BSET POWDER TO USE INTHE 243 CAL.

[lonewolf5348]

I reload the 243 cal. I favor IMR 4350 using bullets weights from 85 to 100 grains 40.9 gr.
I wonder since IMR 4350 is a old timer are there any new powders that work in the 243 cal. out there you guys like?

[shot1]

I to used IMR 4350 mostly when I shot a 243 Win. I also found AA3100 really shot well and pushed a 100 gr bullet very fast. I have always been one that felt "If it ain't broke don't try to fix it." It takes too much time to rework a new load and now days it cost you a bundle to do it with the price of powder and bullets etc.

[Siskiyou]

Yesterday I purchased 8-pounds of H414 because it is the primary powder I use for my 80-grain 243 Winchester loads.  It keeps hair flying when I am varmint hunting.  When it comes to 100 and 105 grain bullets I prefer IMR4350, and H4831.  H414/WW760 is a nice powder to work with from a powder measure.

[Varmintnut260]

I tried H4831 with 105gr a-max and RL-19 with 87gr v-max. I am truly amazed with the results. I have killed a deer with the H4831 load and it dropped in its tracks. I do warn you, I shoot them in a rem 700 sps-v with the 26in barrel and I am told by many people that these loads are loud!

[243dave]

I use H-4831 for 100gr bullets and varget for the 70gr bullets.  These are the only size bullets I use and these powders work very well for them.  Dave

[mechanic]

I favor Varget.

[Swampman]

Varget

[searlock]

28 inch pro hunter, 95gr sierra matchking rl22,  85gr speer btsp h4350 and viht n540

[myarmor]

Varget feeds my 243's here. Love the stuff as does my 223 and 308





-Aaron

[fastchicken]

Near max [or slightly above, depending on what manual you use] of H4831, and H4350 a close second, for 100gr sierras out of my Rem. Model 7 and 700

[bobg]

   Has anyone ever tried IMR 3031? That is what i used in both my 243s. They were strictly varmint rifles and i shot nothing but 75 Gr. HP in them. Haven't owned one in years.  I traded one for a 223 and the other for a 250-3000                                                            

[drdougrx]

I'm using RL-22 and 95gr BTs.

[beerbelly]

I use H414 and 100 Gr bullers. I haven't seen any Varget in a good while. I have a couple of rifles I want to try it in if it ever comes back on the market.
                                   Beerbelly

[lonewolf5348]

I load IMR 3031 in the sierras 85 Gr HPBT Gamekings make one hole from the bench even if I blink the bullet goes were it has to.I find the IMR 4350 is a little finaky
I favor IMR 3031 in my 30-06 another great powder and one hole group from the bench
I can't complain with the group shot with IMR 4350 are excellent but I think it not the best for my H@R
I will tell you the handi with not shoot the hornady HPBT 100 gr. but favors the 95 gr Noslers BT
I just ordered a box of gamekings in 85 grain will see how the handi like them and may even try them on N.E. whitetails this year I yet to here any bad reviews on the bullet as long it is a bolier room shot placement

[MZ5]

I really like 760/414 for lighter bullets (I like the way the 70-grain TNTs fly from my rifle), and I've had terrific results (both speed and accuracy) with H-1000 and Ramshot Magnum from the 100-grainers.  For varmint-type shooting in particular, I really appreciate the cooler barrel temps of 760 vs. things like the H-4895 that I've also used.  4895 shot ok, but it didn't give me the velocity of 760, and the barrel got warmer faster.  YMMV.

[PawPaw]

I use Reloder 22 and 100 grain Hornadys soft points (#2453).  I'm getting 3100 fps and groups on average of 1/2" at 100 yards out of my Savage 10.

[41 mag]

I shot IMR-3031 for quite a while using the 85gr Nosler Solid Base, then went to the 95gr BT and Partition and Barnes X. After that, I went to H-4350 and shoot it still. IT give me the best overall velocity, and accuracy for 95 and 100gr bullets from my Win 70.

In my Sako, I am using Hodgdon Hybrid 100, and find it shoots wonderfully with the 100gr bullets. 

[Kurt L]

I had trouble getting  both 4350's and switch some loads for a few guns to R17 with good results ,it's about the same burn rate as imr 4350 my 300 win mag loves it only .4 difference in imr 4350 and - .4 of R17 gave same results as my 4350 load i used.

my 243 shoots 95 grain sst hornady's real well with R17

[huntswithdogs]

I've used both of the 4350s, with heavier bullets, but then found H4831. Haven't looked back since. H414 ain't a bad choice neither. Most of my 243 loads are heavy bullets ,but my rifle does like IMR3031 with a 75gr Hornady HP loaded to near max. My BIL swears by Varget with light weight bullets but I've not tried any...yet.

HWD

[DANNY-L]

95-100gr Imr 4350

[Drilling Man]

  I've been using IMR4350 since the 70's, and it's still working, so i guess i'll stay with it.

  DM

[AtlLaw]

Rel22 for 100 gr. and H380 with the 55 gr.

[hornady]

Reading the post wouldn’t it be great if there were one powder better at all things in large bullet and one in smaller ones, A couple years back, I decided I had to get the components monster under control, with loading 6 rifle calibers in a multitude of Bullet weights, I am still Buying three different  Rifle powders, and I have gotten the pistols powders down to 2. There may be better powders for the applications I use them for. But I use the old 3006 adage, The 06 is not the right gun for anything, but will take anything. And for Hunting or a very expensive paper punch, how accurate do you need to be.

[john keyes]

I bought a 110 in .243 a couple weeks ago, I knew I could rely on H414 to get it done, but I tried some RL22 first, and I like 80 gr bullets...

so...
last week I took the batch out and shot em
.243 Win  80 gr Rem CL, 43.0 RL22, CCI #34 
2840, 2843, 2878
I know it wasn't a "the chrono is reading low today" day because my .280 Rem was reading 3139, 3183, and 3254 with 120 Speer Softpoints and 57.0 H4350

so not being too thrilled I loaded up the next batch with H414 and it delivered the goods today
.243 Win 80 gr Rem CL, 43.5 H414, CCI #34
3301, 3312, 3298

don't get me wrong I'm not into trying to get the very last fps out of a round but I definitely thought that 80 gr bullets should do better, especially since the factory ammo the dude gave me with the rifle made 3000 fps (100 gr)

[PawPaw]

I bought a 110 in .243 a couple weeks ago, I knew I could rely on H414 to get it done, but I tried some RL22 first, and I like 80 gr bullets...

so...
last week I took the batch out and shot em
.243 Win  80 gr Rem CL, 43.0 RL22, CCI #34 
2840, 2843, 2878
I know it wasn't a "the chrono is reading low today" day because my .280 Rem was reading 3139, 3183, and 3254 with 120 Speer Softpoints and 57.0 H4350

so not being too thrilled I loaded up the next batch with H414 and it delivered the goods today
.243 Win 80 gr Rem CL, 43.5 H414, CCI #34
3301, 3312, 3298

don't get me wrong I'm not into trying to get the very last fps out of a round but I definitely thought that 80 gr bullets should do better, especially since the factory ammo the dude gave me with the rifle made 3000 fps (100 gr)

That's the problem with using a slow powder like RL22 and lighter bullets.  I find that RL22 gives me best velocity with heavier bullets in that caliber, the lighter bullets do better with a faster powder.    It looks to me like your H414 gave the velocity you were looking for and hopefully the accuracy was good.

Good for you.  Enjoy your .243!

[Siskiyou]

I need a baseline to work from.  Have any of you chronograph factory loaded 100-grain and/or 105 grain 243 Winchester loads from a 22-inch barrel.

I have successfully loaded accurate 100-grain and 105 grain bullets for my rifle using WW785, IMR4350, and surplus 4831.  At the time I was creating those loads back in the late 1970’s I did not have a Chrony.  I might shoot some factory Remington 100-grain C-L and Federal 100-grain over the Chrony for a BASELINE velocity.

The goal is to use bullets on hand, I have some 80-grain but they are not in the running, I have a couple boxes of Speer 105 Splitzers which are my go to heavy bullets, a few boxes of Nosler 100-grain Solid Base, and some 100-grain Hornady bullets.  I know there are a lot of successful hunters out there taking deer with the 243 but what I are the true velocities produced by their loads.

After researching a number of manuals the Hornady 7th addition shows the highest velocity being produced by WMR which I have.  This evening my tumbler is filled with 243 brass and tomorrow I will start the priming and loading in incremental loads.  Should accuracy not be there I will try H414 or go back to H4831.

I used most of the IMR4350 loading 130-grain Barnes TTSX for the 270 this week.  The general plan this season is to hunt with the 270 and the 243.  I still need to pick up a bear tag.  It is illegal for us to hunt over bait, so it is a come as you are party for bear.  I would prefer to have the 270 Winchester if that opportunity presents itself.  But if a clear shot is offered up at reasonable range I believe the 105-grain Speer will do the job.  I have thought about running out and buying a different bullet, but it is time to use what I have on hand.

I know that there are a lot of rifles out there that do not have the factory ballistic 26-inch barrel.  How long is the barrel on your 243 Winchester, and the velocity you are getting from your heavy load?  I am sure somebody will mention their 80-grain load, but I have discarded that for bear.

Thanks

P.S.  The Remington 270 Winchester brass I loaded the Barnes bullets in was kindly PIF to me by necchi. 

[john keyes]

I need a baseline to work from.  Have any of you chronograph factory loaded 100-grain and/or 105 grain 243 Winchester loads from a 22-inch barrel.

yep, when I bought my .243 the dude gave me all the factory ammo he had.  I would not have shot any of it but I had converted all of the .243 brass I had ever encountered into .260 and .308 so I had to make some brass and I shot it:

green and yellow box: Remington 100gr
2926, 2887, 2901

Federal  100 gr, I pulled a bullet at home and it had 44.0 gr of dark colored powder
3001


now I think my Savage 110 has a 22" barrel but I am not sure. its an old one with a flat receiver and non-accu trigger

I have a box of 100 gr hotcors I can load but for whatever reason I just like the 80gr bullets in the 6mm/243 for now (I have a 788 in 6mm)

[Siskiyou]

John,

Thanks for the numbers, higher than I thought.  I know the 80-grain Hot-Cor is a deer killer, just before middle brother shipped out to Vietnam he took two bucks with the 80-grain.  Both at very close range and very effectively blowing up everything inside the rib cage. 

I have the 80-grain Hot Cor as a penetrator and I am hunting with the WW 80-grain for varmints.  The WW is more on explosive side. 

If I cannot get close to factory numbers then my deer/bear hunt with be with factory ammo.  Time will tell.

Thanks

[fastchicken]

I've taken several deer with the Federal blue box, and they give me 2710 avg. out of my Rem. Mod 7 20".
 My current load is 45gr of 4831sc with a 100gr sierra that gives me 2850 avg. [left out in the sun they get to 3010!]. My Rem. 700 20" shoots 100fps slower then the Model 7, but both shoot the same load equally well. I have yet to hunt w/ the handloads, but I doubt the deer knew they were killed w/ a 2700fps factory loads, so the handloads should work just fine.

[Qualitymilk]

I too am trying to find a "pet load" for my .243, using Sierra Varminter 60g HP bullets and Varget or H380.  Started with the Min. load of 40g Varget, and I am working up for best accuracy.  Groups at 200 yds. were not impressive, but the barrel got hot pretty quick too.  Anybody got a favorite load for this bullet?  I am shooting a Savage model 10.