243 AI? 115gr. Bergers or DTACS?

[bullridety]

I have a 28" Benchmark 1:7.5 twist 3 grove stainless fluted barrel that im going to screw onto a Stiller Predator long action. I want to be able to shoot long range and have a good killing bullet/load combination! What loads are you using and what bullet? I also want to make sure that im using an EXTREME powder so that my velocities never change? is the DTAC just for targets? Whats your velocity readings? Overall length? and what about your farthest killing distance? accuracy?gun)

 

[Stumpm2]

I have a 243 AI with a 26" 1 in 8" twist Bartlein Barrel and I shoot the 105 grain Berger Hunting VLD's at 3200 fps using 50 grains of Retumbo. The Retumbo fills the case pretty good and the load is slightly compressed with fits in my standard magazine. I got extreme velocity spreads of 5 fps with this load and have shot deer out to 450 yards with no problem.

 

[bullridety]

Thanks for the info! i like Retumbo powder....hopefully i get more varieties of 243 AI so i can sort through different loads to see what people are shooting

 

[Stumpm2]

I also use Vihtivouri N560 with 105 grain Amaxes for fire forming and varmints.

 

[bullridety]

how fur friendly are the Amaxes on coyotes? have you tried both bullets long range at like 900 to 1,000? shoot the same?

 

[Stumpm2]

The Amaxes are not very fur friendly within 200 yards, but outside of that they are pretty decent. I have only shot rocks out past 600 yards.

 

[AZShooter]

Last year my friend and both acquired Bartlein 30" 1 in 7.5 twist 5R barrels to shoot the DTACs. Dan built a 6mm Super LR and I built a 6mm-284. We discovered that we couldn't get the DTACs to shoot! We tried a few different powders, seating depth changes, neck tension etc nothing worked.

In my search for another bullet I read in several threads that the hunting 115 VLD wouldn't be able to hold together with such a fast twist. I did hear that the 107 sierra could handle it even with high velocites. Tried the 107 sierras and ended up finding a good load quickly.

I want to warn you that 3 groove barrel will begin to destroy bullet jackets once the throat gets rough. I know because I own two 3 groove barrels. Combine that with a fast twist and it happens pretty fast.

I was ill advised by the barrel manufacturer to get a 7mm barrel 1 in 7 twist in a 3 groove. Berger 180 VLDs began to come apart at around 225 rounds! Switched to the 180 target VLD and they began to shoot poorly when the 7 rem mag round count was around 400.

The 257 weatherby 3 groove was more forgiving shooting the 115 VLDs well till round count 500.

The only solution to continue to use these rough barrels was to go to a mono like the E-tip, Barnes or GMX or a bonded bullet. I chose accubonds in both situations. Lost quite a bit of BC and learned my lesson.

Back to the 6mm-284. Just a few weeks ago I tried the new 105 hybrid. With its .547 BC it is very competitive with the DTAC in actual downrange performance and will beat the 115 VLD. I am very happy with the performance. I don't push the 6mm-284 too hard and was running them at 3400 fps with excellent accuracy. The barrel has 800 rounds through it and it still shoots bugholes.

I hope you can get the DTACs to shoot. I understand Sierra makes them for Dave Tubb and they are stout. If not you might have to go to a heavier jacketed target VLD and skip the 115 hunting VLD.

As for using the target bullets for hunting there are quite a few guys doing it. I bump into threads from time to time. The new hybrids are called target bullets and I am certain you have read the stories of hunters using the heavier bullets in 30 and 338 calibers with fantastic results. The tips are the same just the bearing surface is thicker. I have no idea how the new 105 hybrid will work on larger game but I will certainly give them a try on coyotes to get a clue. I'd bet with good placement it will flatten an antelope or our smaller coues wt.

Please let us know your results with the DTACs. These forums are the best when it comes to sharing experiences. I look forward to your report.

 

[Lost creek]

I recently had a 6xc built and have only shot it a little bit because of the weather. In my rifle with the 115 DTAC just touching the lands it shot so so but seating it 10 thousands off the lands it is shooting 1/4inch groups. I am waiting for good weather to chronograph and test it at long range.

 

[Autorotate]

Last year my friend and both acquired Bartlein 30" 1 in 7.5 twist 5R barrels to shoot the DTACs. Dan built a 6mm Super LR and I built a 6mm-284. We discovered that we couldn't get the DTACs to shoot! We tried a few different powders, seating depth changes, neck tension etc nothing worked.

In my search for another bullet I read in several threads that the hunting 115 VLD wouldn't be able to hold together with such a fast twist. I did hear that the 107 sierra could handle it even with high velocites. Tried the 107 sierras and ended up finding a good load quickly.

I want to warn you that 3 groove barrel will begin to destroy bullet jackets once the throat gets rough. I know because I own two 3 groove barrels. Combine that with a fast twist and it happens pretty fast.

I was ill advised by the barrel manufacturer to get a 7mm barrel 1 in 7 twist in a 3 groove. Berger 180 VLDs began to come apart at around 225 rounds! Switched to the 180 target VLD and they began to shoot poorly when the 7 rem mag round count was around 400.

The 257 weatherby 3 groove was more forgiving shooting the 115 VLDs well till round count 500.

The only solution to continue to use these rough barrels was to go to a mono like the E-tip, Barnes or GMX or a bonded bullet. I chose accubonds in both situations. Lost quite a bit of BC and learned my lesson.

Back to the 6mm-284. Just a few weeks ago I tried the new 105 hybrid. With its .547 BC it is very competitive with the DTAC in actual downrange performance and will beat the 115 VLD. I am very happy with the performance. I don't push the 6mm-284 too hard and was running them at 3400 fps with excellent accuracy. The barrel has 800 rounds through it and it still shoots bugholes.

I hope you can get the DTACs to shoot. I understand Sierra makes them for Dave Tubb and they are stout. If not you might have to go to a heavier jacketed target VLD and skip the 115 hunting VLD.

As for using the target bullets for hunting there are quite a few guys doing it. I bump into threads from time to time. The new hybrids are called target bullets and I am certain you have read the stories of hunters using the heavier bullets in 30 and 338 calibers with fantastic results. The tips are the same just the bearing surface is thicker. I have no idea how the new 105 hybrid will work on larger game but I will certainly give them a try on coyotes to get a clue. I'd bet with good placement it will flatten an antelope or our smaller coues wt.

Please let us know your results with the DTACs. These forums are the best when it comes to sharing experiences. I look forward to your report.

Great post, thanks for sharing.

Based on that experience, what barrel (terms of twist, # lands, mfg) would you put in front of a 243 AI for a mid to long range prone F-Class rifle?

 

[AZShooter]

Thanks for the compliments. Guys here told me not to buy that 1 in 7 twist 7mm but I had to learn the hard way.

I am certain others will share their barrel manufacturer preferences. Here is my preference which would work perfectly for you as well.: I just ordered a second 6mm 5R Bartlein but this time a 1 in 8 twist. Berger says the 1 in 8 is the minimal twist for the 105 hybrids.