HAMMER or PIPSQUEAK?! 243 Winchester Hornady Outfitter 80gr CX Ammo Test

[@masonleather_outdoors]

Get the best range and outdoor gear here! www.masonoutdoors.com Get your handmade leather gear here! www.masonleather.com Let me know what you think about the video and please share, it’s a big help! Visiting the websites above directly supports the channel and helps me bring you more awesome videos!

[@jl123ist]

I read an article from an ammo company many years ago that said their test barrels were all 26". And very few rifles that people hunt or even target shoot with have 26" barrels. So having a chronograph to test the actual speed of the ammo you shoot is a very good idea especially if you intend to use that information for very long range dope charts.

[@furmanmackey5479]

Two of the most successful deer hunters I know hunt with rifles chambered in .243. Both rifles have 24" barrels. All the deer, hogs, and cayotes that both of my friends have taken with their .243s were "One shot, down and done" cases.

[@panthermartin7784]

Shot my 19th elk last year with a handloaded 100gr Speer GrandSlam in a clapped out Savage 110 .243. Complete penetration out the far side at 432 yards, didn't walk 15 yards. The GrandSlam is probably the best bullet on the market in my opinion, will never fail you regardless of what it hits. Would be a good test on your channel.

[@tomwaits4205]

They are the best available .243 bullet for sure. I wish someone would run a factory load with them so more folks could have access to them. But i guess that leaves more for us!

[@donwyoming1936]

Been using the 270 130gr Grand Slam since the late 80s. Never let me down. Deer, antelope, elk & moose. Full penetration every time. 🤠

[@panthermartin7784]

@@donwyoming1936 Well guys, make that 20 elk, tagged out on a 6x5 bull elk in November, same .243, same GS bullet, TWACK, dead, freezer.

[@vincentjackson3472]

I'll file this in the memory bank for when I reload! Cheers from nz!

[@Dscple13]

@panthermartin7784, thanks for sharing your hand loaded experiences. I just inherited an old .243 Savage 110L and reloading press from my uncle. I’ll grab some of those Grandslams. What powder do you use? Thanks!

[@PinestoPalms]

My Tikka T3x was getting sub moa groups with these except I kept getting random fliers a few inches from the main group every 3-4 shots. I switched to Barnes tsx 85 grain and have no fliers now. Thanks for the video, interesting stuff!

[@Simon-talks]

Hopefully that big trophy buck won't need that 3rd or 4th shot though

[@jtg2259]

You've got the up and coming channel! short and to the point, good video.

[@guardianminifarm8005]

Good information - demonstration. Thank you. Not too bad. We used an 18" compact Ruger American in 243 for my youngest son to harvest his first deer a couple years ago. We used 100 grain Hornady BTSP handloads at 2700. It performed really well.

[@masonleather_outdoors]

Shorter barreled 243’s are just too handy not to use

[@CircleBrewery]

My favorite cartridge 😊

[@billgraham5387]

Have used a 243 for over 30 years. When barnes 85gr TSX first came out started loading them, then the 80gr. There isn't a better bullet for the 243, hands down. Iv seen alot of big whitetail and mulies drop too these, and moose, my wife just shot a 4 year old bull moose at 275 yds and it only went 20 feet , 6 days ago. Highly underrated caliber. The cx bullets would do the same thing. I wouldn't hesitate to shoot a elk with in 250 yds, as long as it was a good broadside shot.

[@curtk8130]

I like the Barnes but I have never used it in the 243. I like the partition because it’s the only 243 round I ever found that gave me consistent pass through shots. I use a 100 grain pill and have it moving around 3170 out of my 24” rem 700. I’ve been hesitant to try to all copper pills. Thought about trying them on hogs . But you are right I’d not hesitate to lower the boom on an elk with the 243. I’ve never shot a short barrel version but out of my two rifles 24”and 22”it has plenty of power with top notch accuracy.

[@wizardofahhhs759]

I've always had consistent results with 95gr. Winchester factory bullets. 100 yards 5 shots 1 hole. It's so accurate it's boring after running 3 mags through it.

[@codynipper2460]

Appreciate the 20 inch test barrel Mason. It will give me a good idead what the bullets will do out of my 20 inch barreled browning blr. Good job!

[@ejsocci2630]

I really enjoy your videos, great job the way you do them.

[@robertbent7999]

My savage 110 loves that stuff.

[@jtag5432]

You have to clean all the existing copper fouling from your barrel when switching to monocores. Backfire and Spomer just did a video on this

[@raymondjohnson1840]

Wish you would do a test on the federal fusion 95 grain. 243 calliber.

[@masonleather_outdoors]

I have, video will be out soon

[@nikos6220]

Great test. Love that you are adding the ft-lb numbers. I am a bit surprised that the expansion is happening so high up the shank at 2900 ft/s. Would be interesting to see what the expansion is like at 200 and 300, out of your rifle that should be 2250 ft/s and 1950 ft/s respectively

[@adampilon4126]

would love to see the .270 win terminal ascent and trophy bonded tip on here. Leep up the awesome work really enjoy your videos

[@Magnum_Express]

If these things hit their stated velocity they might've gotten way more expansion, but to the point the petals would've peeled off and left it with much less weight retention, though a chance at much deeper penetration. Always a trade off. All that said, these look like great deer rounds.

[@doghousedon1]

I'm getting a solid 3400 fps with the Barnes 80gr TTSX loading. That's across three different rifles.

[@onearmedbandit6936]

From the research I’ve done on Monolithic bullets on some calibers you can’t go with the same weight as your lead bullets because you need a faster twist…. The Barnes TTSX in 223 55gr needs a 1:8 twist

[@JAKDRZR]

100% right. Copper is lighter then lead so the bullet has to be longer which needs more twist to stabilize. Because of the weight retention of copper bullets you should think of them as 10-20gr heavier depending on calibre then they are.

[@BigdaddyE71]

THANK YOU!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!!

[@masonleather_outdoors]

Glad to be of service!

[@tripplebeards3427]

I have used 243 for predator hunting through the decades. Hundreds of coyotes, fox, and bobcats taken. It’s destructive if bone is hit. Tried my little Remington 600 along with a 90 grain Nosler ballistic tip last year on a whitetail. It dropped with the shot and never moved. Went through the front shoulder and stopped in the hide after going through the opposite shoulder. Close shot at 20 yards and loaded hot. Beast of a caliber. If you make a poor shot it makes zero difference what caliber you use. The goofy all copper Barnes won’t group minute of BARN in all 4 of my 243’s. The all copper Barnes type bullets are exactly like shooting cast bullets. I'd they are bigger in diameter than the inside of your barrel to engage the rifling then you will get some accuracy out of them all my barrels slug the same diameter or larger so it's like throwing a hotdog down a hallway. I've tried every Barnes modle in my 35 whelen, 30-06's, and 300 RUMS all with the same horrible accuracy. All guns will shoot .3's or better at 200 yards with hand loaded copper plates lead projectiles. I'd tell you to try some nosler partitions just in case you hit bone. Otherwise a 90 or 95 grain Nosler Ballistic tip is the hammer of Thor on whitetail if you hit them like textbook heart and lung Archery shots. I've had buddies use all copper bullets on Whitetails. It no bone is hit they sail right through like FMJ's. No expansion or energy transfer. Long tracking with zero blood trails. Hit in the correct spot any .243 projectile will get the job done. I just would pick a heavier lead contructed 95 or 100 projectile for Elk just in case you connect with a shoulder or backbone.

[@toddk1377]

I've known people who only shoot the 85 grain Barnes TSX from their 243 rifles and they always have pictures every year with big whitetails taken down. One guy had a photo with the deer' heart blown in half. They say they get good accuracy. I haven't personally tried it yet, I shoot the Federal fusion 95 grain and have had zero issues.

[@1fast10r]

This ammo is excellent, although I prefer the higher B c's in the GMX bullet that they used to load in the outfitter line.

[@Mclark1008]

The CX bullet actually has better BCs due to the drive bands being rounded instead of square like the GMX. Hornady said themselves on their podcast that the GMX BCs were overestimated because they didn’t have their Doppler radar yet. The BCs on the CX bullets are radar verified. So in some cases it appears the gmx had higher BCs but that’s not really the case

[@PassivePortfolios]

243 is a good coyote round.

[@panthermartin7784]

Shot my 19th elk last year with a .243, deadly deadly round, I shoot Speer Grandslam, 100% penetration, drop like stones.

[@dakkadakka9189]

​@@panthermartin7784I have warmer handloads with 85 grain tsx on my 24" 243 looking at 3125-3175 fps depending on if it's a cold winter day or hot summer day 5 fps extreme spread it does very nasty things to the tissue it hits with good penetration. As a plus it hits with in 1" of my 87 grain vmax loads

[@r.awilliams9815]

I think at this point that we should take velocity claims for monolithic bullet factory ammo with a large grain of salt. That said, this load would still do a pretty good job of ruining Bambi's day.

[@higgy5499]

With a 24” barrel or my 26” Barrel it would have been 3100-3300 as advertised

[@JAKDRZR]

@@higgy5499is right. Has nothing to do with bullet construction. It’s all about barrel length. 99% of load data out is based on a 24-26” barrel. Even reloading manuals are this way.

[@randall875]

Higgy is right. Hornady always records velocity with a 24 inch barrel I'm pretty sure

[@johnnorman7708]

I think monolithic bullets do tend to have higher operating pressure in general, so lower velocity is going to be how they get loaded to meet established SAAMI pressure specs. Just noted that my Deer Season Copper Impact .270 ammo was rated a bit slower than Power Point of similar weight.

[@sstein49]

@@johnnorman7708 yep lot larger bearing surface , back in the day when barns came out with the X we pancaked a load of primers trying to figure out how to load them , then barns and everyone went back to the basement and figured out that grooves would reduce pressure by removing surface area.

[@Scottbayer]

Absolutely love your videos I have just bought the exact same gun you’re testing for my son, for his 11th birthday and I’m actually looking to buy another rifle just like it in 7 mm 08 and I have other model 70 rifles. Do you have any deals if I was to buy more than one of your leather but stock with the caliber and a nice white tail on the other side

[@wizardofahhhs759]

What makes your rifle a compact model?

[@phild9813]

I think this load would be a great elk load, if one were so inclined to use the 243 and keep shots to reasonable distance. I used the 30-06 outfitter in 180 grain this year hunting, but wasn’t able to really put it to the test. Groups well under an inch in my Tikka though. With a 22” barrel, I’m expecting 2600-2700 fps, which is fine for me. The drop in velocity of yours, to me, is completely expected with a 20” in 243.

[@diggernash1]

That's fast enough to catch speed goats

[@harryodell9497]

Great info. Nicely done videos. Anything on 25-06?

[@tripplebeards3427]

Wonder how an 85 grain Nosler partition would do? I have a box of 50 set aside.

[@philirwin2028]

I use hornday 243 95 Grain superperformance ammo. It is a hard-hitting bullet.

[@Simon-talks]

SST?

[@Paul-q3m7k]

Lead definitely opens more violently but I like the copper

[@HitSTXLax]

Are we going to see a trophy copper test in 243?

[@cbwelch4]

Besides Fusion, what are your .308 picks for deer?

[@Johnowens-dm1vb]

Tikka t3x 308 win. Mine likes Sako 150 gr superhammerhead best. Followed by hornady sst in 150 gr, OK fusion 150 gr & federal power shock 150 gr. 150 grain shot better than 165 gr.

[@Paul-q3m7k]

Lots of talk about box velocity in the comments. IGNORE it ! Go spend 100 bux on a chrono and test every box so you know for sure what your ammo is doing box to box . Box velocity is almost always off

[@aronkoppold3981]

I have a 25-06 Remington and it's the same thing over bore

[@trg3761]

My Sako varmint 243W has a 24 " barrel I'm getting 3,180 with an 80 gr bullet.

[@mathewarmstrong3464]

Do you ship to Australia? Would love a cartridge cuff for my model 70

[@masonleather_outdoors]

Yes sir worldwide 🇦🇺!

[@Fctsdntcarebouturfeelings]

Barnes 243 80 grain ttsx is the best hunting round that I've ever used for deer. It's trucking at 3350fps and every buck that I have shot, dropped where they stood. I will not go back to lead bullets. Copper will retain most, if not all of its weight, almost instant expansion, entry and exit holes are unbelievable. I've never, in almost 20 years of hunting whitetails, seen this kind of performance. I have sold my 243s in the past and purchased larger caliber rifles, due to the questionable performance of the available hunting ammo at that time. Not something that I wanted to do, being a predator hunter as well and looking for that do all rifle. With Barnes technology, I can now use my favorite caliber in my favorite lightweight rifle, to hunt everything that I personally hunt.

[@tikka243412]

Agree with the velocity claims. Especially from Hornady. They seem to be the worst offenders of exaggerating velocity. That or they shoot through a non rifled 30 inch barrel. That said I have seen 100 fps difference between my Howa .243 and my Tikka .243 with the same load. Tikka being slower.

[@necummins8696]

I would like some leather work done

[@davidreinhart-bj2li]

hows the groups?? tried box of 6.5 prc 3+ inches groups outfitter ammo bad!!!!

[@MrGoMario]

22-Creedmore... Same thing 😅

[@jm6696]

What rate of twist are the barrel?

[@garytrainer1690]

All sound advice I'd have to say. Nice rifle too. 👍👍

[@Xbolt1969]

So how long should the barrel be

[@rynerenzaglia8006]

Great video

[@jasonlopez4855]

Every rifle will shoot different 🤔 I've seen a cheeper rifle's shoot better than one for more money. Like the 243 win great deer slayer.

[@stepabove2136]

I'll stick to my core lokt 😮

[@N238E]

Why does the gel get so dirty?

[@garytrainer1690]

Powder and lead

[@allenrosesr.8480]

.i have one just like it had sent the 80s

[@bryansmith3232]

Don’t recommend it, but down a bull like at 125 yards with one shot of a 95 grain bullet. Double lung went only 20 yards!

[@jeff0nyschuk670]

Why!! A caliber so light,!! Why not something like 270 or 300win..specially out in the open fields ,,

[@mot0rhe4d40]

" 6 to 8" groups at 100 " Had that happen with an Academy Sports exclusive Federal bonded 140gr 7mm-08 offering. Thought I had scored nicely during the limited supply of the last few years. Tikka T3x Hunter hated that load. So much so, I had to go grab the 139gr Hornady whitetail box, just to make sure my scope hadn't come loose. Nope just did not like that federal fusion 140gr pill. Odd , but it happens

[@poorfatman5317]

❤👍

[@ai347]

That’s horrendously slow a 22” barrel with 100gr bullets gets 3k FPS

[@ryanehlis426]

243 kills deer like lightning ⚡️ 30-06 will give you no benefit on deer

[@stevenjackson8337]

Dude I really like your videos, but you need to pronounce Leupold correctly! LOO-pold, LOO-pold 🤓

[@stevenp8198]

No all copper bullets for me, their performance sucks on any animal!!

[@joechapman8279]

Why would you own a 20" barrel ?

[@scottdeline]

Because that's what the rifle came with 🤷