Yet Another .243 Load Question

[fishhead1]

My father for years used H4831 and/or 4350 powder in his .243 loads. So I was down at the local gun shop looking at powders, and I happened to note that Hodgden does not list .243 caliber on their H4831 recommended calibers/loads (nor on their H4350), but do list it on their H380 powder. When I got back home (without buying anything) and checked my load manuals, I note that my Hornady manual (4th Edition) doesn't list H380 powder at all for any of their .243 loads (however they do for some other calibers). However, my Speer manual does list H380 for their .243 loads, although they indicate magnum primers are required.
Looking at other discussions involving .243 loads on this cite, it seems that both 4831 and 4350 (along with a few others) seem to be the most popular powders for .243 loads, but I haven't noticed H380 mentioned. So why does Hodgdon specifically include .243 caliber on this powder, but not at all on their others?
And has anyone used H380 for their .243 loads, and how does it work?

[Brian Pfleuger]

The companies that make gunpowder (and bullets, brass and primers) list all sorts of weird things in their manuals. Sometimes they show loads that are inexplicably high, sometimes inexplicably low. Sometimes they show a powder requiring a magnum primer when nobody else does.


Anywho... H380 will probably work just fine for .243 but it's rather inefficient. That's probably why most companies don't show a load for it.

QuickLoad shows a "ballistic efficiency" of only 18-20% for light bullets in the 243 and it doesn't get up to a reasonable number (mid-20s) until you get into really heavy-for-caliber bullets.

I'm no expert but H380 isn't particularly hard to light, I don't think. It works just fine in my 7mm-08 with standard primers, shooting both light and heavy bullets at all charge ranges, and the 7mm runs nearly identical pressures to the 243.

[DANNY-L]

for 95gr nos.bt I use cci200, 41gr. imr 4350, oal 2.710 for my rem. model 7 excellent groups

[Jim243]

I'd listen to your dad or Hornady. Hornady will not list a powder (in their opinion) that does not do well with the bullet that they have provide load data for. It doesn't mean that they haven't tested it, is just that the powders listed have provided better results.

As far as Hodgdon listing it, I would guess it is more a marketing thing than a best results issue.

When picking a powder I usually check to see if there is more than one caliber that the powder can be used for. (ie..243, 270, 30-06) or a powder that they recommend for the same caliber but different weights bullets. (just in case I want to try a different weight bullet in the same caliber).

Pick one that best suits the reloading that you are doing and gives you more choices. (with that said IMR4350 and H4350 are good powders for the 243).

My personal choice is H4895 but I only shoot 105 gr Hornady A-Max's in 243.

Your choice should be what works best for you.

Jim

[IllinoisCoyoteHunter]

I am with Jim on this one. My choice is also H4895 and I am slingin' 95 grn Berger VLD's. I have had awesome results.

[Woodyed]

I use H414 in both 243 and 7mm-08. This powder has always worked well for me in regard to accuracy and velocity. H4895 is also a good powder to use, but I've always had a little better performance out of H414. Try different powders to see which ones give you the results that you're looking for.

[TXGunNut]

Be very careful using the loads listed on the Hodgdon site. In my experience when they say maximum it really means maximum. And it does seem that they list less-than-optimal powders for some applications but that is probably for folks that happen to have that powder on the shelf and want to try it in another cartridge for whatever reason. I find the Hornady manual a bit narrow-minded when it comes to powders, when IMR, Hodgdon and AA have similar powders they will not list all of them. Guess that's why I use more than one source.

[James R. Burke]

Peetzakiller is correct. The .243 is a great cartiridge. A lot depends on what you are going to use it for, and the twist it has for the bullet you will be using. My wifes has a 1/9 twist, and is used for deer hunting. We been using the Nosler Partition 100 grain, and it has worked great. It stays in one inch at 100 yards all day long. Probably better than I can shoot. Using Rl-22 for the powder. Seems to like the slower burning powder with the bigger bullets.

[Ozzieman]

If you go to Hodgdon's web site they list a lot of loads for the 243 with H380 with many bullets combinations.
They also list 4381 and 4350 but only with heavier bullets 80 GR and above.
I don’t load 243 but have loaded H380 with 90 GR in the 6MM Rem but never had the chance to work up a load since with heavier bullets 4895 worked so well.
Hope this helps.


http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

[rogn]

My 243 only gets used for deer hunting, or an occasional varmit. It loves a big dose of H4831SC, CCi primers mostly BR2, and either 95 or 100 grain partitions. The velocity is one of the few honest 243 loads out of 22' barrel, accuracy is great. Its a reall 300 yd whitetail cartridge.

[briandg]

For decades now, I've read time and again, that the best charge for a .243 was IMR 4350. Robert hutton went so far as to call it the CORRECT powder for the case and load. Remington supposedly used a non cannistered equivalent to it. It gives high velocity with reasonable pressures, comes to 1/4 inch of the shoulder, and in my rifle, beat everything I ever put through it. I think I fired 70 grain match, and 100 grain Sierras exclusively.

I really would like to see every shooter try that first when loading .243.

[fishhead1]

Thanks for the good words, guys. Very interesting!

[Doodlebugger45]

I just checked the Hodgdon website as well. It seems like they have a listing for nearly all their powders for the .243. I was surprised to see H1000 and even Retumbo listed for it. It seems like almost everything works well in that cartridge which has also been my experience. I'm not sure if you are trying to buy a powder that might have other applications as well (I do that a lot), but if you were to buy some 4350 or 4831, you can use that in a lot of rifles. 4895 is probably the most versatile powder out there and works well in almost everything. Varget is the most popular choice for medium capacity cases. And I see they have a listing for 4064, which works good in a bunch of calibers too.

[Blue Grass]

I've owned several .243 rifles and have shot every bullet weight from 55gr to 100gr. The 2 powders I've always had good luck with are the 4350s and Re-19. It's hard to get a bad load using these 2 powders and about any bullet.

[Shadowman69]

I'm also interested in a decent load for the .243, but I'll probably be punching paper with it at 100 or 200 yards.

Any suggestions?

[oneoldsap]

IMR-4064 or IMR-3031 are my favorites !

[William T. Watts]

IMR4350, H4831 or IMR7828 with Nosler 100gr Partitions work well on deer and hogs, I would try both standard and magnum primers to see which your rifle prefers with these powders. FWIW I never loaded this round at the very top, I would find a accurate loading and call it quits. William

[okie2]

This worked fine in my Savage 110