Anyone making moderate velocity 243 loads?

Suther

Suther

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I am looking to make up some 243win loads for my kids to learn on, and I'm looking for suggestions on suitable powders. I have a bunch of 100gr bullets, so I was looking to use those if possible. So with that in mind, what is a good powder to get a moderate velocity 243 load? Maybe something like 2200-2400fps ballpark?

What powders are suitable for loading below book minimum? I know H4895 is an option, but I can't seem to find it right now.
 
jethunter said:
The starting loads in most manuals will give you velocity in the 2500fps range.
Click to expand...

to get lower velocity you could look at using 4198, either imr or h variety. I developed my light 243 loads with imr4198 and but i was using lighter bullets so my data won't transfer to your application with 100gr bullets.
 
Suther, you don't mention the powders you have available to use for those "light" loads.

When I load up for newbies or small people who will be sensitive to recoil, instead of following "book" loads, the best method so far has been to use very slow powders, such as H1000, H870 or even H50BMG

I've noticed there seems to be a lot of H50BMG available at what would be considered "fire sale" prices these days.

You can't put enough powder in the case to generate objectionable pressures.

These powders generate velocities well under the "minimum" loads in the manuals, but are still consistently accurate. Surprisingly accurate would be a better description.

If you don't want to use this method and go along with powders on hand, you can safely reduce the powder charge well below the listed minimums in the manuals by using a "filler" such as Dacron over the powder charge. Use enough to fill the empty air space in the cartridge case.

It shouldn't be packed tight.
 
The only powder I have on hand that isn't spoken for for other uses is D4350, which from testing seems to be slower than regular imr4350. I was able to get reasonable velocity (2900+) with this powder but I wasn't sure about how low I could safely go.

I am prepared to buy something if it's well suited to my goals, availability is a big issue with a lot of options right now though.

Jethunter, the data I'm looking at (nosler and hodgdon) both start in the mid-to-high 2600s.
 
Suther said:
The only powder I have on hand that isn't spoken for for other uses is D4350, which from testing seems to be slower than regular imr4350. I was able to get reasonable velocity (2900+) with this powder but I wasn't sure about how low I could safely go.

I am prepared to buy something if it's well suited to my goals, availability is a big issue with a lot of options right now though.

Jethunter, the data I'm looking at (nosler and hodgdon) both start in the mid-to-high 2600s.
Click to expand...
What powders do you have available?

Starting loads from lyman 45th edition, 26" barrel:
Rx11 28gr 2446fps
BLC2 30.5gr 2463fps
W748 31gr 2511fps
Pressure for these were all between 40k CUP and 45k CUP tested in universal receiver, using Rem 9½ primers. I don't think Rx11 is still available. From my experience in different cartridges BLC2 can get lower ES with mag primers but likely wouldn't matter in your application.
It has imr4350 data but start load is over 2600fps.

Reduced loads of 4895 might be the best choice but might be unobtainable.

2017 Handloader article on reduced loads https://www.handloadermagazine.com/reduced-rifle-loads
 
Last edited:
https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf

I believe the Rule should be 60% of case capacity.

Do not reduce loads of slower powders. What Bearhunter says is that a full case of a too-slow-for-caliber powder works fine. A bit like using Blackpowder.
I would not use fillers under jacketed bullets, albeit it has been done by knowledgeable shooters.

According to Propellant Profiles articles in Handloader Mag, 3031 has been used by cast bullet shooters following a similar process as for 4895 in loads reduction.

Lyman's Cast Bullet handbook shows RL-7 used as 4198 in 243. It's not too difficult to download a copy on line.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?2199-Reloader-7
 
kg said:
https://hodgdonpowderco.com/wp-content/uploads/2023/04/h4895-reduced-rifle-loads-2.pdf

I believe the Rule should be 60% of case capacity.

Do not reduce loads of slower powders. What Bearhunter says is that a full case of a too-slow-for-caliber powder works fine. A bit like using Blackpowder.
I would not use fillers under jacketed bullets, albeit it has been done by knowledgeable shooters.

According to Propellant Profiles articles in Handloader Mag, 3031 has been used by cast bullet shooters following a similar process as for 4895 in loads reduction.

Lyman's Cast Bullet handbook shows RL-7 used as 4198 in 243. It's not too difficult to download a copy on line.
https://castboolits.gunloads.com/showthread.php?2199-Reloader-7
Click to expand...
It's 60% of published Maximum load, not 60% of case capacity.
 
Buy the Lee reloading book if you can.
Lots of info, tons of loads, and all sorts of good guidelines.

Start loads are just that. You might be able to go up from there, but you can also go down.

If I remember right, you don't really want to reduce a starting load of the slowest powder by more than 25%. But with very fast pistol powder, you can go down to hardly anything.

I had one load for 45-70, that was about 10 gr. of Bullseye under a big cast bullet.
 
It's been pretty tough finding H4895 the last few years. That would be option #1 for me

I did use IMR 4895 in my niece's 7mm-08, using the same charge weight as H4895 prior. Velocity was higher with IMR 4895 (over 100 fps more), no ignition issues. Accuracy was good like H4895
 
Thanks for the info guys. A member hooked me up with some 60 and 75gr bullets, and between Speer and Nosler I've got data for 55, 70, and 75gr bullets using IMR4350. Along with my jug of D4350 I think I can figure out something that'll be suitable for my purposes, and if I can't get anything I like with that powder you guys have provided me with some other options to try.
 
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