Who has a good 243 varmit load?

viking499 · November 10, 2008, 11:46 AM

I am looking for a good varmit load to shoot in my Tikka 243. Want something between 55 and 70 grain, maybe 60-65 grain since it is in between. What bullets and powders are you using?

saudst · November 10, 2008, 12:25 PM

Hey Viking.

I have a .243 Handy rifle that I am loading 65gr. V-Max's behind H4831SC Win. primers, Rem. casses and I'm getting good acuracy and flat trajectory from this load. Works great on crows and groundhogs.

10 Spot Terminator · November 10, 2008, 04:25 PM

You didnt give us anything to go on but the calibre and the grain wt. of bullets you would like to shoot. Help us to help you by telling us the make and model of the firearm you will be loading for as well as particulars such as if it is a "featherweight" , "standard weight" , "heavy varmit" or any other notes such as custom barrel or twist rate , etc... Not knowing here are a couple of loads that have performed well in all 3 of the standard wt. 243s' I have had. This one is right near max load so I would ask you to back up a cople of grains and move forward slowly,,,,,,,,,,, 44.5gr Varget - 58gr V-MAX - WLR primer for 3875 fps and between .7in to .3in at 100 yds,,, the other using a 70gr Sierra blitzking - 47.0gr IMR3450 - WLR primer for a speed of 3340 fps . Again this on is at the top of published max load data. Be careful, take NO shortcuts and hope all works well for you . 10 SPOT

elkman06 · November 10, 2008, 05:32 PM

Viking, I shoot a 70's model Tikka .243. I regularly shoot dime sized groups at 100yds w/ it. I am shooting Hornaday bullets over Hodgon 4831sc and mag primers. This is with a 100gr bullet. I would not hesitate to shoot a yote out to 500plus yds w/ it. 3000fps of hot lead. does this qualify as a varmint load?
elkman06

viking499 · November 10, 2008, 08:14 PM

My rifle is a Tikka T3 synthetic stainless. I am shooting 100 grain Corelokts under 1", but I want someting around a 60-65 grain load to use for varmiting of groundhogs and yotes. Trying to use a rifle I have right now instead of buying someting new. Although something new is always nice........

crowbeaner · November 10, 2008, 08:17 PM

I like the 85 grain Sierra BTHP with a couple powders. It has a cavernous hole that absolutely destroys the target if pelt damage is the required effect, and it does BAAD things to a coyote.
WW brass, RP 9 1/2 primer, 39.0 of IMR 4320 or 37.0 of IMR 4895.

mrawesome22 · November 10, 2008, 08:30 PM

Quote:

What bullets and powders are you using?

My rifle likes 75gr V-Max's over a stout load of IMR4064.

I am really starting to gain an affection for that powder.

viking499 · November 11, 2008, 11:37 AM

mrawesome22,

What rifle are you using?

IONIKIOS · November 11, 2008, 05:27 PM

It would be good to know the rifle and twist!!!

_________________________________________

Has anyone used the 62gr. "Varmint Grenade" by Barnes?

I'm thinking of using it in my .243 Savage Model 11 (1:9 1/4 twist)

mrawesome22 · November 11, 2008, 06:58 PM

A H&R Ultra Varmint. I grab it when I don't want to lug around my "real" guns. LOL

viking499 · November 11, 2008, 09:30 PM

My rifle is a Tikka T3 which I believe is a 1 in 10 twist.

fireroad · February 26, 2009, 10:59 AM

How about some "pellet saver" varmit loads....something that breaks up inside (for a quick, human kill) and doesn't leave an exit hole? Is the Barnes varmit grenade about the only choice? I'm looking at shoots 200 yards and under out of a Rem 700 sporter contour barrel.

James R. Burke · March 1, 2009, 09:10 AM

I had real good luck with a 55 grain Nosler using H-414. About 3800 f.p.s. and under 1" at 100 yards from a Ruger No 1 light sporter. No target gun by any means but good enough for me. There are alot of good combos out there for the 243 like everyone been posting. This one would not be good to save the pelts it pretty much blows everything up.

a7mmnut · March 1, 2009, 09:14 AM

Crowbeaner's load is close to mine. Forget those tiny 55 gr. pills with no bearing surface. Try the 85 or 90's with either 4320 or 4064 IMR.

-7-

November 10, 2008, 11:46 AM	#1
viking499 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Posts: 206	Who has a good 243 varmit load? I am looking for a good varmit load to shoot in my Tikka 243. Want something between 55 and 70 grain, maybe 60-65 grain since it is in between. What bullets and powders are you using?

November 10, 2008, 12:25 PM	#2
saudst Senior Member Join Date: February 20, 2008 Location: Central Wisconsin Posts: 184	.243 Hey Viking. I have a .243 Handy rifle that I am loading 65gr. V-Max's behind H4831SC Win. primers, Rem. casses and I'm getting good acuracy and flat trajectory from this load. Works great on crows and groundhogs. __________________ Tim. "Fear of death will not prevent dieing, but it may prevent living".

November 10, 2008, 04:25 PM	#3
10 Spot Terminator Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2008 Location: Central Oregon Posts: 348	Here Are A Couple Of 243 Loads To Try ,,, You didnt give us anything to go on but the calibre and the grain wt. of bullets you would like to shoot. Help us to help you by telling us the make and model of the firearm you will be loading for as well as particulars such as if it is a "featherweight" , "standard weight" , "heavy varmit" or any other notes such as custom barrel or twist rate , etc... Not knowing here are a couple of loads that have performed well in all 3 of the standard wt. 243s' I have had. This one is right near max load so I would ask you to back up a cople of grains and move forward slowly,,,,,,,,,,, 44.5gr Varget - 58gr V-MAX - WLR primer for 3875 fps and between .7in to .3in at 100 yds,,, the other using a 70gr Sierra blitzking - 47.0gr IMR3450 - WLR primer for a speed of 3340 fps . Again this on is at the top of published max load data. Be careful, take NO shortcuts and hope all works well for you . 10 SPOT

November 10, 2008, 05:32 PM	#4
elkman06 Senior Member Join Date: March 14, 2006 Location: Wyoming Posts: 885	What's a varmint load? Viking, I shoot a 70's model Tikka .243. I regularly shoot dime sized groups at 100yds w/ it. I am shooting Hornaday bullets over Hodgon 4831sc and mag primers. This is with a 100gr bullet. I would not hesitate to shoot a yote out to 500plus yds w/ it. 3000fps of hot lead. does this qualify as a varmint load? elkman06 __________________ "The right of the citizens to bear arms in the defense of themselves and of the state shall not be denied." Wyoming Constitution Article 1, Sec24 "Better to be tried by 12 than carried by 6"

November 10, 2008, 08:17 PM	#6
crowbeaner Senior Member Join Date: June 4, 2007 Location: Upstate SC Posts: 1,943	I like the 85 grain Sierra BTHP with a couple powders. It has a cavernous hole that absolutely destroys the target if pelt damage is the required effect, and it does BAAD things to a coyote. WW brass, RP 9 1/2 primer, 39.0 of IMR 4320 or 37.0 of IMR 4895. __________________ If you want your children to follow in your footsteps, be careful where you walk. Beware the man that only owns one gun; he probably knows how to use it. I just hope my ship comes in before my dock rots.

November 10, 2008, 08:14 PM	#5
viking499 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Posts: 206	My rifle is a Tikka T3 synthetic stainless. I am shooting 100 grain Corelokts under 1", but I want someting around a 60-65 grain load to use for varmiting of groundhogs and yotes. Trying to use a rifle I have right now instead of buying someting new. Although something new is always nice........

November 11, 2008, 11:37 AM	#8
viking499 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Posts: 206	mrawesome22, What rifle are you using?

November 11, 2008, 05:27 PM	#9
IONIKIOS Junior Member Join Date: June 1, 2008 Posts: 1	New Barnes "Varmint Grenade" It would be good to know the rifle and twist!!! _________________________________________ Has anyone used the 62gr. "Varmint Grenade" by Barnes? I'm thinking of using it in my .243 Savage Model 11 (1:9 1/4 twist) Last edited by IONIKIOS; November 11, 2008 at 06:53 PM.

November 11, 2008, 06:58 PM	#10
mrawesome22 Senior Member Join Date: November 9, 2005 Location: Ohio, Appalachia's foothills. Posts: 3,779	A H&R Ultra Varmint. I grab it when I don't want to lug around my "real" guns. LOL

November 11, 2008, 09:30 PM	#11
viking499 Senior Member Join Date: October 29, 2008 Posts: 206	My rifle is a Tikka T3 which I believe is a 1 in 10 twist.

February 26, 2009, 10:59 AM	#12
fireroad Senior Member Join Date: December 2, 2008 Posts: 126	How about some "pellet saver" varmit loads....something that breaks up inside (for a quick, human kill) and doesn't leave an exit hole? Is the Barnes varmit grenade about the only choice? I'm looking at shoots 200 yards and under out of a Rem 700 sporter contour barrel.

March 1, 2009, 09:10 AM	#13
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	I had real good luck with a 55 grain Nosler using H-414. About 3800 f.p.s. and under 1" at 100 yards from a Ruger No 1 light sporter. No target gun by any means but good enough for me. There are alot of good combos out there for the 243 like everyone been posting. This one would not be good to save the pelts it pretty much blows everything up.

March 1, 2009, 09:14 AM	#14
a7mmnut Junior member Join Date: February 27, 2009 Location: NC Foothills Posts: 1,150	Crowbeaner's load is close to mine. Forget those tiny 55 gr. pills with no bearing surface. Try the 85 or 90's with either 4320 or 4064 IMR. -7-