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Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? #5890465 08/22/15 02:45 PM
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I am interested in the results ya'll are getting with factory ammo in the Ruger American in .243 win with factory ammo. Recommendations?

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5890478 08/22/15 02:54 PM
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I'm actually looking for an American in .243 Win. but will be handloading for it. Not sure what twist they are but I'm thinking a factory Remington Corelokt in 85-100 grains would probably do well.


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5890542 08/22/15 04:09 PM
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According to Rugers website it's 1:9 twist. I'd think anything in the 95-100gr range should shoot well. I have a 7mm-08 and the Federal Fusion 120gr shot very well. I need to shoot it some more but the Fusion initially shot better than Remington Premier 140 gr and one other 140gr I tried.


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5890670 08/22/15 06:23 PM
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Well, I initially picked up two boxes of winchester power points-80 and 100 grain. I figured I'd zero with the weight that shot best and leave it at that, but I went to Gander for a bore snake and walked out with a box of the 95 grain Fusion as well. There is a thread on sniperforums.Com about a ruger american holding together under a minute all the way out to 650 with the fusion 95 grain load, and these were the first shots out of the box. I figure I'd be doing pretty good if I get ammo off the shelf that shot about a minute @ 100, nevermind keeping stable out to 650, in any brand new rifle, and realistically maybe a minute and a half with an occasional flyer. I have seen a lot of posts praising the federal fusion for accuracy. I'll let ya'll know how it goes with what I've got.

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5891184 08/23/15 02:23 AM
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Originally Posted By: Regular Guy
Well, I initially picked up two boxes of winchester power points-80 and 100 grain. I figured I'd zero with the weight that shot best and leave it at that, but I went to Gander for a bore snake and walked out with a box of the 95 grain Fusion as well. There is a thread on sniperforums.Com about a ruger american holding together under a minute all the way out to 650 with the fusion 95 grain load, and these were the first shots out of the box. I figure I'd be doing pretty good if I get ammo off the shelf that shot about a minute @ 100, nevermind keeping stable out to 650, in any brand new rifle, and realistically maybe a minute and a half with an occasional flyer. I have seen a lot of posts praising the federal fusion for accuracy. I'll let ya'll know how it goes with what I've got.


The first three shot group I shot with my 7mm-08 American was right at 3/4", and the first two shots of the next group were touching. I think you'll be quite pleased with the gun. Let us know how it shoots!


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5891208 08/23/15 02:44 AM
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Oh man, it is killing me. The last time I shot a centerfire rifle other than a service rifle, I was 19 years young! I just turned 35. That one was a Savage in .308. I can't even recall what model, picked it up for around $200 at walmart back then. If I get range time in the next week I'll be lucky. I ought to have some results within about two weeks though...

Last edited by Regular Guy; 08/23/15 02:44 AM.
Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5913624 09/04/15 10:13 PM
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I finally got to shoot. My .243 American seems to like the 80 grain load better than the 100. It shoots pretty consistent 1.5" groups with plain old 80 grain Winchester soft points. I did shoot a couple of groups around about an inch, and one about 3/4". Even my very worst group with this ammo was less than 2". The 100 grain load showed some promise, but a couple flyers resulted in their dismissal. One group opened to a little over 3", and that was that for me. I might try another box of them, because i did run two mixed magazines of 80 and 100 grain and almost kept them all inside a 2" square. Probably can't expect results like that with consistency, but I still think thats pretty good for two loads that have different points of impact. I like the rifle a lot, a best buy for $184 for sure. Meanwhile, my gun is dialed in with the 80 grain soft points. I feel confident i can make a good neck shot with this load.

Last edited by Regular Guy; 09/04/15 10:14 PM.
Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5913864 09/05/15 01:48 AM
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$184? Seriously, that's all you paid? I don't need one, but at that price I just might need one.


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5913989 09/05/15 03:32 AM
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I'm telling ya! First firearm I've owned in about three years. I sold what I had when I got to Fort Hood- just a couple shotguns. I hemmed and hawed for three years on different rifles. No time to shoot means plenty of time to wait for a good deal. I was looking for something with a little more knockdown power at first, but I thought a .243 would be a little more versatile and my wife and kids could manage it. When I saw those rugers I knew that was it. You are not going to find a better deal on a brand new rifle. About 1.5 moa with Winchester's cheapest load, 2nd cheapest load on wal-mart shelves, and using a $40 tasco scope. I'll take that all day

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5914235 09/05/15 02:31 PM
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First 3 shots from my RAR 243 (100gr Win Power Points) were in less than 1". All subsequent loads have been hand loads. Great little tool for the money.

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5918826 09/08/15 10:39 PM
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I just read the thread on rifle maintenance before typing this.  I never clean all the fouling from the bore. I normally run a patch of clp or remoil, or maybe some hoppe's 9 solvent- something off the shelf at walmart to be honest. Then a couple dry patches and/or a bore snake.  If the gun sits for a few days without being shot, I will wet the bore with a patch of oil for storage. I have never tried to clean up the oil in the bore before shooting.
I ran a patch of clp down the bore last night, and we just happened to go to the range today.  I gave the 100 grain winchester pp's a 2nd chance, and at 50 yards they grouped as bad today as they did at 100 yards a week ago.  6 shots at 50 yards, 3 sets of 2 holes touching, spread diagonally across about three inches.  I let it cool a minute and switched to the 80 grains, without swabbing the bore. They literally shot the 1/2" center circle out of a 1" birchwood casey target dot.  My wife and I used the remaining 100 grain pp's to plink soda cans, and then I proceeded to shoot 45 long colt shells from 50 yards with the 80 grain soft points.  We never even let the barrel cool after plinking, and it got hot enough to see the mirage in the scope.  The gun can flat out shoot the 80 grain winchester soft points, even with a hot barrel.  But I digress...
After reading the maintenance thread and thinking it over, I want to try the 100's once more with a DRY barrel.  I might even run a patch or two of denatured alcohol down the bore to get the powder residue and ALL the oil out for sure without removing the copper/fouling. Maybe run through a whole box of 20 for peace of mind. I really want the 100 grain winchester load to shoot for me, the center of it's poi is 2" low and centered to the 80 grains at 100 yards. Zeroed with the 100's at 100 yards, i could have options. I just can't see why the accuracy is that poor with 100 grain powerpoints, and so awesome with the 80 grain soft points.  Maybe I got a bad lot of 100 grains, or a good lot of 80's who knows.  Might the oil being burned off actually make that much difference over the first half dozen shots?  As far as I know, at this velocity, any oil based lubricant will increase drag and friction instead of reduce it- i think that it matters, just didn't think it mattered THAT much.  3" at 50 yards is pretty bad compared to a 1/2" hole with the 80 grains, but the oil was probably burned off by the time I switched.  Gives me an excuse to spend one more day at the range, regardless :)  In the meantime, I have a lot more confidence in the 80 grain load. 

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5921284 09/10/15 03:11 AM
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100 grain Hornady Whitetail Revolution ammo. I've killed 5 deer the last two years with this ammo.

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: bigjoe8565] #5921809 09/10/15 02:37 PM
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Assume you mean American Whitetail ammo?

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5921942 09/10/15 03:57 PM
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RG, read my post below about oil in the barrel. It has good information about how to clean and how NOT to shoot any ammo with oil or lubricant in the barrel.

http://texashuntingforum.com/forum/ubbthreads.php/topics/4661544/1/Rifle_Cleaning_for_deer_season

On the 100 grain ammo. A lot of 243's struggle shooting the heavy (i.e.- long) bullets. It looks like your 243 is a 1:9" barrel twist. A 1:9" should stabilize a 100 grain flat base soft point. It's easier to get the long bullets to shoot bad than it is to get them to shoot good when you are on the edge of stability and the load may need tweaking to make it shoot good. But I would not test them at 50 yards. It's way too close. But still, 3" is not that good at 50. Something else may be going on.


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: JJH] #5921990 09/10/15 04:27 PM
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Originally Posted By: JJH
Assume you mean American Whitetail ammo?


Yep. I was working from memory and that's a dangerous thing.

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5922006 09/10/15 04:34 PM
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Did you try the 95gr Fusion that you picked up?


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5922699 09/10/15 11:07 PM
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I tested the Fusion today. How does an 8 shots spread across 4" sound to you? I've got 12 rounds left of it, free to anyone that wants it. I also shot the new PerFecta .243 soft points, which actually did well. I am going to post a short range report tonight, with pictures.

Last edited by Regular Guy; 09/10/15 11:09 PM.
Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5922896 09/11/15 12:34 AM
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Originally Posted By: Regular Guy
I tested the Fusion today. How does an 8 shots spread across 4" sound to you? I've got 12 rounds left of it, free to anyone that wants it. I also shot the new PerFecta .243 soft points, which actually did well. I am going to post a short range report tonight, with pictures.


Doesn't sound good at all. Mine did an 1" to 1.5" 3 shot groups with Hornady and Winchester 100 grain ammo.

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5922910 09/11/15 12:40 AM
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Mine loves the winchester super x 80 grains. 10 shots, 100 yards, about a inch and a quarter center to center...

Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? Edited, with pictures... [Re: Regular Guy] #5922914 09/11/15 12:41 AM
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Since I have to report tonight, I decided to hit the range one more time.  I have been fighting the urge to test the Federal Fusion 95 grain coated soft points, but I finally gave in.  I also tried the low-priced Perfecta 100 grain soft points.  I used the Winchester Super X 80 grain soft points for my control because they have proven to shoot well in my rifle.
I started off with the 95 grain Federal Fusion.  I thoroughly cleaned bore because this ammo is coated, and I worried that copper fouling in the bore would make it shoot poorly.  The first four shots were about a inch and a half across.  The outlier on the bottom is actually the left side of the target. It was the first shot through a clean, cold bore:



I felt like it showed promise, so I let the barrel cool and fired 4 more at the same target. This also auto-rotated when I uploaded it. The tip of the cartridge points up:



Needless to say, I was pretty let down.  With the two widest fliers, it looked like about a 4" group.  I stopped the test with Fusion right there.
After the barrel cooled completely, I scrubbed the bore and tested the PerFecta 100 grain soft point. I cleaned the bore thoroughly to remove all the moly, or whatever kind of coating the fusion had, from the bore. It was dirtier than I expected. I thought the coating was supposed to reduce fouling, but I guess not! The Perfecta cartridge actually shot well.  The first four shots formed a group about 1" ctc. Again, the tip of the cartridge points to the top:



I let the barrel cool off awhile, but it was still a little warm when I fired the next four. The group opened up to about 1 3/4", not too bad but not super impressive either. Cartridge points to top:



I fired  two more to make it ten, and they didn't open it up any more. I held a card of Birchwood Casey 1" dots on the left of the target for size reference:



     I didn't clean the barrel before firing my control group with the 80 grain Winchester Super X soft points. I figured the copper or gilding metal jacket was similar enough between the two soft points, that they would probably shoot better if I left the fouling in the bore.  I allowed the barrel to cool, then I fired 10 of the 80 grain Winchester Super X soft points. It was about 1 1/4" ctc. The poi is actually above the target, the image again auto-rotated on me:



With the card of 1" target spots for reference:



This is a proven performer in my rifle, and they did even better than I expected.  I think it would have been even better with a more solid rest and better optics.
     After shooting this group, I decided to give the Perfecta 100 grain soft points one more chance. I thought they might shoot a little bit better with a properly fouled-in bore. I allowed the barrel to cool, but I did not clean it at all. The next ten Perfecta soft points landed in a group about 1 1/2 inches ctc, with no cooling period between shots. Of course it auto-rotated to the left. The two shots on the far right are actually the bottom of the target:



With the 1" target spots for reference:



While the 80 grain load did perform marginally better, it is worth noting that I could not tell the difference in size without measuring. Also, to me at least, the 100 grain load appears to be a little more tight overall- with a couple of outliers. Given the restaints of the rest, the optics, and my own abilities, I feel that they performed on par with the 80 grain load. I'd been at the range for a few hours and to be honest I was tired and sweaty, and ready to shoot at some reactive targets for a change. I may shoot them better on another day.

The rest:



     The rifle has impressed me so far, and the low priced (I stopped calling them cheap) PerFecta loads proved to me that the gun can shoot a heavier load.  What really surprised me however, is the $40 Tasco 3-9x40 I picked up with the rifle. The first day at the range, I dialed it in with 80 grain Winchester soft points, about 1 1/3" high at 100 yards.  I've ran almost 100 rounds through it since then- 128 rounds in total- and the scope has held true.  I figured it would have shifted some, or slipped in the rings, but the mild recoil of the .243 Winchester doesn't seem to affect it.
     I really like the .243 Winchester cartridge.  It's a pleasure to shoot, and I really wish I'd have cut my teeth on it.  My first centerfire- a .308 I picked up when I was 19 years old, blacked my eye.  It was bundled with a cheap scope that had poor eye relief, and I'd shot only .22lr and pellet guns up to that point, but I digress.
     I hope some of you find this useful.  I had a lot of fun shooting and typing this up.  I also hope you guys don't go out and buy up all the PerFecta .243 ammo to try,  because I need to stock up.  All I have left is the coated Fusion, and it's free to anyone that wants it. I will continue trying different loads, and I will post results with pictures as I go.

Last edited by Regular Guy; 09/11/15 12:49 PM.
Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5923187 09/11/15 02:56 AM
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The twist in the Rugers should stabilize the heavier bullets but I guess that doesn't necessarily mean they'll shoot better. In addition to yours, my American 7mm-08 also favors lighter bullets (120 vs 140). I realize neither has had a load worked up for it but I found that odd.


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Re: Ruger American .243, most accurate factory loads? [Re: Regular Guy] #5923224 09/11/15 03:21 AM
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I think i may have gotten a bad run of the winchester 100 grain loads. The cheapest 100 grain load I could find will put ten into a group 1/2 to 3/4 the size of my best group with the powerpoints. I think the main issue with the Fusion is the coating on the bullet. The 80 grain winchester soft points are just sweet. I will test a few other 100 grain loads in my rifle eventually, but in the meantime I am happy with what I've found. The 80 grain winchester load should be close to dead on at 200 yards, zeroed a little over an inch high at 100, and I have a little more confidence in the heavier 100 grain perfecta loads inside of 100 yards. I will probably test a few more 100 grain loads to prove the gun will shoot them when they are not sloppily made. If the cheapest 100 grain loads shoot better than I can, and just barely a quarter inch larger than the next best which is 80 grains, then surely there is a better 100 grain factory load for the gun.
In regards to twist rate, it seems like most in the know have recommend to ignore it. Apparently a rifle will frequently shoot best with a load that doesn't make sense in regards to the twist rate. Regardless, I am not super worried about finding a super accurate heavy load. I imagine an 80 grain slug with precise placement will kill quicker than a 100 grain slug with poor placement.

Edit- and now if I can learn to post pictures before bed...

Edit 2- Chad, I apologize, I didn't see your explanation on typical twist rates with 100 grains plus. Also, still trying to figure out posting pictures. I have them resized, hopefully it will work...

Last edited by Regular Guy; 09/11/15 11:15 AM.
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