What loads for .243 short barreled rifle?

Sea Buck · December 9, 2009, 12:18 PM

What loads do you use for a short barreled rifle in .243 with a 1-9 inch twist for varmits and deer?

Sea Buck · December 9, 2009, 09:47 PM

Thanks for the great response.

I'm beginning with 38.0 gr of H380 and with Speer 75 gr JHP. The twist rate may be to fast for anything lighter than 75 gr.

hodaka · December 9, 2009, 10:25 PM

Don't dispair. A decent question but fairly specialized. Personnally, I don't current load for a .243, much less a short barreled one. Patience, grasshopper.

Kiwi Hunter · December 10, 2009, 12:28 AM

Try a healthy dose of Varget or 2206H (Hodgon H4895 in USA) with the 85g speer BTSP on top. This is dynamite from my Steyr ultralight which has a very short barrel.

If you use the slower powders the short barrel makes a muzzle flash about the size of a compact car... It used to blow the screens off the chronograph every shot

tom234 · December 10, 2009, 03:10 AM

The standard twist for .243 is generally 1:10. A 1:9 will stabilize longer & heavier bullets greater than 100 grains along with bullets with lesser weight. Slower twists limit you to smaller/lighter bullets.
http://www.shilen.com/calibersAndTwists.html

SATCH487 · December 10, 2009, 08:33 PM

I have a short barreled rem 243 youth model 700, it has a 1-9.25 twist. It does shoot the heavier bullets better but dont give up on the light bullets. Mine would shoot the 65gr and 70gr bt's for varmits but you have to tinker with the load, what i mean by that is dont drop it to much at a time, mine would sometimes go from shooting bad groups and then drop it 2 tenths of a grain and it would tighten up alot, so keep playing with the powder and spend a little tim at the range and you can find a great load.

Here are some loads for my 243 short barrel.

40 gr of imr 4350 and 95 gr bt.

Some of the best advice i have recieved off this forum is get a few reloading books and study them. And to take reloads off of websites like the unibomber wrote them.

Transbrake · December 10, 2009, 08:44 PM

i would use a 85grain sierra sbt with varget powder. excellent for varmit or deer.

James R. Burke · December 10, 2009, 09:15 PM

Good manuals are a must have. For my wifes deer round I am using RL-22 and a Nosler 100 grain partition. They like a slower burning powder with the heavier bullet. It will shoot under 1" five shots at 100 yards. I am still tinkering with the lighter stuff, and getting close but not there yet. But for deer you want the heavier bullet that is going to stay together and hopefully will make pass thru shots. With the .243 shot placement is key with deer has is with any caliber. Now and then if you cant get a good shot leave it walk. Have fun and keep it safe.

Sea Buck · December 11, 2009, 09:59 AM

Thanks for the replys. My rifle is a Ruger M77 RSI. I emailed Ruger and they said it is a 1:9" twist. I'm starting with 75 gr Speer HP and 38 gr of H380(It's what I have),I could go lower, max is listed at 43gr. I'll go to Varget if I can find it, or IMR 4895.I do have some H414. One of my problems is I have run out of standard primers and could only find magnum primers.I guess that will only bother me if I get close to a max load,but do not plan to be even close to max....I would rather sacrifice zip for accuracy.Any further thoughts on this would be appreciated.

griz · December 11, 2009, 10:00 AM

I started using Nosler's E tip with AA 3100 in my stubby little Remington model 7. Deer only, I use other rifles on varmints.

Jim243 · December 11, 2009, 10:08 AM

I use Hornady 105 gr A-Max's (#24562) with H4895 in a Savage Mod 10 22" barrel. Best result out of a 1-9 twist.

Good Shooting
Jim

FrankenMauser · December 11, 2009, 03:23 PM

Quote:

I'm beginning with 38.0 gr of H380 and with Speer 75 gr JHP.

Light bullet + H380 = disappointing results, and low energy efficiency.

Short barrel + Light bullet + H380 = horribly energy efficiency.

With 75gr projectiles, I'd recommend (as stated) IMR or H4895. (I think IMR 4895 has the more linear burn rate).

Definitely stick with with something between 4198 and 4064.

If you can find it, in your area; give IMR 3031 a chance. I was the premier powder for the .243 Win, for 30+ years.

Sea Buck · December 11, 2009, 07:08 PM

Frankenmauser: Thanks for redirecting me to the obvious. The powders mentoined are in the middle of the pack for burn rate. Ken Waters in "Pet Loads" lists this range of powders as "Most accurate" for the .243. he doesn't come right out and say that but when you look down the list they are the most accurate. An 18" HR M301 carbine was used in this testing.

December 9, 2009, 12:18 PM	#1
Sea Buck Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: New England,Florida Snow Bird Posts: 312	What loads for .243 short barreled rifle? What loads do you use for a short barreled rifle in .243 with a 1-9 inch twist for varmits and deer?

December 10, 2009, 08:33 PM	#6
SATCH487 Member Join Date: March 25, 2009 Location: BRISTOL VA Posts: 16	243 LOADS I have a short barreled rem 243 youth model 700, it has a 1-9.25 twist. It does shoot the heavier bullets better but dont give up on the light bullets. Mine would shoot the 65gr and 70gr bt's for varmits but you have to tinker with the load, what i mean by that is dont drop it to much at a time, mine would sometimes go from shooting bad groups and then drop it 2 tenths of a grain and it would tighten up alot, so keep playing with the powder and spend a little tim at the range and you can find a great load. Here are some loads for my 243 short barrel. 40 gr of imr 4350 and 95 gr bt. Some of the best advice i have recieved off this forum is get a few reloading books and study them. And to take reloads off of websites like the unibomber wrote them.

December 9, 2009, 09:47 PM	#2
Sea Buck Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: New England,Florida Snow Bird Posts: 312	Thanks for the great response. I'm beginning with 38.0 gr of H380 and with Speer 75 gr JHP. The twist rate may be to fast for anything lighter than 75 gr.

December 9, 2009, 10:25 PM	#3
hodaka Senior Member Join Date: April 23, 2006 Location: South Texas Posts: 2,010	Don't dispair. A decent question but fairly specialized. Personnally, I don't current load for a .243, much less a short barreled one. Patience, grasshopper.

December 10, 2009, 12:28 AM	#4
Kiwi Hunter Member Join Date: August 13, 2009 Posts: 76	Try a healthy dose of Varget or 2206H (Hodgon H4895 in USA) with the 85g speer BTSP on top. This is dynamite from my Steyr ultralight which has a very short barrel. If you use the slower powders the short barrel makes a muzzle flash about the size of a compact car... It used to blow the screens off the chronograph every shot

December 10, 2009, 03:10 AM	#5
tom234 Senior Member Join Date: February 14, 2008 Location: Kansas Posts: 753	The standard twist for .243 is generally 1:10. A 1:9 will stabilize longer & heavier bullets greater than 100 grains along with bullets with lesser weight. Slower twists limit you to smaller/lighter bullets. http://www.shilen.com/calibersAndTwists.html

December 10, 2009, 08:44 PM	#7
Transbrake Member Join Date: December 4, 2009 Location: Northern MN Posts: 28	i would use a 85grain sierra sbt with varget powder. excellent for varmit or deer.

December 10, 2009, 09:15 PM	#8
James R. Burke Senior Member Join Date: January 3, 2009 Location: U.P. of Mich/Quinnesec Posts: 1,897	Good manuals are a must have. For my wifes deer round I am using RL-22 and a Nosler 100 grain partition. They like a slower burning powder with the heavier bullet. It will shoot under 1" five shots at 100 yards. I am still tinkering with the lighter stuff, and getting close but not there yet. But for deer you want the heavier bullet that is going to stay together and hopefully will make pass thru shots. With the .243 shot placement is key with deer has is with any caliber. Now and then if you cant get a good shot leave it walk. Have fun and keep it safe.

December 11, 2009, 09:59 AM	#9
Sea Buck Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: New England,Florida Snow Bird Posts: 312	Thanks for the replys. My rifle is a Ruger M77 RSI. I emailed Ruger and they said it is a 1:9" twist. I'm starting with 75 gr Speer HP and 38 gr of H380(It's what I have),I could go lower, max is listed at 43gr. I'll go to Varget if I can find it, or IMR 4895.I do have some H414. One of my problems is I have run out of standard primers and could only find magnum primers.I guess that will only bother me if I get close to a max load,but do not plan to be even close to max....I would rather sacrifice zip for accuracy.Any further thoughts on this would be appreciated.

December 11, 2009, 10:00 AM	#10
griz Senior Member Join Date: August 1, 2000 Location: Middle Peninsula, VA Posts: 1,588	I started using Nosler's E tip with AA 3100 in my stubby little Remington model 7. Deer only, I use other rifles on varmints.

December 11, 2009, 10:08 AM	#11
Jim243 Senior Member Join Date: January 6, 2009 Location: Just off Route 66 Posts: 5,067	I use Hornady 105 gr A-Max's (#24562) with H4895 in a Savage Mod 10 22" barrel. Best result out of a 1-9 twist. Good Shooting Jim

December 11, 2009, 07:08 PM	#13
Sea Buck Senior Member Join Date: September 9, 2008 Location: New England,Florida Snow Bird Posts: 312	Frankenmauser: Thanks for redirecting me to the obvious. The powders mentoined are in the middle of the pack for burn rate. Ken Waters in "Pet Loads" lists this range of powders as "Most accurate" for the .243. he doesn't come right out and say that but when you look down the list they are the most accurate. An 18" HR M301 carbine was used in this testing.