Range of .243

So this whole long range shooting is new to me and before now, I was a 100yd guy and 10yd pistol stuff. I am looking to start stretching my wings and reach out a little bit.

I have a .243 Ruger M77 that I was out with last weekend set a target out at 300yds and was quite successful at hitting it usually 9 out of 10 times.

Shot 70gr, 80gr and 100gr all handloads by me with brass that has been fired in this rifle before.

I acquired the rifle from an old timer that used this gun for long range match shooting and claimed he was Colorado long rang champ more than once. Trigger is about 1.5 lbs pull and is smooth as silk.

My question is, how far can I really expect to get out of this rifle and what would be the best grain weight for the bullet. I'm not looking for effective range in taking down an animal, just steel or paper targets.

I also have a 30-06 that I know will reach farther, but that can be another discussion. You can still add info on the 30-06 though if you like.

Thanks for the help.

With the right bullets , 115's , the 243 is a 12 - 1300 yd gun . The 115's have to use a faster than standard twist barrel , 1 - 8 IIRC , to get them to fly . Even with the 105 - 107 ' s the caliber will work out to 1K easily .

The stuff that I typicaly shoot , steel plate field courses , the target needs to move so the spotter can call the hit most of the times . With the 6mm's even the heavy bullets sometimes make calling a hit hard even for experienced spotters . Shooting paper it wont matter though .

Lots of info at these links ,
http://demigodllc.com/articles/pract...ing-equipment/

http://demigodllc.com/articles/pract...ooting-optics/

http://demigodllc.com/articles/pract...ting-shooting/

Stuff to shoot ,
http://sportingriflematch.com/

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=37424

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=6763

Wow, great info cward, I have some reading to do now.

Hey just an fyi cward, check out these threads.

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=33477

http://www.co-ar15.com/forums/showthread.php?t=34009

I spotted for a guy using 115's at a match last year, and it was tricky on some of the far plates to spot hits.

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Originally Posted by banks74

I spotted for a guy using 115's at a match last year, and it was tricky on some of the far plates to spot hits.

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What ranges was he shooting at?

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Originally Posted by spleify

What ranges was he shooting at?

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I was shooting from 250-800 yards.

I am going to use the 115s again this year (I have over 3K of them on the shelf) and have absolutely no desire to change to a 260 even though I have a 260 barrel for my AI.

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Originally Posted by Hoser

I was shooting from 250-800 yards.

I am going to use the 115s again this year (I have over 3K of them on the shelf) and have absolutely no desire to change to a 260 even though I have a 260 barrel for my AI.

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Hoser, do you reload? Do you have a good recipe for the 115's that has worked for you?

I will have to see if I can get some 115gr projectiles and see how they work in my rifle.

Thanks

Quote:

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Originally Posted by spleify

Hoser, do you reload? Do you have a good recipe for the 115's that has worked for you?

I will have to see if I can get some 115gr projectiles and see how they work in my rifle.

Thanks

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I do reload.

If you dont have at least a 1 in 8 twist, the 115s will not work. And they are only avail in 500 count boxes.

I use 47-49 gns of H-1000 with Federal primers and Lapua brass, they are going right around 3200 fps.

Quote:

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Originally Posted by Hoser

I do reload.

If you dont have at least a 1 in 8 twist, the 115s will not work. And they are only avail in 500 count boxes.

I use 47-49 gns of H-1000 with Federal primers and Lapua brass, they are going right around 3200 fps.

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Thanks pal. I will have to figure out the twist rate. Anyone have an idea what an early 70's M77 has for a twist rate?

Stock Ruger is most likley 1 - 10 ish , the standard twists depending on manufacturer are beween 9 and 11 . depending on the twist the best bullets that will fly will be in the 90 - 105 gr range . There is also caliber specific info here , http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html , forgot about it last time .

Hoser is just delicate and will see the light sooner or later and build a 7 .

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Originally Posted by C Ward

Hoser is just delicate and will see the light sooner or later and build a 7 .

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No on the build part, yes on the delicate part.

All a 284 or a 7RM will do is kick me more and break the ranges targets.

Contacted Ruger today and they said that my rifle was built in March of 1973 it is a 77V(varmint model) and has a 1/9 twist rate.

I will have to do some testing and make up some different loads and see what works best in my rig.

Thanks for the help folks