking for a good 100-300 yard load I have had great luck with 70gr Sierra Match kings and Benchmark powder. The gun I had would shoot 5 shot 100 yard groups in the .3to.4 area, all day long. The gun shot 107 SMK's very well out to 1000 yards with IMR 4350.

[squirrelsniper]

I've had good luck with Varget and the 87gr V-max and even better accuracy with Varget and the 70gr Ballistic Tip (though it is NOT a long range load, 300yds is well within it's capability for most uses). I would not recommend either bullet for deer at any range.

I can't remember the OALs and I'm at work right now, but the V-max is quite a distance off the lands and the Ballistic Tip is about a mile and a half from the lands (okay, maybe not quite that far ;)).

Otherwise the loads are...

70gr Ballistic Tip
Win brass
CCI BR-2
42.0gr Varget (start low and work up, this is over what many manuals list as max)


87gr V-max
Win brass
CCI BR-2
38.0gr Varget (again, start low, but this is close to what most manuals recommend as a max load)

[Dennis]

Just playing around with my VLP 243, I love the gun. It will shoot Federal factory loads just as good as reloads!

http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/243best70gr.jpg

http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/DSC02490-1.jpg

[BowElkStalker]

That's what I am talkin' about Dennis. I am hoping that my 12VLP wil shoot that well. It is way to cold to make it to the range to test my next round of reloads. Looks like I might have to pick up some 70gn NBT as I do have a couple pounds of Varget to go thru.

[Dennis]

Federal 85grn Partions keep about the same group. FYI