.243 Loading-OAL/Powders

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blauber

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My Remington 700 BDL .243 shoots factory Federal Premium (85gr Sierra BTHP OAL 2.550", Vel=3,300 fps!) well so I would like to mimic this load but adjust bullet seating depth. What distance off the lands might lead to the best accuracy? I have seen reports with anywhere from .005 to .020".

With so many powders (and limited budget) I am thinking of IMR or H4350 too-any thoughts on their merits, one over the other? I already have some IMR 3031 and IMR 4831. Any help appreciated-I've yet to load any round but the Collet die is arriving soon!
 
Not much point reloading the factory duplication load. Reloading is about tailoring the ammo for your rifle. Work up a load first.
Anyway, neither 4350 will give you 3300 fps except at max loads with an85 grain bullet. Don't even think about starting at max loads. Max velocities for both are just over 3200 fps. Mind you, 100 fps difference isn't going to be noticed by anything you shoot.
Been using IMR4350 for eons myself with a 90 grain fmj.
Don't believe factory velocities either. They're optimistic and only apply to their test rifle.
Distance off the lands varies with every rifle. It's a trial and error thing, once you have worked up a load, for tweaking the load.
 
I would try either IMR 4064 or Varget. I've had good luck with these with 70-85gr pills. I've only used IMR 4350 with 100gr bullets but it's given accurate loads so far. No chrono so not sure of velocities, but all my best loads have been just under max (.5 - 1.5 gr) and showed no pressure signs IN MY RIFLE. All these have been loaded to OAL's given in the manuals. I haven't tried playing with seating depths yet.
 
Im currently working up loads on my 243 using H4350 and 90gr Sierra FMJ's. 44gr seems to be pretty decent so far but the next range visit I'll be adjusting the distance off the lands from 0.00-0.07. (with my starting loads I used 0.02)

I'm hoping one of those OAL combinations with the 44gr of H4350 will be the magic.
 
"...44gr seems to be pretty decent..." 43.5 of IMR4350 out of my rifle(My Cooey M71 isn't up to great accuracy. Even with the change of stock to a Win M70A stock, glass bedding and trigger job. Consistent 'minute of deer' though.).
Burn rates of the two are numbers 111(IMR) and 112(H). Accurate's 4350 is a bit slower at number 114. The H4350 uses a wee bit more powder, but gives a bit more velocity.
Accurate doesn't list a 90 and only gives PSI for roughly the same velocities with a 95.
 
.243 Loads-OAL/Powder

Thanks for the input fellows. I was thinking of working in .5 grain increments until I can maximize velocity without sacrificing accuracy. There seems to be the question of seating depth too, so I'm hoping to dial-in a load without putting 100's of rounds through the barrel-I'm the 3rd owner, it's a 1989 but shoots great with factory even!
 
I worked up with .5 increments as well. 44gr seemed to show the most promise.

My 243 is a SPS Varmint with the 26'' barrel. The trigger has been done but the factory tupperware stock still needs to go.
 
I was having trouble with loads in my .243 1 in 10 twist. I found now that IMR 4831 and 100gr SGK's are pretty good. Havent chronographed them yet but would expect around 2900 fps. Tried the 100gr partitions but couldn't get them to shoot as well.
 
blauber said:
Thanks for the input fellows. I was thinking of working in .5 grain increments until I can maximize velocity without sacrificing accuracy. There seems to be the question of seating depth too, so I'm hoping to dial-in a load without putting 100's of rounds through the barrel-I'm the 3rd owner, it's a 1989 but shoots great with factory even!
Click to expand...

IMR4831 is rather temperature sensitive. I'd stick with the hodgdon's. H414 and H4895 are great hodgdon's powders for the .243. Of course there's always good 'ol Varget.

For the H4831, you're looking at a very compressed load to get the speeds you're wanting. You may not have the case capacity even. Hodgdon's site lists 45 start 48 max for a 90 gr pill. A max charge of H4831 behind a 85gr bullet is likely more than a full case.


Honestly, for hunting, you're not going to notice the difference between 3200FPS and 3300. My advise is to find a load the produces a consistent POI with loads that are a little hotter and a little cooler. You'll know that this load's accuracy and POI won't change with the weather. Once you find that magic charge weight, try playing with seating depth to find an OAL that shoots accurately. Once you've found that, try fiddling with the charge again in smaller amounts.

100 rounds is plenty for working up a load. Have you been saving your old brass? Clean them and sort them first by case weight so you're using the same capacity case for your testing.

All you need is 6 x 4 round groups to find the initial charge + 6 x 4 round groups to play with the OAL and another 4 or 5 groups to fiddle further with the charge gets you to 65 rounds. That's a liberal amount of shooting to work up a hunting load.
 
.243 Loads

Thanks for your comments. I began with IMR 4350 and worked up from 39.6 to 42.5 (.3 grns above Sierra's max however seen as pet load elsewhere). I will go to the range with 4831 and 3031 before trying Varget or Winchester 760...wow, what a chess match!
 
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