.243 twist question

[lostart]

I am looking at building a stevens for a long range pdog /coyote rig. I can't afford to make all of the mods in one foul swoop, so I need to do it in stages. My question is: will the stock twist work for the 55-80gr loads?

I have a hmr for the short range pdogs, but after 200 or so im just waistin lead especially if there is a breeze. I'm pretty dead set on the .243 as I have been a long time fan.

Heres the build

Stage 1

Stevens 200 .243
Boyds thumbhole stock
trigger SSS
trigger gaurd
Redfeild 4-12


Stage 2

Tactical bolt handle
Varmint contour barrel (Shaw?)
Barrel fluting

Stage 3

T&T
Bolt fluting

l l

One bad varmint rig!

[desertdog]

just shoot and have fun!!!!!!!!! and yes.

[82boy]

My question is: will the stock twist work for the 55-80gr loads?

Yup, and even heavier.

[jo191145]

My Sav 9.5 twist handles everything from 55 Nosler to 105 A-Max.
Personally I've never launched the 105's past 200 yds but I've seen them used in Sav factory tubes for F-Class with good results.

[lostart]

Thank You all.

It's good to know that itll work for the lighter bullets. Im tired of trying to compete with my friends' swift and 204 with the lil .17. I also like the variety of the .243. I have only shot the 100gr for deer out of my current .243. I just hate to drag the ol 99 out to the pdog towns.

thanks again

PS I may be addicted

[jo191145]

If light and fast is your cup of tea try the 58gn V-Max. They have a longer bearing length than the 55 Noslers and should make playing in,around and out of the lands easier for ya

[lostart]

Regarding the v-max: Is there an advantage to the moly or would the plain copper work just as well?

[jo191145]

To be honest. I think most Savage factory barrels benefit from bullet lubes.
Some barrels just hate shooting with copper fouling in them.
At the same time Moly or WS2, HBN will not quarentee you do not get a copper fouling problem.
They'll help but no quarentee.

The key in this VooDoo is find a powder thats sooty enough to help create a barrier between copper and steel and at the same time not accumulate carbon to the point of causing carbon fouling issues. A tall order perhaps but it can and has been done

[lostart]

Thats an interesting concept. Any suggestions? I ask because I also have my eye on that hornaday reloading kit.

[Dennis]

My Sav 9.5 twist handles everything from 55 Nosler to 105 A-Max.

+1

[jo191145]

Thats an interesting concept. Any suggestions? I ask because I also have my eye on that hornaday reloading kit.

I've only shot HBN coated 58's with IMR-8208XBR in my 243. Just cuz there was no loading data for it and wanted to expieriment
The 8208 burned very clean and copper was evident. I never fully tweaked a load for it. Was'nt comfortable with all that extra empty space in the case anyway.
Sure was able to get some screaming velocitys though :D
Gotta admit "MY" 243 seems to handle copper in the bore pretty well.

Best quess would be molyed 58's with Win 760/H414 for copper free shooting. Wether carbon would eventually be a problem I could'nt say.
If your not reloading yet I suggest getting started. Every once in a while a combo of factory ammo and gun match well. Exspensive and can be done better at home.

[lostart]

I will try that H414. Carbon seems to be easier to clean than copper. I shot one box of shells out of the 99 last season and it took forever to take care of the copper fouling.

I am going to start reloading. My brother inlaw used to reload and has agreed to give me a crash course. I just wish he hadn't traded his equipment for a gun!

Back to the gun. Do my stages seem logical? Any suggestions are appreciated.

[jo191145]

Only thing on your list I would change is the Shaw barrel. For a little more cash you can get MUCH better.
Fluting is basically cosmetic. Some argue it can produce unnecessary stresses on the finished barrel.
Go to any serious Bench Rest match and you'd be hard pressed to find a fluted barrel. I don't recall ever seeing one on a custom BR gun.
If you want bling (fluted bolt/barrel) by all means go for it. This is still America (for now). For pure accuracy the money could easily be spent elsewhere.

I now use SharpShootR Patch Out with the Accelerator for copper. Clean the carbon a bit with any mild solvent. Dry bore, one wet patch of Accelerator, one wet patch of Patch Out. Wait 8 hrs and push it all out. Not fast but effective, easy and no ammonia. All my Sweets and CR 10 went in the trash.

[bluealtered]

At this time i'm using 87gr vmax's in my model 11 .243 on coyotes, the closest shot being about 200yds the fartherest so far about 350yds. blue

[bootsmcguire]

At this time i'm using 87gr vmax's in my model 11 .243 on coyotes, the closest shot being about 200yds the fartherest so far about 350yds. blue

+1

My Sav 9.5 twist handles everything from 55 Nosler to 105 A-Max.
Personally I've never launched the 105's past 200 yds but I've seen them used in Sav factory tubes for F-Class with good results.

+1

Am getting ready to try some 62gr Barnes Varmint Grenades. Heard good this but hafta wait and see.

[lostart]

Thanks for all of the replies and info. ;D There are a lot of great choices for the .243. I am truely excited to get this project off of the ground.

[Dennis]

Again, my 243 will shoot anything . . . .

[img width=600 height=449]http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/243best70gr.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=450]http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/243best107smk395IMR43502.jpg[/img]
[img width=600 height=450]http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/24370grNBT40grVARGET015offBEST.jpg[/img]

[lostart]

Thats pretty good shootin 8)

thanks for the info!

[Dennis]

I have shot better, but you get the idea! My 243 drives them!

[pls4541]

For what it's worth. I purchased a so called limited production savage 16 BGH in 243 cal from Supohunter on Gunbroker.com almost 2 yrs ago....I've never seen it on the savage website, but it's a stainless accutrigger model with a fat heavy 22" stainless barrel.....Although the majority of my battery is composed of remingtons, winchesters, and brownings.....this 243 is working it's way to the top of my list....it's a bit on the heavy side, but boy.....a handloaded 85 gr. Sierra HPBT sitting on top of 43 gr IMR 4350 shoots 1/4" all day long at the range. It has excellent wind bucking capability for 200 yd+ groundhogs and has dropped 2 nice NC bucks in their tracks.....Good Job Savage!

[Dennis]

Again, my 243 is one of my favorites! I just build a 6.5x47L and I am beginning to wonder why!

But it's a fine gun, I might have a better opinion after getting to the 600 yd range!

[lostart]

how about some pics of those .243s to spark the imagination ;D

[Dennis]

There about 4 or 5 post above!!!!

[lostart]

I got that. I meant the gun!

[Dennis]

You got it

[img width=600 height=450]http://i957.photobucket.com/albums/ae56/Dennis4437/VLP243.jpg[/img]