243 shooters can you help with powder/bullet info** update**

[Kurt L]

Hi all.
getting closer to getting a new toy going.
to make a lomg story short =rem 700 action with brand new take off 243 heavy 26" barrel 1-91/8 twist.
I have some 243 experiance but not a lot.
i would like to try the hornady 75gr vmax and maybe the 87gr v max and or the 95gr sst.
not game specific on these just looking for info if anyone has good or bad results with these 3 bullets
and powders used for your good results.
also if you got a great tac driver bullet powder combo please share.as i will start low and work up just looking for some good ideas.
I have for powders on hand today.

H322,380 ,4831sc , 4350
imr 4350 ,4831, 4064, 3031
reloader 7 ,15
aa 3100,2520 ,
win 748
i probly forgot something but of the top of my head  thats the powders i have.
thanks kurt

[j104wd]

dont know if this helps or not but my most acuurate loads are with IMR4350 and varget. Maybe that will give you a starting point but what works for some will not work for others good luck and let us know how it shoots.

[Kurt L]

very true .
i am just looking for some input on favorite loads etc to get a good idea at where i want to start thanks.kurt

[wncchester]

"... 75gr vmax and maybe the 87gr v max ..."

Try some of that 4064.

[Autorim]

I found IMR 4350 to be the best in my .243.

[NebraskaHunter]

Here is my "go to" load for 243. 

100gr hornaday flat base
IMR 4831 powder 44gr.
large rifle primer (standard)
winchester brass

I have used this load for years. It just simply works and works well.  Not fancy. Not the newest. It just works. A max charge of IMR 4831 and the Hornaday 100gr internlock has been my favorite load of all time in the 243.

My second favorite load is
75gr hollowpoint hornaday
49gr IMR 4831
standard primer
winchester brass

I use the 100gr for deer season and after that I use the 75gr hollow point the rest of the year. Simple and effective.
I was a one gun hunter for a lot of years and the 243 was my choice.  I was raising a family and simply could not afford more guns. I never felt deprived with the 243.  Now a days I have more guns and more choices but I cant say they are really any better than my 243.  As a long time "one gun" hunter I say you cant do any better than the 243 and the 2 simple loads I have listed.

I have played with the new hornaday 95gr sst red tipped bullet. I thought it might be an improved deer getter. I was disappointed when I used it on several deer.  It did to much meat damage if the shot was less than perfect.  I will stick with my old favorite.

Best of luck with your 243.

NebraskaHunter

[Kurt L]

Thanks for the info so far.
And thanks Nebraskahunter for the added sst info.

[victorcharlie]

IMR 4831 and a sierra 85 grain.

[tvc15]

checked my notes

HOR 75 V MAX   WINbrass   44.5   IMR4831   2.64oal   CCI 200   3 SHOTS  CLOVERLEAF

good luck, TVC15

[spinafish]

Here's my new favorite deer load ( haven't shot a deer with it yet, but boy does it look good on paper!)

Federal brass
38 grains Varget
Federal 210 Primer
85 grain Partition

[Kurt L]

looks good some have or are doing good with imr 4831 any of you have any luck with the h4831?

[huntswithdogs]

H4831SC is all I use for my deer loads with a 100gr bullet. My load is right at MAX if not a little over by today's newer manuals. I started off about midways on the powder and kept adding. Accurracy improved as the powder increased.
Imr 4064 is what I use for 75gr and lighter bullets. Imr 4350 has worked best with 85 or 87gr ones.
I know for certain that I've loaded IMR3031, both 4831s, both 4350s, IMR4064 and Varget with good success. For heavier bullets, H414 is another one to try. 

[Graybeard]

I've used those bullets extensively in the .243 but don't over look the 65 V-MAX as it is my favorite of the bunch. For bullets in that weight range I have found that IMR3031 gives about the best combination of accuracy and velocity. It's right at the top of the heap on velocity and for me gave quarter to half MOA accuracy consistently. The specific load that worked for me might not be best for you but look in the loading manuals and use what they tell you with that powder and each bullet. I did and was rewarded with some of the tightest groups I've ever shot.

[mjbgalt]

varget with 60-grain hp from sierra.

VERY accurate and makes a BIG exit hole in those groundhogs. 

-Matt

[Kurt L]

lots of woderfull info and thanks for your time to post your loads.
thanks very much everyone.

[Siskiyou]

I have owned a .243 for about thirty-years. 

105-grain Speer, IMR4350, with H4831 a close second.
100-grain Hornady, and Nosler IMR4350, with H4831 a close second.

Bet a turkey shoot on it and I will go with the 105-grain Speer and IMR4350.

80-grain Speer and bulk 80-grain WW.  My powder of choice is H414.  Years ago I bought a 1,000 bulk 80-grain WW bullets.  I tried H414 and immediately settled on it, because of accuracy and the flow of the powder into case.  Last fall I was digging in my bullet chest and found I still had a few boxes of 80-grain Speer bullets. 

I may have tried WW785 on the 243 but decided that great powder had to be reserved for the .270 Winchester.

My experience has not gone beyond what I mention because I achieved my goals with those powders and bullets.

[Kurt L]

First thanks for all the info.
I got the 243 togather on A Rem short action BDL 700 I wanted a flashy laminated stock but they said 6-12 weeks to get it.
so I used a Houge over molded full aluminum bed stock.
Midsouth was out of 87 v max so I got Hornady 87 HPBT as I have had good luck with Hornady HP
bullets before.
I got the barrel broke in and loaded up some rounds to test after I used my stoney point and got a OAL
on it.Also must add anouther update,as I said I would give the Lee Collot dies a try=and I must say after all my load testing for this rifle I am very please with this Collet neck die by LEE.
I loaded win brass rem 9½ primers and Hornady 87 HPBT bullets with
43.0,43.1, 43.2, 43.3, 43.4, 43.5 of H4350 all shot great 43.4 the best.
then I played with the seating a bit and 0.20 is were it wants to shoot.
at the end I cleaned again as I have cleaned many other times and shot 1 to down the tube
and used my last 2 to try and see how she finished up with a clean barrel.
damn it man 2 holes in 1 @ 100 yards on sand bags ,this 243 is going to be a keeper.

[huntswithdogs]

Looks like you found something, huh? Congrats!  Are ya gonna report back on over all groups?


HWD

[Kurt L]

sure I will report back a bit later when I get the time I also have Speer 105 Hot core bullets to try also.
In most cases I have had guns group heavy bullets better than light ones hopes the same is true as I will be alset,I think I will work them up with H4350 also and then to H4831 if I need to try a different combo.

[Autorim]

After lots of trials and lots of bullets and shooting, my standard load in the .243 was 100 grain bullet and 40 grains of IMR4350. I used this load for 30 years or so and it accounted for lots of whitetails in my hand, my son, my brother and hunting friends. My standard hunting bullet was the 100 grain Nosler Partition.

I only recovered two bullets. All others were complete pass thru's. I shot one deer from a tree stand - hit him at the base of the neck and shoulder. I recovered the bullet under the skin in the paunch. I made a mercy shot on a doe on one hunt that someone else had crippled - one front leg was broken and flopping. The deer was moving dead away - hit her in the hip and the bullet exited the chest cavity in front. I am a believer in the Nosler Partition - the Accubond may be as good or better.

I no longer have a .243. When I shot the barrel out I had Bill Wiseman install a 7mm-08 barrel which I still have - another really good cartridge.

[ShooterSATX]

I am new to reloading and was looking for a good all-around hunting round for the .243.

I know to expect 2MOA for hunting ammo at 100yds. Well, I am getting consistent sub-MOA out of this load.

     80gr Sierra GameKings over 38gr of IMR4064, Federal 210 Primers.

Again, I am looking for a deer round and was avoiding the Match HP's. The deer are not very large in South Texas and this seems to work well on them.

It's all about shot placement and I darn-sure can put it where it needs to be.

Good luck!

Shooter

[Kurt L]

Well folks I said I would give you all an update on my progress.

I loaded some test loads to work up a load for the speer 105 gr hot core bullets
and again things went very well.
I used the lee collet die on these as well and i think it is now safe to say that this gun is a shooter
two more groups you can cover with a dime @ 100 yds.41.6 H4350 and 42.0 are real good but 42.0 is HOT in my gun and will make case life short so I will be loading the 41.6 of H4350