Handloads for the 243Winchester

Dsprad · March 14, 2018, 09:42 PM

I am working on a handload using DRT brass 95 grain Silvertips RL 17 powder and CCI BR2 primers. Anyone have any thoughts or really accurate loads they would like to share.

T. O'Heir · March 15, 2018, 12:54 PM

What shoots accurately out of my rifle may or may not out of your's. Your barrels' rifling twist and the rest of your rifle(trigger, bedding, barrel, etc.) matters too. Benchrest primers don't make any difference either.
Been using IMR4350 with 90 and 105 grain Speers for eons. My rifle's barrel isn't up to great accuracy, but it is consistent. Shoots 2" or so all the time.

Dsprad · March 15, 2018, 06:36 PM

I am using a Remington model 760. So far every factory load I have shot out of it has done very well. No groups have measured over 3/4 of a inch. I have tried Nosler,Hornady,Federal,and cheaper Winchester factory ammo.

mustangfg4 · March 15, 2018, 09:40 PM

So far my best hand load has been federal brass, CCI primer, Hornady 87 gr V-Maxx over 35 gr. of H-Varget seated .020 off of the lands. Rifle is a Marlin X7 20" barrel 3/4 groups all day at 100yds off sandbag. Free hand in the vitals of full size deer target ( 6" pie plate ) all day. I have also loaded Federal brass with 34.5 gr of IMR 4064 topped with a Combined Technology 95gr. silver tip and CCI primer seated .010 off of lands.

Sure Shot Mc Gee · March 16, 2018, 12:07 AM

I don't shoot bullet weights heavier than 87 gr in my 243. Nor does my powder brand or charge change. Grain weight from 75 thr 87 all are pushed up & out the bore of my rifle with the same powder charge.
Shooting for accuracy or at game the 75 gr is preferred simply because its ultra accurate._80 gr is a close second._ 87 gr. when the animal weighs more than I do.

If I have to step up the bullet weight to 100 gr or heavier. Like 122 HP's occasionally. My 1/4 bore-06 is better suited for those heavier bullet weights because of its case capacity and much faster speeds the 1/4 bore is capable of beyond a 243s mediocre velocity if it were to shoot the same bullet weights. If considering a 243? Best advice. Buy a 1_lb of IMR 4831 for a try.

T. O'Heir · March 16, 2018, 12:34 PM

"...No groups have measured over 3/4 of a inch..." That's kind of miraculous for a pump gun.
However, your 760 is rifled, like most commercial hunting rifles in .243, for deer sized game bullets. That'd be about 85 grains and up. For a 95, if you don't have actual data, 100 grain data will be close enough. The RL17 data (really close to IMR4350) on Alliant's site is the max load. Reduce by 10% for the start load.
Then practice at 100 yards, off hand(standing) until you can hit a 9" pie plate every time.
Oh and you don't have to use varmint bullets on varmints. You can work up one load and use it on everything. Nothing is as good practice, even the pie plate, for deer season as varmint hunting. Mind you, if you ever think about hunting coyotes and want the hides, don't use a deer bullet. Blows big holes in hides. That's what my 90 grain FMJ load was intended to do. Speer has discontinued 'em though. Any match bullet will be a substitute though.

March 14, 2018, 09:42 PM	#1
Dsprad Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2018 Posts: 2	Handloads for the 243Winchester I am working on a handload using DRT brass 95 grain Silvertips RL 17 powder and CCI BR2 primers. Anyone have any thoughts or really accurate loads they would like to share.

March 15, 2018, 12:54 PM	#2
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	What shoots accurately out of my rifle may or may not out of your's. Your barrels' rifling twist and the rest of your rifle(trigger, bedding, barrel, etc.) matters too. Benchrest primers don't make any difference either. Been using IMR4350 with 90 and 105 grain Speers for eons. My rifle's barrel isn't up to great accuracy, but it is consistent. Shoots 2" or so all the time. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 16, 2018, 12:07 AM	#5
Sure Shot Mc Gee Senior Member Join Date: January 2, 2012 Location: Minnesota Posts: 3,876	I don't shoot bullet weights heavier than 87 gr in my 243. Nor does my powder brand or charge change. Grain weight from 75 thr 87 all are pushed up & out the bore of my rifle with the same powder charge. Shooting for accuracy or at game the 75 gr is preferred simply because its ultra accurate._80 gr is a close second._ 87 gr. when the animal weighs more than I do. If I have to step up the bullet weight to 100 gr or heavier. Like 122 HP's occasionally. My 1/4 bore-06 is better suited for those heavier bullet weights because of its case capacity and much faster speeds the 1/4 bore is capable of beyond a 243s mediocre velocity if it were to shoot the same bullet weights. If considering a 243? Best advice. Buy a 1_lb of IMR 4831 for a try. Last edited by Sure Shot Mc Gee; March 16, 2018 at 12:12 AM.

March 16, 2018, 12:34 PM	#6
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	"...No groups have measured over 3/4 of a inch..." That's kind of miraculous for a pump gun. However, your 760 is rifled, like most commercial hunting rifles in .243, for deer sized game bullets. That'd be about 85 grains and up. For a 95, if you don't have actual data, 100 grain data will be close enough. The RL17 data (really close to IMR4350) on Alliant's site is the max load. Reduce by 10% for the start load. Then practice at 100 yards, off hand(standing) until you can hit a 9" pie plate every time. Oh and you don't have to use varmint bullets on varmints. You can work up one load and use it on everything. Nothing is as good practice, even the pie plate, for deer season as varmint hunting. Mind you, if you ever think about hunting coyotes and want the hides, don't use a deer bullet. Blows big holes in hides. That's what my 90 grain FMJ load was intended to do. Speer has discontinued 'em though. Any match bullet will be a substitute though. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

March 15, 2018, 06:36 PM	#3
Dsprad Junior Member Join Date: March 14, 2018 Posts: 2	I am using a Remington model 760. So far every factory load I have shot out of it has done very well. No groups have measured over 3/4 of a inch. I have tried Nosler,Hornady,Federal,and cheaper Winchester factory ammo.

March 15, 2018, 09:40 PM	#4
mustangfg4 Junior Member Join Date: April 26, 2012 Location: I moved to PA finally!! Posts: 1	So far my best hand load has been federal brass, CCI primer, Hornady 87 gr V-Maxx over 35 gr. of H-Varget seated .020 off of the lands. Rifle is a Marlin X7 20" barrel 3/4 groups all day at 100yds off sandbag. Free hand in the vitals of full size deer target ( 6" pie plate ) all day. I have also loaded Federal brass with 34.5 gr of IMR 4064 topped with a Combined Technology 95gr. silver tip and CCI primer seated .010 off of lands.