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Old November 15, 2012, 10:59 AM   #1
mohr308
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.243 win powder choice, ideas please

Im going to be reloading for a friend of mine, and I will be using sierra bullets. I do have load data from them, it lists IMR4064 as the best powder for the hunting load. Does anyone have any experience loading the .243 and what powders have worked for you?
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Old November 15, 2012, 11:14 AM   #2
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I use IMR 4350 and Win 760 with 100-105 grain bullets. Very accurate.

For a ball powder...Win 760 works really, really well. Even more accurate than 4350 in my rifle. Bullets I use are the Sierra 100gr and the Speer 105 gr. Win 760 meters in a powder measure super accurately, and so makes a good choice if you use a progressive. With that load I often get 1/2" outside diameter holes at 100m, on a rest, in my Remington 600 Mohawk carbine (really). Velocity is less than using IMR4350, but I never saw a deer that cared. When going after deer, I rarely take anything bigger. The .243 600 does the job with the least amount of weight and recoil. Truly one of my favorite rifles.

Last edited by GWS; November 15, 2012 at 11:23 AM.
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Old November 15, 2012, 12:12 PM   #3
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What's your choice of primers? Sierra lists the fed210m, but I'm afraid to use those for hunting. I'm up in NY, so hunting months are cold!
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Old November 15, 2012, 12:21 PM   #4
Brian Pfleuger
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Rl-17 will most likely produce the best velocity, slightly bullet weight dependent.
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Old November 15, 2012, 12:32 PM   #5
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I've had good luck with IMR4350. My most accurate load so far is:

40.2gr IMR4350
Sierra 85gr HPBT
Remington brass
WLR primer
2.65" OAL

It shoots very well out of my 1970's Ruger M77 (featherweight barrel)
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Old November 15, 2012, 12:56 PM   #6
Mike Irwin
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I won't use anything other than IMR-4064 for .243. I've had stellar success with it in years past.

Not reloaded for this cartridge for a long time, but I recently got my Father's .243 and am contemplating running it through its paces just to see what I can wring from it.
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Old November 15, 2012, 01:01 PM   #7
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IMR7828 works fantastic in this overbored cartridge.
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Old November 15, 2012, 01:02 PM   #8
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Varget is pretty good, Win 748, IMR4350.

My Dad was showing me some tiny .243 Win groups he shot a few months ago. Not sure what powder he use, may have been 4350.
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Old November 15, 2012, 02:07 PM   #9
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I should mention, I will be using the 100gr SGK's. She uses 100gr nosler partition in a very expensive factory load. I hope to keep her firing those (100gr), seeing we hunt in medium to heavy wooded areas.
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Old November 15, 2012, 02:33 PM   #10
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Thanks for posting the question, will be in the process of working up loads for my sons .243. I will also be using SGK 100gr. CCI primers and federal brass. Will post how it works out.
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Old November 15, 2012, 02:36 PM   #11
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CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.


Handloads.com


Remember to be safe and work up, carefully watching for signs of over pressure and all that good stuff.
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Last edited by Brian Pfleuger; November 18, 2012 at 11:04 AM. Reason: Added Caution
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Old November 15, 2012, 03:14 PM   #12
William T. Watts
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IMR7828 was my go to powder when I had a 243, actually IMR7828 is a good powder for many overbore calibers especially 7mm Rem mag! William
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Old November 15, 2012, 03:30 PM   #13
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I've always had good luck with H4895 in .243.
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Old November 15, 2012, 04:16 PM   #14
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Well finally something in my wheelhouse,, I use CCI 200 primers, mostly Winchester brass, Winchester 780 Supreme, and 100 grain Sierra Gamekings.
My daughter's Mark X loves this combination, and sometimes when I shoot my best I can get a 5 round group les than 5/8's inch ay 100yds. It's a pleasure to shoot and clean up isn't bad at all.
Recently I have been working up a load with IMR 7828, and 95 grn Ballistic Tips, with continuing success.
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Old November 15, 2012, 05:41 PM   #15
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I talked to my Dad OP and he said he uses 36 grains of IMR 4320 with a 100 grain bullet. Its been his standard load for years and years. He said he never had a deer get away with it. He said he loaded the same load for my Grandfather and I know he killed a lot of deer, hogs and turkeys with his Remington 700 .243. I also remember about thirty years ago using one of my Father's .243s to shoot a doe, it ran about 20 yards after a behind the shoulder shot.


IMR website shows 37.6 as max with an 85 grain projectile so it should be safe. The load he used that he shot the really tight groups with was 37 grains of 4320 and a 75 grain Sierra. Looks like from this thread that there are some good loads for the .243 Winchester with many of the most popular rifle powders OP and now you have one more idea.

PS: IMR website shows 42 grains of 4350 as Max, so approach those Handloads.com loads with caution, if at all.
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Old November 15, 2012, 08:32 PM   #16
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A few weeks ago, I gathered all of my own .243 data, and data I've collected from other sources. Then, I plugged it (nearly 600 loads with 33 different powders) into a spreadsheet with a formula that spits out a numerical rating (0-50) for each powder, based on weighted aggregate values for consistency and efficiency.

Top 5 powders, in order of awesomeness and versatility in .243 Winchester - 80 to 107 gr bullet, 24-26" barrel (numerical rating in parenthesis):
IMR 4064 (44)
Viht N140 (30)
Viht N160 (27)
Reloader 15 (16)
Varget (15)

Even though IMR4064 has been edging its way up as my go-to powder choice for most .243 loads, it was surprising to see it surpass Vihtavuori powders in the list - particularly with so few of my own loads in the data set.

One of the reasons those ratings have such a spread between them, is the way the weighted values work in the formula. It was designed to show a wide enough spread that a distinction between powders was magnified and easy to see.

Most interesting to me, was that the formula didn't like IMR3031, at all. For decades, it was considered to be "the" powder for .243 Winchester. But, I don't know anyone that has had much luck with it in the last 10 years, or so. The formula agreed, by spitting out a rating of two -- the same as Big Game, BL-C(2), Reloader 19, and H4350. (Though, IMR4350 made a moderately better showing, with a rating of 7.)


Obviously, those ratings are for attributes that are important to me, but I tried to be as fair as possible. All I was really trying to do, was see if my own preferences for powder could be backed up by a larger data set.
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Old November 16, 2012, 12:09 AM   #17
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Quote:
CAUTION: The following post includes loading data beyond currently published maximums for this cartridge. USE AT YOUR OWN RISK. Neither the writer, The Firing Line, nor the staff of TFL assume any liability for any damage or injury resulting from use of this information.
I'm a firm believer in the need to get a high speed cartridge like the 243 up over 3200 to get that awesome shocking power one looks for. Hornady's 24/6mm cal 75 gr. HP and 48.7 of IMR 4831 will do just that. Very Accurate. Touching bullet hole's at 100 is the usual for this loading. Have been using this load for many years on MN deer. A good rib shot on a 200 lb plus buck. That deer won't walk more than 25 yards at the very farthest after being shot. Most times its a matter of feet I've found to be more likely.
When field dressed. That little Hornady has a tendency to turn everything in the deer pump station into jello. As it dumps its entire bullet energy inside the animal. Seldom do you find an exit hole. Don't need one really.
But if you choose to use another brand bullet of the same weight. I can't garentee you'll get the same results as that Hornady gives. Devastating little bullet that Hornady 75 H.P. is.
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Old November 16, 2012, 03:08 AM   #18
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Of course it will. You are using a varmint bullet on deer.

I like to not have a chest cavity full of soup. I cut my deer up and eat 'em.
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Old November 16, 2012, 09:15 AM   #19
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H414. All you need to know.
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Old November 16, 2012, 10:38 AM   #20
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H380. Bruce Hodgdon's little secret. Still one of the most versatile powders around. Superb in the .243.
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Old November 16, 2012, 12:41 PM   #21
Sure Shot Mc Gee
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I like to not have a chest cavity full of soup. I cut my deer up and eat 'em
Hey whatever works best for you feel free to do mrawesome22. I cut and wrap my own harvested animals also. But before I start my butchering procedure after the animal has been already field dressed. I have a tendency to rinse out a deers cavity with clean fresh water from our back yard garden hose before hide removal or quartering. It's a technique I picked up years ago back in the early 50s from watching my old'man.
Now to stay on point. I'm also not a rookie at reloading. Been at it near 50 yrs. I've used many other weights and brands of bullets and powders too in my 243 loadings and write about my preferences from experience. I found this (prior posting) reload to work best for me on deer size game at 200 or less yards. It's a quick mover at near 3400 ft per sec at the barrels end according to my Hornady Third edition's write up.
As far as turning the heart, lungs, into jello. Perhaps purple would have been a better choice of a descriptive word. In fact if you lived closer to me Sir. I'd invite you over today to help in cutting up the deer I just harvested earlier this week. Have a cup of coffee or beer or two while you pick-hair sounds good to me. (hey its something that needs to be done. Am I right?) _
To be honest I haven't used my Ruger flat bolt 243 in years. The old 270 get my nod these days instead. But that's a whole different issue. Good luck with your quest mohr308_
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Old November 17, 2012, 09:39 PM   #22
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My best loads are with IMR 4064. I use Barnes TSX 85gr and have great results. I do like to have and exit wound and these give me one.
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Old November 18, 2012, 07:57 AM   #23
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With a 85 gr bullet I use 4064 and with a 100 gr bullet I use IMR 4350. Out of my rifle they shot at the same POI at 100 yards.
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Old November 18, 2012, 08:49 AM   #24
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Hornady 95gr SST over 35 grains Varget has been my best load. My Remington 788 loves it. I did measure for proper OAL. The 788 loves the OAL at 2.65" This would up about .030 short of the lands.

I hit golf balls at 100 yards.
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Old November 18, 2012, 10:39 AM   #25
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I guess I'll be the only one to be the buzz buster here !

I would strongly suggest you have your friend over and show him how to load "HIS" ammo on your press. It might be good so he will be learning to reload and get his interest up to join us all here.Share the hobby.
IF there is ever a mishap, mistake, error, accident it wont be just your fault and legal liability for what ever might happen.
http://thefiringline.com/forums/showthread.php?t=506531
The above is a perfect example I just read.

PLEASE, Im not saying or judging anyones reloading but since " I " had a mishap with loading as well as many others who post the kabooms,split bbls,
squib loads,hang fires etc.
Im sure a $17 box of .243 soft points are well worth keeping your friendship.

I never let my friends shoot my reloads not even in my guns. If they dont want to take the time to come over and help load,clean guns, then its all about them saving a dollar ! When I show them what can result, then they know I think their worth more than a Dollar to me !

Just my .02 cents worth, Be safe, good hunting !

Mike

Last edited by myg30; November 18, 2012 at 10:51 AM. Reason: Added a link I just found.
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