loading for a 788 in 243

[nitis]

I know every gun is different and I do not understand twist and bullet sppeed and how they relate yet as I am green and do not know the twist of the barrel in my 788.

So for those of you who have loaded for this gun what bullet weight seemed to work best? I really dont want to load 100s since it will mainly be a coyote gun but am afraid the 55s will be to small. so 70s 80s? I dont want to buy and try too much if I dont have to and have boxes laying around that may never be used. thanks in advance

 

[Richracer1]

I know every gun is different and I do not understand twist and bullet sppeed and how they relate yet as I am green and do not know the twist of the barrel in my 788.

So for those of you who have loaded for this gun what bullet weight seemed to work best? I really dont want to load 100s since it will mainly be a coyote gun but am afraid the 55s will be to small. so 70s 80s? I dont want to buy and try too much if I dont have to and have boxes laying around that may never be used. thanks in advance

The twist rate affects how the bullet flys through the air. If the twist rate is to slow (doesn't spin the bullet fast enough) the bullet could start to tumble. I'm not sure on this, but I don't think you can over spin a bullet. If your plan is to stick to 80gn or below, you shouldn't have any problems. IMO, 55gn out of a 243 is terrific coyote medicine. Find what you rifle shoots well, and yes, it may take several boxes of different ammo to find this. Buy one box at a time.

 

[BK]

I have found that my 788 6mm really likes 70 gr Ballistic Tips - shoots far tighter groups than any other rifle I own, even with the atrocious 10+ lb trigger. I also use IMR4350, but a .243 may like different powders.

 

[FOTIS]

I have been loading for my bud's 243 /788 for over 10 years. He has the very short barrel version 18"??????? Anyway I ran 1oo grain hornadies and imr 4350 for 1/2" groups....

 

[Colin]

With spin, think of throwing a football...if you don't get enough spin on it, it will be a duck and start to tumble. Same goes for bullets.

Now out of every bullet I've used for killing coyotes...from .223, .243, .25-06, and .300 Win Mag. The 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tip is, by far, my favorite!!!! There is just something about that bullet that makes it the most effective coyote bullet I've ever used.

I'd go with the 70gr Ballistic Tip (or even the 80gr) and you will not be dissapointed!!!

 

[nitis]

well plan was to try 70 or 80 ballistic tips probably 80 so that if for what ever reason I needed to shoot a deer or maybe an uninvited predator while hunting coyotes I would feel a little more comfortable haveing the extra weight

I guess I was more looking to see who had loaded for the 788 243 and what worked best for them as far as good groups etc.

 

[JD338]

nitis

My go to loads for the 243 Win

70 gr BT, 39.0 grs IMR4895

95 gr 100 gr, 42.0 grs IMR4350

Remember to start low and work up.
The 70 gr load was the "club load". It shot well under MOA for 7-8 fellas.

JD338

 

[Hegland]

This is in a 700 rather than 788, but...

80 gr BT
38.0 gr Varget
WLR primer
RP brass

 

[YoteSmoker]

If you want a bullet that can be used for varmint and deer both, I would recommend the 95 ballistic tip if you stick with nosler but my choice is 85 Sierra Gameking BTHP and if used more for deer/antelope than varmint would be the 85 Barnes TSX. 42.5 grains IMR 4350 work great with the 85-87 grain bullets and 42.5 RL-22 works for the 95 Ballistic tip, howbeit this is a 10 twist a-bolt and your 788 is probaly a 9 1/4. I would guess the loads should be in the neighborhood either side of a half grain difference maybe.

 

[YoteSmoker]

One more thing... The lightest controlled expansion medium game nosler bullets begin at 85 grains in the Partition and 90 grains in the ballistic tip. Going any lighter could be asking for trouble other than for varmint/predator.

 

[nitis]

well I have no intention of using it for deer

could it stabilize the lighter bullets like the 55 gr?

 

[YoteSmoker]

It could but I can't tell you for sure. Powders like H4895 or Varget, H414 is where I would start and try to push the 55's fast. I have not personally tried these light bullets, only going down in weight to 70 grainers with H414, but settling on the 85-87 grain bullets where I found the best accuracy in my rifle.

 

[BK]

It'll stabilize them, the question is will they hold together? Only way to find out is to shoot them. My guess is that the light BTs will. They have a pretty substantial base.