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Old June 11, 2012, 09:49 AM   #1
FiveInADime
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New .243 Win Load Help me choose

So, i have worked up a load with IMR4064 and 87gr. V-Max in Hornady cases and it works well enough for my purpose, but i am itching to do another workup.

This gun is strictly for shooting varmints and targets in the desert so i am going to stick with a varmint bullet, i think. I could try 75 gr. V-max or 70 gr. Nosler BTs. Might consider doing a 85gr. Sierra GK, BUT I WANTED TO TRY LIGHTER AND GET IN THE vicinity of 3500fps. I also want to try a new powder; thinking of H4350, Superformance, Win760, ect.
What do you guys think?

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Old June 11, 2012, 10:02 AM   #2
Brian Pfleuger
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I like light and fast....

55gr Nosler, 3,935fps from 24" barrel

http://www.nosler.com/Reloading-Data...55-Grains.aspx
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Old June 11, 2012, 10:27 AM   #3
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I also like to experiment with new 243 loads. The one I currently like best is a 75 Vmax under 38.3 grains of IMR 4064. I'm not sure of velocity, but I do know its not going to be in the 3500 fps range. I load just a touch off the rifiling, and this is my currentl go-to load. I did try 70gr blitzkings, but I could not get them to shoot as well as the hornadys.

Try the 65 grain Vmax. I do know that you can push that up to 3500 plus. Whatever you do, let us know...we all like to hear about what others are up to. Good luck, have fun, and be safe!
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Old June 11, 2012, 11:49 AM   #4
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75gr Speer FBHP and 47gr IMR4350 is very accurate for me.

Right at 3400fps and does terrible things to groundhogs.

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Old June 11, 2012, 03:36 PM   #5
FiveInADime
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Quote:
Originally Posted by yoter View Post
I also like to experiment with new 243 loads. The one I currently like best is a 75 Vmax under 38.3 grains of IMR 4064. I'm not sure of velocity, but I do know its not going to be in the 3500 fps range. I load just a touch off the rifiling, and this is my currentl go-to load. I did try 70gr blitzkings, but I could not get them to shoot as well as the hornadys.

Try the 65 grain Vmax. I do know that you can push that up to 3500 plus. Whatever you do, let us know...we all like to hear about what others are up to. Good luck, have fun, and be safe!
I just looked at Hogdon's Data and i don't know why i was thinking 3500fps with 75gr. bullets. It looks like H414\Win760 at max load (46gr.) will get me to 4447fps book value. Out of my 22" barrel I'd guess about 3300? That's plenty fast for me. I think i am going to play around with Win760 or H4350.

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Old June 11, 2012, 06:45 PM   #6
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I like the Winchester Supreme 780 with 100 grn Sierra GameKings. Haven't worked up a lighter bullet load as of yet.
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Old June 11, 2012, 06:45 PM   #7
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I run 58gr V-max and... (doh, I forget how many grains) of Ramshot Big Game. I get a 10 shot string avg of 3777 with a 24" Rem bbl. Very clean, consistant, meters great, smells OK, price is right. I also run that load with good results with 55gr pills.
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Old June 12, 2012, 10:29 AM   #8
FiveInADime
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Originally Posted by 10-96 View Post
I run 58gr V-max and... (doh, I forget how many grains) of Ramshot Big Game. I get a 10 shot string avg of 3777 with a 24" Rem bbl. Very clean, consistant, meters great, smells OK, price is right. I also run that load with good results with 55gr pills.
How close can you get those little 58's to the lands? i am just off with the 87gr vmax and that's where they want to be.

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Old June 12, 2012, 10:34 AM   #9
FiveInADime
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Originally Posted by hooligan1 View Post
I like the Winchester Supreme 780 with 100 grn Sierra GameKings. Haven't worked up a lighter bullet load as of yet.
I wonder if my 1:10 tube would do ok with these? They are fairly long, aren't they? My rifle is a Winchester M70 with a 22" barrel.

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Old June 12, 2012, 01:51 PM   #10
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Test'em that way you'll know, but that twist should be just fine, my barrel is 24 inches though,,,might not matter though, heck givem a try!
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Old June 12, 2012, 01:57 PM   #11
FiveInADime
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Test'em that way you'll know, but that twist should be just fine, my barrel is 24 inches though,,,might not matter though, heck givem a try!
Lol, I wish i could afford to try them all out in one whack. Eventually i wanted to work up a game load so that family youngsters could use it for deer season.

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Old June 12, 2012, 02:33 PM   #12
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Win. 748 or H 380 with light stuff, IMR 4350 or 4320 with 100 gr. bullets.

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Old June 12, 2012, 06:03 PM   #13
10-96
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How close can you get those little 58's to the lands?
I honestly don't have a clue, but I seat the bases .20" or so into the neck. I know, shame on me for not being more scientific and precise- but I do get .45" 5 round groups at 100yds with very careful loading and separating cases by weight with a Rem 700 VDL.
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Old June 12, 2012, 06:29 PM   #14
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I just worked up a load for my wife's Model 70 243 for an up coming precision rifle shoot.

I'm using 87 grn Berger VLDs and 37 grns of R-15. Winchester Brass and CCI bench rest primers. It's extremely accurate and good for 1100 yards. It's not near max but its accurate.

Out of wife's 22 inch barrel it averges 3050 fps.

I figure if I replace the Bergers with a 87 grn hunting bullet, it'd work good on antelope or deer (or varmints if that's your choosing).
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Old June 13, 2012, 08:40 AM   #15
FiveInADime
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kraigwy View Post
I just worked up a load for my wife's Model 70 243 for an up coming precision rifle shoot.

I'm using 87 grn Berger VLDs and 37 grns of R-15. Winchester Brass and CCI bench rest primers. It's extremely accurate and good for 1100 yards. It's not near max but its accurate.

Out of wife's 22 inch barrel it averges 3050 fps.

I figure if I replace the Bergers with a 87 grn hunting bullet, it'd work good on antelope or deer (or varmints if that's your choosing).
What sub-model is your wife's gun? I have a mid-80's 'Ranger Youth' in just about perfect condition. I have hemmed and hawed over getting a new barrel and putting it in a full-size stock but i know i will regret it when i have kids. I just have a recoil pad on it to meet my LOP. I have had to fight off many dads with young kids offering good money for it . It has such an excellent trigger for a stock gun.

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Old June 13, 2012, 10:21 AM   #16
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Quote:
What sub-model is your wife's gun?
It's a "Kraigie Special".

Years ago I bought 6 Model 70 Actions for a grand total of $235.

It was going to be wifes hunting rifle. I put a mid wight 22 inch Douglas Supreme 1:10 twist barrel.

For a stock I got a new Winchester stock from a Gunsmith to took it off a rifle a customer wanted to put a plastic stock on his Model 70. It was a new stock.

I did the metal work myself. I put on a Leopold 4X scope, great for hunting but I put a Weaver Tactical Mil Dot on for the up coming match. It will come off and the Leopold will go back on cause the wife wants her rifle back.

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Old June 13, 2012, 10:29 AM   #17
David Bachelder
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I'm not a varmit shooter, I'd be more in line with hogs or deer, so I shoot a little heavier bullet.

My Remington 780 in .243 loves:
Hornady 87 grain VMax over 37.5 grains Varget.
or
Hornady 95 grain SST over 35 grains Varget.

I tried IMR 4350 but did not get similar results. The Varget seems to be the powder of this guns choice.

I'm setting .035" off the lands.
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Old June 13, 2012, 01:07 PM   #18
FiveInADime
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Quote:
Originally Posted by kraigwy View Post
It's a "Kraigie Special".

Years ago I bought 6 Model 70 Actions for a grand total of $235.

It was going to be wifes hunting rifle. I put a mid wight 22 inch Douglas Supreme 1:10 twist barrel.

For a stock I got a new Winchester stock from a Gunsmith to took it off a rifle a customer wanted to put a plastic stock on his Model 70. It was a new stock.

I did the metal work myself. I put on a Leopold 4X scope, great for hunting but I put a Weaver Tactical Mil Dot on for the up coming match. It will come off and the Leopold will go back on cause the wife wants her rifle back.
I'm guessing it's a classic or pre-64' action?

I just bought some H4350 to play with. I still haven't bought bullets. I think i'm going to either get the 75GR. V-Max, or try the 70GR. Nosler BT's. Anyone have a load for 70gr pills with h4350, or is that powder too slow for that weight? I will probably get some Varget if the H4350 isn't suitable for the 70 GR. BT's.

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Old June 13, 2012, 01:24 PM   #19
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My 1964 Model 70 loves IMR4831. I get 3/4 inch groups with a Sierra 75 grain HP over 47.5 grains of IMR4831. Seat bullet so it touches the top of the powder column, but does not compress.
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Old June 13, 2012, 01:59 PM   #20
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70gr looks like H4831SC would be a great choice. I may have to pick up some to try out myself.



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Old June 13, 2012, 02:12 PM   #21
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My Remington 700 BDL in .243 Winchester loves 43 grs of IMR4350 under an obsolete Hornady 70 gr SXSP seated just a hair off the lands.
The rifles nickname is AT&T from back when their slogan was "reach out and touch someone". I've gotten 1/2" groups at 200 yards with this load from a bench, when I do my part.
I'm down to my last 100 of the 70 gr Hornady SXSP bullets and will probably move up to the 75 gr V-Max and start over with testing how many grains of powder the 75gr bullet likes.
Good luck.
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Old August 12, 2014, 04:38 AM   #22
Bennyfatsack
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Better late than never...... I spose

Hi, new to site, really useful info even if I missed the main of this post by 2 years, was very helpfull helping me fine tune my own loads, so if any still interested I got my best results from: once fired brass fire from my rifle,neck sized only with lee collet neck die, remington primers, 70 gr nosler ballistic tip, 46 gr of AR2209 which is an ADI powder, out of a five shot group at 150m 4 were touching and fifth less than 1/4 inch off, and has this consistently, also had similar but not quiet as good using same load pushing Speer 75gr varmint hollow points, not as good on paper but spectacular on vermin, almost looks explosive on rabbits and foxes
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Old August 12, 2014, 06:17 PM   #23
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Quote:
FiveInADime posted previously:
I could try 75 gr. V-max or 70 gr. Nosler BTs. Might consider doing a 85gr. Sierra GK, BUT I WANTED TO TRY LIGHTER AND GET IN THE vicinity of 3500fps. I also want to try a new powder; thinking of H4350, Superformance, Win760, ect.
I suggest that you go ahead and give Superformance a try - it works great in the .243 Win case. I used to use 4064 for 75gr V-MAX and 4350 for 87gr V-MAX and 100gr InterLock bullets in my Weatherby Vanguard S2 but I have switched to Superformance and couldn't be happier. Here are my current Superformance loads and chronograph results:
Code:
    Bullet       Charge(gr)     MV(fps)
75gr V-MAX          49.0         3533
87gr V-MAX          47.0         3343
95gr SST            46.5         3258
100gr InterLock     46.0         3189
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Old August 13, 2014, 03:09 PM   #24
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I currently use sierra 95gr matchkings and nosler 95gr ballistic tips. For the matchkings 39.5gr h4350, seated to 2.790 and the ballistic tips at 42gr (max) seated to 2.700, with winchester large rifle primers and brass.

I put up a topic on a range report using the 95gr sierras. Very impressive.

Using a Remington 700 24" sps with a Boyd custom thumbhole stock.

Took quite a few groundhogs and rabbits with it already that were chomping on my beans. Farthest was over 400 yards for the sierras.

As a side note it was easy switching between the sierras and the noslers. With a 100 yard zero on the sierras, the noslers are 1 inch high and 1inch to the right :-)
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