W-748 for .243?

ks_shooter · September 26, 2002, 08:25 AM

I inherited two canisters of Winchester 748 Ball powder from a friend who used to reload .223. I never turn down free stuff, but I only reload .243 right now and I can't find any load data for 748. Lots of loads for 760. Is 748 not a good match for .243? I would think that with the wide selection of bullet weights available something should work. Thanks in advance.

sricciardelli · September 26, 2002, 10:31 AM

W-748 will work in the .243 from 60 grain to 100 grains bullets, but it is probably your worst choice.

Zak Smith · September 26, 2002, 12:07 PM

W760 is really a better choice. 748 is a bit fast. H414 is another good choice, as is, I think, IMR4350.

-z

Paul B. · September 27, 2002, 01:14 PM

KS. It really gripes my gut when people make pronouncments that such and such a propellent in not suitable for such and such a cartridge, when the question can I use the powder at all.
I do agree that W-748 is not the most suitable powder for a .243 Win., but you can use it. The following is from the Sierra 50th Anniversary reloading manual. Of course, all bullets were Sierra's.

Bullet start load gr. vel. FPS max load vel. FPS
60 gr. HP 38.7 3400 41.3 3600

75 gr. HP& MK 34.9 3000 37.9 3200

80 gr.BT
85 gr SPFB
85 gr. HPBT 33.3 2800 36.1 3000

90 gr. FMJBT No data

100 gr. SPFB
100 gr. Semi pointed
100 gr. SPBT 30.9 2600 32.6 2800

107 gr. MatchKing HPBT No data.

Based on this data, it looks to me like you can at least get some fairly decent varmint loads using W-748, but the heavier bullets would be better served by a slower burning powder. Hope this helps some.
Paul B.

ks_shooter · September 27, 2002, 04:55 PM

Paul B.

I have the Lyman Reloading guide and a Load Book for .243 that I use. Sounds like I should invest in another manual since neither of these had the data I was looking for. Many thanks for the help.

**Bud Helms** · September 28, 2002, 07:21 AM

Hodgdon lists W748 loads for the .243 throughout the available bullet weights. Lyman shows BL-C2 and H335 all over the place for the .243. That tells me that W748 will work. That said, accuracy loads shown are all with slower powders.

Art Eatman · October 2, 2002, 07:02 PM

Comin' in from left field about .243 reloading, I've gotten 3/8" to 1/2" groups pretty consistently with 3031. I've used the Sierra 85-grain HPBT and the 70-grain Hornady spire point. 37.5 and 40.0 grains, respectively, but this will blow up your obviously inferior rifle, so don't load that much!

As in, start with a bit less, and work up...

Art

sricciardelli · October 2, 2002, 08:41 PM

Paul..."It really gripes my gut when people make pronouncments that such and such a propellent in not suitable for such and such a cartridge..."

Didn't see where anyone said that.

Paul B. · October 6, 2002, 05:48 PM

Steve. Guess I based in on your "worst choice" comment. Didn't mean to offend.
Paul B.

September 26, 2002, 08:25 AM	#1
ks_shooter Member Join Date: April 23, 2001 Location: Kansas City Posts: 90	W-748 for .243? I inherited two canisters of Winchester 748 Ball powder from a friend who used to reload .223. I never turn down free stuff, but I only reload .243 right now and I can't find any load data for 748. Lots of loads for 760. Is 748 not a good match for .243? I would think that with the wide selection of bullet weights available something should work. Thanks in advance. __________________ Ks_Shooter Aim Small, Miss Small

September 26, 2002, 10:31 AM	#2
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	W-748 will work in the .243 from 60 grain to 100 grains bullets, but it is probably your worst choice. __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

September 27, 2002, 01:14 PM	#4
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,800	KS. It really gripes my gut when people make pronouncments that such and such a propellent in not suitable for such and such a cartridge, when the question can I use the powder at all. I do agree that W-748 is not the most suitable powder for a .243 Win., but you can use it. The following is from the Sierra 50th Anniversary reloading manual. Of course, all bullets were Sierra's. Bullet start load gr. vel. FPS max load vel. FPS 60 gr. HP 38.7 3400 41.3 3600 75 gr. HP& MK 34.9 3000 37.9 3200 80 gr.BT 85 gr SPFB 85 gr. HPBT 33.3 2800 36.1 3000 90 gr. FMJBT No data 100 gr. SPFB 100 gr. Semi pointed 100 gr. SPBT 30.9 2600 32.6 2800 107 gr. MatchKing HPBT No data. Based on this data, it looks to me like you can at least get some fairly decent varmint loads using W-748, but the heavier bullets would be better served by a slower burning powder. Hope this helps some. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

September 27, 2002, 04:55 PM	#5
ks_shooter Member Join Date: April 23, 2001 Location: Kansas City Posts: 90	Paul B. I have the Lyman Reloading guide and a Load Book for .243 that I use. Sounds like I should invest in another manual since neither of these had the data I was looking for. Many thanks for the help. __________________ Ks_Shooter Aim Small, Miss Small

October 2, 2002, 08:41 PM	#8
sricciardelli Senior Member Join Date: August 13, 2001 Location: Montana Posts: 489	Paul..."It really gripes my gut when people make pronouncments that such and such a propellent in not suitable for such and such a cartridge..." Didn't see where anyone said that. __________________ http://stevespages.com/page8.htm

September 26, 2002, 12:07 PM	#3
Zak Smith Senior Member Join Date: December 12, 1999 Location: Fort Collins, Colorado, USA Posts: 2,682	W760 is really a better choice. 748 is a bit fast. H414 is another good choice, as is, I think, IMR4350. -z

September 28, 2002, 07:21 AM	#6
Bud Helms Senior Member Join Date: December 31, 1999 Location: Middle Georgia, USA Posts: 13,198	Hodgdon lists W748 loads for the .243 throughout the available bullet weights. Lyman shows BL-C2 and H335 all over the place for the .243. That tells me that W748 will work. That said, accuracy loads shown are all with slower powders.

October 2, 2002, 07:02 PM	#7
Art Eatman Staff in Memoriam Join Date: November 13, 1998 Location: Terlingua, TX; Thomasville, GA Posts: 24,798	Comin' in from left field about .243 reloading, I've gotten 3/8" to 1/2" groups pretty consistently with 3031. I've used the Sierra 85-grain HPBT and the 70-grain Hornady spire point. 37.5 and 40.0 grains, respectively, but this will blow up your obviously inferior rifle, so don't load that much! As in, start with a bit less, and work up... Art

October 6, 2002, 05:48 PM	#9
Paul B. Senior Member Join Date: March 28, 1999 Location: Tucson, AZ Posts: 3,800	Steve. Guess I based in on your "worst choice" comment. Didn't mean to offend. Paul B. __________________ COMPROMISE IS NOT AN OPTION!

Thread Tools	Search this Thread
Show Printable Version Email this Page	Search this Thread: Advanced Search