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Old October 16, 2011, 03:36 PM   #1
deepforks
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.243 loads

hi all, new to the forum. glad i joined, only bummed that i just found this forum. seems like theres a ton of great info. and resources here. so, i just purchased a new savage fhss in .243 (1:9.25 twist). ive always heard great things about this round, but never owned one. i just loaded up a batch of the following:
hornady 65gr vmax
new win brass (fl sized & trimmed to 2.035")
federal 210 large rifle primers
41gr imr 4064
coal right around 2.6" (+/- a few thous.)
should be right about 3,500fps
min. load published is 40gr - max load is 43.4gr

i've yet to shoot this load, let alone the gun. tried to get out today, but it's pouring. so, i decided to see if anyone has used this load, or a load very close to it. i'm not stuck on the 65gr, just got a deal on them. planning on some wolf hunting later in the season, and if this groups well for me, i'll give it a shot. just wanted to get a little feedback. should i bump up the bullet weight for wolf size critters? i think it'd be fine for yotes, but maybe a little light for some of the bruiser wolves we have here in idaho.

thanks!!
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Old October 16, 2011, 04:01 PM   #2
GURU1911
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Varmint load for .243 winchester

Welcome to wide wonderful world of loading your own ammo !!!! Never have to buy factory ever again. Considering the components you have in stock, i suggest the following:

41.0 grains----imr4064-----3450 fps.

Should you decide to use the same caliber on deer, this one is the old standard for reloaders:

100 grain nosler bt / hornady sp----40.0 IMR / AA---4350---2950 fps.

Have been reloading this cartridge for almost 40 years !!!!

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Old October 16, 2011, 05:59 PM   #3
mrawesome22
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75gr and up is all my 243 will shoot. Lighter bullets wont let me get close enough to th rifling.

How far off the rifling are you?
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Old October 16, 2011, 06:35 PM   #4
PawPaw
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My favorite load for the .243 Winchester is a 100 grain Hornady and 45.5 grains of Reloder 22. 3100 fps and very accurate in my Savage, some 3 shot groups under a half inch, most 5 shot groups about 3/4th inch.
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Old October 16, 2011, 07:05 PM   #5
Jim243
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Your load should be OK for Yotes, but for a 150 lbs timber wolf I would like some extra insurance, like a 243 - 95 grain Hornady SST with 34.5 grains of H-4895 set to a OAL of 2.63. This OAL is set to be 0.050 inch off my rifling of my rifle, a Savage model 10, you will need to determine what your OAL should be.

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Old October 16, 2011, 07:35 PM   #6
deepforks
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i guess i need to start thinking oal to ogive, as i'm somewhat new to this. this load is 2.6" to tip of bullet, not ogive. i've never measured my oal to ogive in the past. maybe a dumb mistake, but i just didnt load much. what do you all use as a standard starting point once you determine your oal? also, what is the best tools on the market for this, or, are you using a spent round and bullet and just figuring it out that way?
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Old October 16, 2011, 07:47 PM   #7
Jim243
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Just use the actual bullet you will be loading and a Hornady L-N-L OAL gauge and their modified case for the caliber you are using.

Jim


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Old October 16, 2011, 10:08 PM   #8
mrawesome22
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Before the hornady gauges, I used to cut a vertical slit down the center of a case neck, barely seat a bullet in this case, then chamber it. Now measure tip to case head.

This gives you "ogive touching rifling" measurement, and will be different for each type of bullet you use.

make some shells up with the oal .030" shorter, with a powder that gives decent velocity, and good case fill and you can start the fun experimentation process.


Last edited by mrawesome22; October 17, 2011 at 12:53 AM.
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Old October 17, 2011, 09:59 AM   #9
Big Yac
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As in another thread I posted, I like IMR 4895. I use a Sierra 85gr HPBT bullet, Winchester brass, Winchester primers and IMR 4895. Out of my Model 70 .243 I get wonderful accuracy. I can honestly hit bowling pins in the narrowest part of the neck at 300 yards over and over. Sure I have other powders but Im just using those up and staying with my 85gr bullets and 4895.
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Old October 17, 2011, 05:23 PM   #10
Doodlebugger45
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I have a Savage also and found that it was very easy to find great accuracy with 95 and 100 gr bullets. As I progressively tried lighter bullets, it became a bit more difficult. The 80-87 gr range wasn't too bad to get sub-MOA accuracy. But when I tried the 75 gr bullets, it took a lot more experimenting to get a 0.6" group. That came with around 45 gr of Hunter powder using CCI LRM primers. That's acceptable accuracy, but not as good as the heavier bullets. I am also thinking of making my .243 my primary wolf rifle and I think I'll stick with the 87 gr bullets for that. Truly though, I have another Savage in 22-250 and I think the 52 gr bullets will be fine for wolves. I use the 22-250 for coyotes and it is impressive. I wouldn't pass up a shot on a wolf with the 22-250 at all. But I do think you should try to move up to a bit heavier bullet than 65 gr for the .243. Your velocity will be less but the accuracy will be a lot better.
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Old October 17, 2011, 08:44 PM   #11
langenc
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No news to most reloaders-the fastest is not always the bestus.
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Old October 17, 2011, 11:25 PM   #12
deepforks
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ive also got a brand new savage 22 250 (bought it at the same time as the 243...couldnt help myself). i've got some 52gr. hornadys that i'm getting ready to load as well. like i said, i'm not dead set on the 65 grainers, just got a deal on them and want to give them a go. i'll for sure bump up and try some heavier bullets. those will be some good winter projects...when i'm done with my late buck hunt
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