Loading .243 Win

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BarneyRubble

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Fairly new rifle to the family. Shot well out of the box with Factory Ammo, 1" groups at 100 yds.

Wanting to load 100gr Hornaday BTSP.

I have Varget, ladder tested to 34 grains, not impressed, best spread over 2.5 inchs

I am considering different powder - I have IMR 4831, H4831SC, Varget, H4895, SuperPerformance, IMR 4320, all of which should load well for this gun. Any pet loads you would like to share would be appreciated.

Thank you!
 
What is the rate of twist in your rifle barrel? One turn in ten inches is very common in the 243 calibre. Many people on here will tell you that ten inch twist is sufficient to stabilize 100 grain bullets. However, I have had at least three 243 rifles with a ten inch twist and not one of them would shoot very accurate with 100 grain bullets.
If the factory loads that shot well for you were 100 grain bullets, then that shoots my theory, completely.
However, a 2.5 inch group at 100 yards, is too large to be caused by the type of powder, when that type of powder shoots very well in a 243. In other words, there will be use in your trying another powder, when something else is likely causing the trouble.
Give us some more information and we will see if we can help you.
 
Try reloading at your starting loads '' 31 gns'' you are loading at the near high end ''34.5 gns'' for varget, load 4 rounds at 31, then move up in .5 gns increasements for next 4 rounds and so on . take all rounds out to range and find what works best in your gun , shooting near or at the max load does not always bring you the best results, try this with the other powders mentioned as well, different makes of primers also affect those moa results, tell us what gun you are shooting, barrel length and twist will help
 
The 100gr hornady btsp are not stable in my 10 twist 243. I have the Oval holes in the target to prove it. 100gr core lokts on the other hand punch 1/2" groups.
 
H4831 has a good idea. Those BT 100 gr. bullets are a fair bit longer than standard flat base 100 gr bullets. It is not the bullet weight that matters for stabilization, it is the bullet length regardless of weight. It might be a case of too little twist / too long a bullet. Try a flat base.
 
H4831 said:
What is the rate of twist in your rifle barrel? One turn in ten inches is very common in the 243 calibre. Many people on here will tell you that ten inch twist is sufficient to stabilize 100 grain bullets. However, I have had at least three 243 rifles with a ten inch twist and not one of them would shoot very accurate with 100 grain bullets.
If the factory loads that shot well for you were 100 grain bullets, then that shoots my theory, completely.
However, a 2.5 inch group at 100 yards, is too large to be caused by the type of powder, when that type of powder shoots very well in a 243. In other words, there will be use in your trying another powder, when something else is likely causing the trouble.
Give us some more information and we will see if we can help you.
Click to expand...

Same here. 95 grain bullets are good for my savage.
 
I am pretty sure it is a 1:10 twist. It is my daughters gun, will get her to look up her paperwork. I am going to grab it, give it a good cleaning and redo the ladder test. With Varget from 32.5 to 34 one more time. If still out of whack, thinking go to an 85 grain bullet. The kids told me they were shooting 100gr factory, all I have is the brass. They are usually pretty good about stuff like that and I saw the targets with the hearts ripped out.
 
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I am interested with the progress of this thread as well.
I agree with H4831, I have had 5 243s I thought a BLR 243 that I did have would handle 100gr bullets easily but no such luck. I do have an old Winchester 670 that does handle 100s not to bad but you really have to be loading them to the max.
I am about to start to test a new to me Ruger American 243 Compact and it is said to have a 1 in 9 twist but I have not checked it. My old records show that the 4350s have done the best for me and 760 was OK as well. I have tried Varget, 4320, 4064, 4895 but the 4350s seem to be the best that I have tried so far.
Going to look for some big game or some other powders that I have information on that work in the 243 as well.
Sorry for hijacking the thread but it is interesting.

David
 
HiJack away, more info the better!

Any 4350 powder fair hard to find these days, any results or loads with any powder welcome!

EDIT EDIT Twist is 1:9.25
 
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BarneyRubble said:
I am pretty sure it is a 1:10 twist. It is my daughters gun, will get her to look up her paperwork. I am going to grab it, give it a good cleaning and redo the ladder test. With Varget from 32.5 to 34 one more time. If still out of whack, thinking go to an 85 grain bullet. The kids told me they were shooting 100gr factory, all I have is the brass. They are usually pretty good about stuff like that and I saw the targets with the hearts ripped out.
Click to expand...

H4831 (the powder!) is excellent with 100 grain bullets in a 243.
I think it is a complete waste of time to do a so called ladder test when you have been grouping at 2.5" plus, as you stated in your first post.
Varget is a little fast for100 grain bullets in a 243 and will give less velocity. If the 100 grain bullets are iffy for the twist of the rifle, they should be driven as fast as you can get them, for better stabilization. There is no point in piddling around at lesser amounts of a powder, equalling lesser velocity.
To give it a good test with the 100 grain bullets, load as stiff a load of H4831, or similar slow powder, as you can and see how it groups. H4831 is always at its best when loaded full tilt.
 
I have 5 different 243s and agree wholeheartedly with Bruce, H4831 and IMR 4831 work well with 100 gn bullets but only at near max and max loads. IMR 7828 also works with the heavy bullets and don't be afraid to compress the powder. This is where they seem to love to run. I have gone to 80 gn bullets in my 243s as I have found them to be very accurate and 80 grnrs give the highest velocity per grain of bullet weight in the 6mm range of bullets.
I have been shooting 243s for more than 40 years and love the cartridge, love it so much I have completely "shot out" 2 different 243s. Just a super fun, accurate and non abusive cartridge one can shoot 400 in a day if you like.
 
c-fbmi said:
I have 5 different 243s and agree wholeheartedly with Bruce, H4831 and IMR 4831 work well with 100 gn bullets but only at near max and max loads. IMR 7828 also works with the heavy bullets and don't be afraid to compress the powder. This is where they seem to love to run. I have gone to 80 gn bullets in my 243s as I have found them to be very accurate and 80 grnrs give the highest velocity per grain of bullet weight in the 6mm range of bullets.
I have been shooting 243s for more than 40 years and love the cartridge, love it so much I have completely "shot out" 2 different 243s. Just a super fun, accurate and non abusive cartridge one can shoot 400 in a day if you like.
Click to expand...

Thanks Douglas. It comes to mind that what you and I call a maximum load of 4831 in a 243 will be a far cry from what is posted on line by Hodgdon as a maximum load!
 
Of the 9 powders tested my Nosler, 7 were best at max.
The top powder was VV N560 followed by IMR7828.
Anything that gives max. density of 90% + will perform.
 
Another hijack OK?

I'm going to be reloading for the first time and it happens to be a .243. I've chosen 85gr Sierra HPBT and IMR4320.

I've found reloading data from Sierra, IMR, Hodgson, and Lee. All of them show loads with this bullet (or same weight) and powder combination. Problem is, the data from one to the next is not consistent.

Which data should be considered the most reliable?

Also, if anyone has loaded 85 grainers in front of IMR4320 and came up with a good recipe, let me know please. Barrel is 20" @ 9.25 twist.
 
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