Why not .243 ?

[Warrick]

I have about completed my 450 bushmaster build on my 110 converted to SA magazine CF and this gun will be my primary deer gun in Indiana. I am looking at buying another barrel to use for coyote hunting. I may just swap in and out and later build off another action.

With that said... I think the .243 in the 85 grain would be a great option for coyotes and playing around at some long range shooting. Just don't hear much on here about it good or bad , what's your thoughts. I will be starting to gather info and equipment to reload by next year this time also.

[Hotolds442]

My 243AI Predator Hunter and 75 Sierra's is my go-to for coyotes. I've taken it out to 525 yards with no issues, and it groups at less than 1/4 MOA at 100. The standard 243 with 85's would be a great choice.

[mikgarus]

Both Sierra 85 gr HPBT and the Hornady 87 gr V-Max are great, accurate bullets.

[Robinhood]

You are no alone. The 6mm's do everything but buck the wind and the are pretty good at that within reason

[Warrick]

Yeah I just can't see shooting a 120 plus grain bullet at a coyote. Never shoot a 243 but the ballistics look very good.

[Dennis]

I have talked to many people, and all they use is a 243, and it seems the 70 grain NBT come up a lot as well. I know they are very popular in the Mid West where Coyotes are a problem.

Dennis

[WinnieTheBoom]

I use 115gr DTACs out to 6-800 yards with great results. 1k yards gets a little hairy depending on wind gusts, but otherwise it's a great round. 100 yard accuracy hovers around .4" or better depending on the day that I'm having. I don't hunt with it at all so I can't comment on it as hunting round, but for paper or LR steel shooting, it's one of my favorite calibers to take with me.

[LoneWolf]

I wouldn't hesitate to use my competition rifle for
Yotes. I'm pushing a 105AMAX between 3000-3100 fps. It bucks the wind very well as in you need a 10+mph wind to 600yds before you start to notice it. I've shot it in quite a few Varmint matches, long range matches, and tactical matches as well and has been very good to me. 115DTACS I'd go to a 7 or 7.5 twist. I run an 8 twist with the 105's.

[WinnieTheBoom]

Yeah, should have specified, the .243 is my RPR and has a 1:7 twist rate. Slings the 115 DTACs very well. Higher twist and I'd definitely go lighter.

[Warrick]

Thanks for the info guys. I think I made my mind up for my next barrel! I am pretty sure I will try to land somewhere between 75 and 90's so what twist would you suggest.

[LoneWolf]

8 or 9. 8 Twist would allow you to shoot heavier pills if you so decided to!

[darkker]

Just keep in mind the 243 is well known to have random wild pressure excursions when using heavy bullets. This may or may not cause you issues with the gas system on an AR platform.

[PeaceAndGreens]

I shoot a .244 Rem (6mm Rem) for coyotes using 80 grain bergers. If you want to save the pelts, the 6mm bullets can be tricky. I hand call so 90% of my shots are full frontal shots, and the bullet can travel a long ways without blowing out the other side. Broadside shots are a different story, though. I think most people would agree that the V-max bullets can tear a coyote up pretty bad. As far as long range shooting is concerned, the 6mm bullets are fantastic.

[Warrick]

I shoot a .244 Rem (6mm Rem) for coyotes using 80 grain bergers. If you want to save the pelts, the 6mm bullets can be tricky. I hand call so 90% of my shots are full frontal shots, and the bullet can travel a long ways without blowing out the other side. Broadside shots are a different story, though. I think most people would agree that the V-max bullets can tear a coyote up pretty bad. As far as long range shooting is concerned, the 6mm bullets are fantastic.

Yeah that was a my thought process on not going with say a 6.5 bullet. I like the ballistics on the creed more but I think it would be very messy.

[JASmith]

One can avoid the mess by using lead-free hunting bullets.

That way the 85 grain load will double as a both a coyote and a deer slayer!

[shawnhu]

This is the results from my initial load development with the .243 85gr Sierra GK HPBT on IMR4350.