Author Topic: Load suggestions for 24" .243 Encore  (Read 528 times)

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Offline Selmer

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Load suggestions for 24" .243 Encore
« on: October 29, 2005, 07:18:12 AM »
I just picked up a 24" .243 Encore barrel and am looking for load suggestions.  The other .243 I shoot is a Remington M788, absolute tack driver, unfortunately my mother's, I get it when she is done with it. :)  Until then, I wanted a rifle in this dandy caliber of my own.  The 788 is in love with H380 regardless of bullet weight, and I have a few IMR 4350 loads as well.  Any suggestions for loads with these two powders?  I'm looking for 55 gr. Nosler BT or Sierra Blitzking, 70 gr. ditto, and 100 gr. Nosler Partition bullets for deer. And before anyone tells me this isn't enough gun for big deer, I'd invite you to my house to see the 4x4 and 5x5 mule deer racks on my wall taken with this "underpowered" caliber.  Thanks for your help, I've shot a few of my 788 load through the barrel and it's fairly accurate, but I'm looking for MOA, the 788 shoots half of that...
Selmer
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Offline ilv2hnt

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243 loads
« Reply #1 on: November 01, 2005, 05:14:17 AM »
Have you tried any imr 4064 or 4895?  I love both of these powders for the 243, it shoots well in several ( 5 ) 700's that I have loaded for  and if you tweek with it , and I always do, you can get sub MOA if the gun and shooter are up to the task.

As for the 55 bt's I wouldn't recommend these for deer hunting, I love the partitions though and I do have some extras that I would probably sell in the 95 grains. The 70's would definitely not be a choice of mine but I thnk they would be ok for lung shots only!!! :-)

I have also used the 95 ballistic tips(bt) but they do some damage to otherwise edible meat.
Also when you load for the ENCORE check the OAL of the cartridge and see how far from the riflings it is, I love to stretch these babies out to where they are almost (but not ) touching, but make sure they aren't touching because sometimes you could have a lockup problem :D

If you play with the OAL you can get some real accurate handloads if everythingelse is right, but you have to play and that is the fun of reloading, trying to tweak out as mush accuracy out of your HANDLOADS ( I WEIGH EVERY CHARGE) as possible and then try to do better the next time :-D