.243 55 grain

[Bofire]

  You guys who have used or do use these, compared to the 100 grain. What diference do you notice at given ranges? 100 yards? I would think the 55 would be lower at 100 to be on at 200. Anyway if you have tried them what did you notice about grouping? thanks
Carl

[Jolten]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

[Biggerhammer]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

Then you Sir would flat be shocked at what I would take on with a .243 and a 55gr pill.👍

[Jolten]

Oh don't get me wrong. I hunt with my .243. I favor it over my .270 most situations. Just hard to find a good .55gr that performs to my standards. I shoot 80gr Barnes TTSX

[Jolten]

To the original poster. Do you know your muzzle velocity and BC?

[Bofire]

I shoot and have shot tons of things with my 243 with 80 or 100 grain bullets, and love the gun, I have never tried the 55 grain and wondered about point of impact change. Of course for use on small game.
thanks
Carl

[Jolten]

Do you have ballistic info for me to look at? It would help

[Jolten]

Looking at basic info on 55gr using a standard loading it looks like the 55gr rises to 100 faster

[dscubame]

Do you have ballistic info for me to look at? It would help

Did you even read the question? 

[dscubame]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

Then you Sir would flat be shocked at what I would take on with a .243 and a 55gr pill.👍

And even a lighter .22 to support Bigger even more......

[257 Wby Mag]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

Then you Sir would flat be shocked at what I would take on with a .243 and a 55gr pill.👍

That's a fact Landon. I've been down this road more than once on a forum, instead of arguing folks need to try em for themselves. I have a ould hunt bucks anytime anywhere with a 55 BT @ 4000. Perty similar results as my 257 Roy...

[257 Wby Mag]

BTW, don't know the POI difference as I only shoot 55's outta my 2 243's. Try em , you'll love em!

[mountainman]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

Then you Sir would flat be shocked at what I would take on with a .243 and a 55gr pill.👍

That's a fact Landon. I've been down this road more than once on a forum, instead of arguing folks need to try em for themselves. I have a ould hunt bucks anytime anywhere with a 55 BT @ 4000. Perty similar results as my 257 Roy...

I have, with good results, but there are better choices

[257 Wby Mag]

Hopefully you're not shooting at anything bigger then a coyote with 55gr.

Then you Sir would flat be shocked at what I would take on with a .243 and a 55gr pill.👍

That's a fact Landon. I've been down this road more than once on a forum, instead of arguing folks need to try em for themselves. I have a ould hunt bucks anytime anywhere with a 55 BT @ 4000. Perty similar results as my 257 Roy...

I have, with good results, but there are better choices

Good, I like 55's, and ill continue to use em...

[mountainman]

 

[Jolten]

Yes I read the question. He asked what the point of impact change was at 100yards using a 200 yard zero. Instead of being lazy and just throwing a estimated answer out for him I was going to use a ballistic calculator to give him a closer answer to his question.

Also I didn't say it couldn't be done but haven't found a 55gr load that I would use due to my own personal standards.

[257 Wby Mag]

Except on elk, I'd end up using 85 TSX's or even 100gr Win PP's, again... They were all 1 shot kills on Rosie bulls. 243 is a GIANT killer.

[Jolten]

Guess trying to provide the most accurate answer to his question and stating in my opinion I personally wouldn't use a 55gr bullet on anything bigger then a coyote makes me the wrong person for this conversation.

Good luck getting the answer your looking to OP.

[dscubame]

Guess trying to provide the most accurate answer to his question and stating in my opinion I personally wouldn't use a 55gr bullet on anything bigger then a coyote makes me the wrong person for this conversation.

Good luck getting the answer your looking to OP.

Young grasshopper you have much to learn about these parts.

[257 Wby Mag]

BTW Carl, the pard has a A-bolt 243 that shoots 55's the same impact as 85's and 100's, but it will shoot any factory fodder same POI. pretty amazing little gun..

[Jolten]

Really doubting by your arrogance that you could really teach me much of anything. 

[mountainman]

Guess trying to provide the most accurate answer to his question and stating in my opinion I personally wouldn't use a 55gr bullet on anything bigger then a coyote makes me the wrong person for this conversation.

Good luck getting the answer your looking to OP.

Applaud you stated limits in regard to this discussion. You, and the majority of ethical hunters realize that yes, under good conditions, a 55 BT is a bolt of lightning on deer sized critters, it is not ideal for the majority of conditions. Yes, there are better choices out there for 99% of those conditions. And as ethical hunters, we have the obligation to stick to what works best under less then ideal conditions, not just the perfect broadside shot. If you limit to just that, you miss many opportunities. Yes, many will argue otherwise, but they are the minority, thank goodness...
 

[dscubame]

Really doubting by your arrogance that you could really teach me much of anything. 

I won't be doing any teaching.  Re-read this thread in a few months and you may understand my response.  Cheers.

[Biggerhammer]

55gr to 500grs, dead is dead. For those with a little less trigger time in the real world on fur and hair. Speed kills, no and's, ifs, what's or but's. There isn't much in North America I wouldn't take on with a .223 Remington and mag or mag box full of 60gr Partitions. Holes kill chit, that's as simple as it gets. 10 holes from a .22 long rifle or 1 from a .450 Ultra Magnum. Dead is dead!

It also all depends on the animal, I've dropped some quicker with a .243 and a 87gr Hornady than I have with a .300 Win Mag and a 180 Nosler. Same range, close to the same hit. Animals are no different than people. You can smack one guy on the chin and down he goes and the next mops the floor with your sorry hindend.

[Forks]

I lost consistant groops at 200yd. with little wind and moved on to the 87vmax.

[Biggerhammer]

The 87's are wicked!👍

[Don Fischer]

You guys who have used or do use these, compared to the 100 grain. What diference do you notice at given ranges? 100 yards? I would think the 55 would be lower at 100 to be on at 200. Anyway if you have tried them what did you notice about grouping? thanks
Carl

Maybe and maybe not. Have you considered shooting them to find out?

[mountainman]

Yes, now that the conversation is changing to controlled expansion bullets 80 grains and up, they become more efficient killers. The frangible, lighter bullets (55 BT's) are not designed for penetration. Those that claim them as otherwise are the ones with not much trigger time on game...or so we should hope! Again, spectacular on closer broadside shots AND missing ribs and heavy muscle. But I would rather have something heavier and controlled for the less then perfect presentations! I always strive for that one shot kill, unlike some who Brag about multiple shots on game...I don't give those slobs, and they are slobs, much consideration, and they will never, or never again share a campfire with me....

[Biggerhammer]

Love these threads! It's either too small of a cartridge or your "Over gunned". I could care less, I run what I brung, crap dies just the same for me, year after year. I could care less about what the guy on the other hillside is packing or shooting and I prefer my campfire to myself.

[Bofire]

  geeeeeeez, I just wondered about personal experience with the two weight/same sighting. I have manuals/programs etc to read predicted trajectories. 100 -vs- 55, any change in sight settings? horizontal , vertical or both??
thanks to you guys who have tried both in a 243.
Carl

[BULLBLASTER]

i agree that the 243 has some serious killing power! i have seen what 55 grainers will do to big muleys and it is impressive.
i shoot both 90 and 95 grainers from mine and it works killler... 
best way to see how different they will shoot is to try some out. if i had some 55 grainers i would send them your way to try.
shootersproshop.com has some 55 grain ballistic tip varmint right now for a good deal...

[257 Wby Mag]

Oh bull blaster, are you sure you seen that? You must be like me and haven't killed many animals? Grin

[BULLBLASTER]

Oh bull blaster, are you sure you seen that? You must be like me and haven't killed many animals? Grin

[257 Wby Mag]

I just gotta remember to tell my buddies over in Montana, that on a given year get to fill  more buck/doe tags, deer and antelope, than most folks kill in a 5 year period to quit shootin their 22/250's and swifts with cup and core boolits. That is a real unethical group over there!! LMAO!

[mountainman]

You guys who have used or do use these, compared to the 100 grain. What diference do you notice at given ranges? 100 yards? I would think the 55 would be lower at 100 to be on at 200. Anyway if you have tried them what did you notice about grouping? thanks
Carl

Yes, Bofire, you are correct, with 200 yard. Zero on both, the 55 would be flatter at 100, albeit nominally. The lighter bullet would be flatter to mid- long range, then the heavier bullet will start to drop less at incremental ranges..

[mountainman]

i agree that the 243 has some serious killing power! i have seen what 55 grainers will do to big muleys and it is impressive.
i shoot both 90 and 95 grainers from mine and it works killler... 
best way to see how different they will shoot is to try some out. if i had some 55 grainers i would send them your way to try.
shootersproshop.com has some 55 grain ballistic tip varmint right now for a good deal...

As have I. To include a dozen or so bears, 30+ deer, several elk with bullets 55 and up from the 243. Along with several bear and deer with the 22-250 and the Swift. And yes, spectacular kills all! But they were all carefully placed shots from and accurate gun and un aware animals. We have to disclaim to those new to the sport and shooting animals here on this site and others, that will read comments and believe this is the cure all for any animal they may begin to hunt. In the right hands, under the right conditions...yes, awesome round. But beginners will be better served with something with a little more forgiveness, so to speak, on maybe a less then perfect shot..rib bone hit, shoulder blade hit, sharp quartering shot, etc...as for unethical, that was to the comments of people that just fill the animal a lot of holes, just the same as a well place shot?  No, it's not.....

[rynokron]

geeeeeeez, I just wondered about personal experience with the two weight/same sighting. I have manuals/programs etc to read predicted trajectories. 100 -vs- 55, any change in sight settings? horizontal , vertical or both??
thanks to you guys who have tried both in a 243.
Carl

When my .243 was sighted in for 100 grain bullets it would hit high and to the right when I shot 58 grain Vmax through it. Mine groups much better with the lighter loads and it's my go to coyote gun so I now have it sighted in for the 58's and plan to leave it there. Since I already own a 30-06 I don't have to worry about being under gunned for bigger game. 

[BULLBLASTER]

my gf has killed 3 deer with my 243. 2 around 150 yards and last years was a big old deer at 220 yards. i tell her to aim for the biggest part of the shoulder. this one was shot with a 90 grain accubond with a mv around 3100. broke both shoulder sockets and took out the top of the heart. one of the biggest bodied whiteys ive been around.

[demontang]

55gr to 500grs, dead is dead. For those with a little less trigger time in the real world on fur and hair. Speed kills, no and's, ifs, what's or but's. There isn't much in North America I wouldn't take on with a .223 Remington and mag or mag box full of 60gr Partitions. Holes kill chit, that's as simple as it gets. 10 holes from a .22 long rifle or 1 from a .450 Ultra Magnum. Dead is dead!

It also all depends on the animal, I've dropped some quicker with a .243 and a 87gr Hornady than I have with a .300 Win Mag and a 180 Nosler. Same range, close to the same hit. Animals are no different than people. You can smack one guy on the chin and down he goes and the next mops the floor with your sorry hindend.

I have to agree I have noticed that the 180 bt flat kills out of my 338 but my 223 with the 52gr nosler flat kills too

[BULLBLASTER]

i agree that the 243 has some serious killing power! i have seen what 55 grainers will do to big muleys and it is impressive.
i shoot both 90 and 95 grainers from mine and it works killler... 
best way to see how different they will shoot is to try some out. if i had some 55 grainers i would send them your way to try.
shootersproshop.com has some 55 grain ballistic tip varmint right now for a good deal...

As have I. To include a dozen or so bears, 30+ deer, several elk with bullets 55 and up from the 243. Along with several bear and deer with the 22-250 and the Swift. And yes, spectacular kills all! But they were all carefully placed shots from and accurate gun and un aware animals. We have to disclaim to those new to the sport and shooting animals here on this site and others, that will read comments and believe this is the cure all for any animal they may begin to hunt. In the right hands, under the right conditions...yes, awesome round. But beginners will be better served with something with a little more forgiveness, so to speak, on maybe a less then perfect shot..rib bone hit, shoulder blade hit, sharp quartering shot, etc...as for unethical, that was to the comments of people that just fill the animal a lot of holes, just the same as a well place shot?  No, it's not.....

agreed, no caliber or gun can be a cure all. care should be taken to make the best shot possible no matter how big the number in your gun is. also agree with hammer.

[mountainman]

And to clarify, I am not saying the caliber is too small. I have first hand knowledge of what it can do, more then most. My comments are directed at the use of bullets designed for varmints used for anything else. BT,s, Blitzkings, Vmax etc.... Accu's, partitions, X bullets,etc...fine big game bullets,a great low recoiling round and can be phenomenally accurate!