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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 13:19:02 GMT -5
Today I pulled the trigger on a purchase of a 243. Always wanted one, finally got around to it. Ruger American Compact, 18 inch barrel. Nice light rifle. Topped it with a Vortex 3x9 scope.
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Post by bake545 on Dec 11, 2023 13:48:40 GMT -5
Looks nice, how much does it weigh? Andy is using the same .243 that I started out with, good all around caliber.
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Post by ridgecommander on Dec 11, 2023 13:52:20 GMT -5
Crossfire scope?
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Finally!
Dec 11, 2023 13:56:49 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 13:56:49 GMT -5
Yes. Amazing glass for the price. My second one
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 13:58:34 GMT -5
Looks nice, how much does it weigh? Andy is using the same .243 that I started out with, good all around caliber. 7 lbs 5 ounces with scope and sling, weighed on a postal scale
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Post by ridgecommander on Dec 11, 2023 14:13:32 GMT -5
Yes. Amazing glass for the price. My second one The do have nice glass for the money. I have two of them.
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Finally!
Dec 11, 2023 14:25:23 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 14:25:23 GMT -5
Yes. Amazing glass for the price. My second one The do have nice glass for the money. I have two of them. My brother found a pair of Vortex binocs on a dirt road in Montana last year. Great glass. Bought my daughter 10x40 binocs and they are really nice. My boss said he had the Crossfire, so tried it. I'm impressed
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Post by ridgecommander on Dec 11, 2023 14:34:21 GMT -5
Vortex makes some nice stuff.
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Finally!
Dec 11, 2023 15:50:34 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 15:50:34 GMT -5
Vortex makes some nice stuff. Never looked into them until last year. Glad I did
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Finally!
Dec 11, 2023 17:51:29 GMT -5
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Post by moosemike on Dec 11, 2023 17:51:29 GMT -5
I never did get one of those rifles. I went into Shydas and they had a Handi-Rifle on the used rack and I love those things
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 17:53:09 GMT -5
I never did get one of those rifles. I went into Shydas and they had a Handi-Rifle on the used rack and I love those things Bought this one at Shydas
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Post by acorn20 on Dec 11, 2023 17:53:33 GMT -5
That's a nice little package, Dutch.
I've recently seen ads on Fakebook that Vortex is running that are advertising 90% off on scopes, binos and spotting scopes. What kind of scam is this? NINETY PERCENT! Come on!
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Finally!
Dec 11, 2023 17:58:05 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 11, 2023 17:58:05 GMT -5
That's a nice little package, Dutch.
I've recently seen ads on Fakebook that Vortex is running that are advertising 90% off on scopes, binos and spotting scopes. What kind of scam is this? NINETY PERCENT! Come on! Those are scams, I looked into that
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Post by Dutch on Dec 12, 2023 14:47:02 GMT -5
Pretty sure this is a fluke, but will reshoot it. Half inch 80 Grain Barnes TTSXs.
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Dec 12, 2023 21:44:26 GMT -5
Looks nice, how much does it weigh? Andy is using the same .243 that I started out with, good all around caliber. 7 lbs 5 ounces with scope and sling, weighed on a postal scale My grandsons, and I all have the same gun. Myself and oldest grandson both have 308 and the youngest is a 243. All of ours weight just under 7 pounds, but they all have 2x7 VX II Leupold scopes, so that’s probably the weight difference. It wouldn’t surprise me any if that shot group is not a fluke. All three of ours shoot one inch or under groups at 100 yards.
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Post by Dutch on Dec 12, 2023 21:59:42 GMT -5
7 lbs 5 ounces with scope and sling, weighed on a postal scale My grandsons, and I all have the same gun. Myself and oldest grandson both have 308 and the youngest is a 243. All of ours weight just under 7 pounds, but they all have 2x7 VX II Leupold scopes, so that’s probably the weight difference. It wouldn’t surprise me any if that shot group is not a fluke. All three of ours shoot one inch or under groups at 100 yards. I'm going to reload a few more, then shoot again on Saturday. I really like the feel of this gun. It's my second Ruger Compact, but this one has the 18 inch barrel, maybe that's the difference?
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Dec 13, 2023 9:23:56 GMT -5
All of ours are compact models, I'm getting good results with Winchester 748, mag primer in the 308's Hornady 165 BTSP 44.3 grains of power Hornady 150 BTSP 45.1 grain of power
In the 243 I haven't shot any reloads yet. But Hornady American Whitetail 100 gr Inter lock have done well. Past loads for other 243 I have owned shows good results using IMR 4350 at 44.5 grains for 75 gr V-Max IMR 4350 at 41.9 gr for 100gr RN
Have always enjoyed working up new loads. This winters project is to find a load that will shoot under 2 inches for 5 different 308's that I reload for, which might be unattainable. I just bought a can of Ramshot TAC to try. Have heard good reports on it for the 308 using 44.3 grains, we'll see.
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Finally!
Dec 13, 2023 13:58:32 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 13, 2023 13:58:32 GMT -5
I'm shooting an 80gr Barnes. That 44.5 is probably a little stiff. I did 41.5 yesterday, may go a little higher tho. Not sure there'd be a reason tho
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Dec 13, 2023 17:30:41 GMT -5
I'm shooting an 80gr Barnes. That 44.5 is probably a little stiff. I did 41.5 yesterday, may go a little higher tho. Not sure there'd be a reason tho Yeah it is, but it didn’t show any signs of high pressure, and shot good.
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Post by Dutch on Dec 17, 2023 8:52:06 GMT -5
Well, the gun is on its way back to Ruger
I went to chamber a round yesterday and the firing pin assemble pops out the back of the bolt!!!
I was so shocked, and pulled it out, and then the bolt handle fell out as the firing pin assembly goes thru the bolt handle.
I have no idea what happened, but immediately to it to the shopi bought it at. Hopefully Ruger will figure it out. All I need really is a new bolt, IMO.
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Post by westfieldjoe on Dec 17, 2023 9:59:41 GMT -5
I witnessed a pre 64 Winchester come apart. He was shooting necked down 308 to 243. It really came apart. Not the powder charge. NRA determined it was wall thickness. Bullet held on a little too long. It didnt sound right and I saw him slump forward. The scope flew over our heads. All he ended up with was several stitches in his hand. Lucky duck. I suppose we all were.
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Finally!
Dec 17, 2023 10:18:55 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 17, 2023 10:18:55 GMT -5
I had walked downrange to look at a group, came back and went to chamber a new round, and out it popped. These weren't maxed out reloads. Have no idea what happened.
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Dec 17, 2023 21:59:46 GMT -5
If you end up having cartridge feed problems, especially with the last round in magazine, let me know. I think/hope I have it figured out, at least the 243 seems fixed. Will work on the 308s tomorrow. Ruger needs to make a metal magazine and get rid of the plastic.
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Finally!
Dec 17, 2023 22:42:40 GMT -5
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Post by Dutch on Dec 17, 2023 22:42:40 GMT -5
Metal mag would be nice. I liked that on the Savage. I have two other Rugers and it's not really a problem
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Post by CoureurDeBois on Dec 18, 2023 6:45:42 GMT -5
Lucky you. A lot of owners, including myself, are finding the last cartridge in the magazine jams, think I have that fixed though. The other problem I have is a cartridge will get hung up in the magazine and the bolt fails to pick it up when racked. Haven’t had that happen during live fire though so maybe the recoil and vibration prevents that. How many cartridges do you load in he magazine?
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