Load Development Ruger Precision Rifle .243

[barefooter56]

Ghost7,
Before you go out to buy a barrel for anything. Go to the TWIST RATE CALCULATOR on our website and run the numbers. If you will be shooting or hunting at different altitudes. Base your twist rate choice on the lowest altitude. If you dont know the altitude(s) go to the National Weather Service website and you can find them using a ZIP CODE. Read Bryan and Erics article on TWIST RATES in the RECENT POSTS section on our website for more information on what the SG (stability factors) mean to your application.
Thanks guys!

 

[jdmecomber]

Russ and I just learned something. I think I have been totally discounting some bullets that might have shot really well but were 1.3-1.4 stability so never got the chance. Anyways must read

Remember, slightly marginal stability can result in a couple percent reduction in BC, but the precision of the bullets will be unaffected until the stability factor (SG) drops below 1.1. You can use the Stability calculator below to calculate the stability of this bullet in your conditions based on barrel twist and muzzle velocity.

 

[barefooter56]

Bingo! Guys, we have the tools and articles on our website you need to help you make good choices. The APPLIED BALLISTICS website is another great source of information to use for finding help with long range shooting in general. And we are here for any questions you may have.
Thank you !

 

[jdmecomber]

Thanks Phil

 

[buckfvr]

So as a heads up/wake up call, anyone whos not perfect can feel the pain as last time out JOe and I seemed to both have a brain fart or two that for us, wasted a few rounds and made us scratch our heads near bald......

Joes was simpler than mine, but still something we should have caught immediately. THere was slight up hill movement and noticeable mirage. That makes focus blurry and at first glance acceptable. BIG mistake.......So Joe took the blur in stride and commenced to shoot some less than stellar shots. lightbulb OH, dang....parallax/side focus had not been adjusted from like 400 yards out to where we were at 800. What a difference it made to get focus right. Still didnt look clear, but only better because of the mirage.

So I printed me up a cheat sheet for the morning that was specific to where we were going to shoot. Well it was way windy there, so we moved to another place we shoot steel. Way different elevation and the temp was rising fast by the time we got there and I commenced to shoot with out adjusting for the new location......more wasting. Once we got back on track, all was ding dong as we would expect.

SO, got barrel for my .243 that we will develop to compare with the RPR .243 of Joes. My barrel is a bit heavier, Benchmark varmint contour and I can say it looks fantastic. New dilema is the scope. I am somewhere on Vortex list for the new Razor AMG and was told a year or more.........so soon as I fill my spring bear tag, the HST will come off the 7mm R mag and I will get started on the RPR vs. my poor mans build comparison. I will get some pics up soon and post up whats in/on the build and whats yet to go on it. Russ

 

[jdmecomber]

Took the Ruger out spring bear hunting.
My buddy shot a cinnamon bear about 6 ft with my 7mm 168 berger classics. The shot was 382 off a log. The bear dropped immediately. It was still alive. I handed him the .243 RPR with the 105 vld. We moved in a little about 200 yards out and he put the killing shot into a front facing bear. The bullet penetrated to the liver.

I don't have any doubt about Berger performance now. The 168 classic shattered the touchest part of the bear shoulder. Penetrated and broke the spine. It was high but did its job.

Pics of the shoulder, 105 bullet found in the liver and his bear.

 

[jdmecomber]

Berger 105 vld

 

[jdmecomber]

The bear

 

[jdmecomber]

Maybe the 105 vld should be more mushroomed?

 

[barefooter56]

jdmecomber,
Thanks for the kudos ! Go to Submit a Success Story | Berger Bullets if you would like to post your story and results .
Take care,

 

[barefooter56]

Was the 105 a Hunting or a target VLD ?

 

[jdmecomber]

hunting

When I get sometime I will

 

[buckfvr]

Im under the impression the VLD hunting bullets are of the fragmenting variety rather than the mushrooming variety by design. The bullet functioned as intended.

 

[barefooter56]

Maybe the 105 vld should be more mushroomed?

jdmecomber,
buckfvr has it right. They are more of a fragmentation bullet. That thing is so bent though . That may have something to do with its lack of fragmentation.