New Big Bore

[Larry in VA]

Got a new (to Me) Sako 75 Grey Wolf in 243Win and will be reloading for it as soon as get all the new supplies rounded up. Did the the Ole tight patch thru the bore this evening and measured a 1 in 10 twist. How longest (in weight) bullet can I expect to stabalize reliably in this barrel twist?
TIA - Larry

[RJM]

Larry,
10" is the standard twist for the 243. You can shoot all the way up to the 100-105 gr bullets. Remington chose a 12" for the .244, but that limited bullets to no more than the 80-85 gr. Winchester's commercial success with the 10" in .243 forced them to change to change the .244's name to the 6mm Rem, and change the twist to 10" so you could shoot deer with the 100 grainers.

Regards, Ron

[Larry in VA]

I was hoping I could shoot the 100’s because I have 3 old boxes of Rem. factory loaded with 100gr soft points and these will be used for breakin and the brass for my first reloads.
Larry.

[king canis]

it depends on bullet profile. vld's will require more twist than 1 in 10, but 100 grain hunting bullets will shoot fine.

[Stephen Perry]

Barrel twist is a myth perpetuated by gun writers and those that read and repeat such. You don't know until you try what each barrel will handle in bullet weights. What to me in cartrdges is bullet profile and using powders in the case of the .243 that will stabilize with chosen barrel twist. Twist whether 1-9 through 1-12 in cartridges doesn't market a cartridge. Loss of sales with the .244 Rem compared to the .243 was a marketing ploy. The .244 Rem. came out with a Varmint background of converting Mauser actions to heavy bench guns, actually some barrels for the .244 were 1-14 to take advantage of the popular twist in Hart, Pride and similar hot barrels of the time. Since .22 benchrest cartridges like .219 Donaldson, not the Wasp version, and .22-250 and .222 ruled the day until 1960 when the 6x47 Rem and later the 6 PPC took away the .222 dominance in the benchrest scene.

So Remington lost their .244 poster child lost it's Varmint appeal to the others and talked it as a deer hunting cartridge. Too late the .243 a more popular choice well established in a more popular rifle the Model 70 and pushed Remington to do another Marketing change. Same cartridge as the .244 now in Metric 6 Rem terms with another barrel twist 1-9. Too little too late the .243 can be bought most anywhere around the hunting World try and find a retailer in Africa or Europe who sells 6 Rem.

So even though I have both the .243 and .244/6 Rem. barrel twist is not what seperates them, both will handle all the 6mm bullet weights. What seperates them is the established popularity and Marketing Winchester started early in the .243 entrance on the scene as a deer sized cartridge that makes one heck of a Varmint cartridge. The .244/6 rem does the same but was marketed as a challenge to the .243 it failed, though I have an early 6 Rem made off a Springfield action that I wouldn't part with. Go figure.

Stephen Perry
Angeles BR

[SShooterZ]

Should be good up to 100gr, but I have found the sweet spot to be in the 70-85gr family.

Sounds like a sweet gun. Any pics?

[Fireball]

Larry, once you start reloading try the 87 gr. Vmax with 46 gr. of N160. This is a very accurate load in my Sako 75 .243. I kept looking for bullet holes on the target down range, but only saw one. ;) I am getting 3237 FPS and the pressure looks just fine. The 87VM has a nice combination of weight/BC. The prefect longer range varmint/predator bullet.

[TinMan]

Some of my .243 favorites bullets are for varmints, 70gr Sierra BK and 87gr VMAX. For game bullets are Sierra 85gr HPBT GameKing and 95gr Nosler BT. Have fun.

[Larry in VA]

Here you go SShooterZ, took this pic just a moment ago just for you. :)
http://i55.tinypic.com/2h6suc0.jpg

Warren:
Sounds great, will have to pick up a bottle of N-160 and give it a try.

Thanks for the additional come back guys. Since I originally posted that thread I haven’t been able to get a powder and 100gr bullet combo to work for beans. Just ain’t gonna happen I’m afraid. I have spent way too much time and money trying to get 100gr bullets to shoot from this rifle. However the 80’s do show promise and that is the way I’m going now. The 85gr Sierra HPBT (#1530 if memory is serving me) is what I’m working with now. I will have to give Warrens N160 a try when I find some. I loaded 20 rounds (85gr Sierra’s over H4831sc) month ago to take to range but haven’t had a good range opportunity yet. When I find the time the weather is acting up or vice versa.

Even though I have not found my hunting load I am constantly amazed at how smooth this Sako functions. At the bench I have to stop and check to make sure this rifle picked up the next round and chambered it. It is that effortless. :cool: Are most other Sakos this smooth?