loads for 243 95grain
- Thread starter jweld
- Start date
I always start with ladder test @ 200 yards. With bullet seated just off the land's. Watching very closely for pressure sign's of course. Once I establish that I
then play with my seating depth to determine the sweet spot. As for higher powder charge's , your rifle will determine that for you. I never push my long range rifle's or benchrest to the max, I shoot for accuracy not speed.... I never had great luck with the sst's , but other's have had great success with them...I'm a Berger guy.... And for the powder you are using did you mean 4831 ??? IMR or H powder ??
then play with my seating depth to determine the sweet spot. As for higher powder charge's , your rifle will determine that for you. I never push my long range rifle's or benchrest to the max, I shoot for accuracy not speed.... I never had great luck with the sst's , but other's have had great success with them...I'm a Berger guy.... And for the powder you are using did you mean 4831 ??? IMR or H powder ??
freezer filler
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1.What does your reloading manual say?
2.Are u a sub moa shooter? Have u ever shot a sub moa group?
I do not suggest going any higher.. 42gr's of imr-4831 in a 243 win with a 95-100 gr bullets would be getting very close to max charge if not max. Are you seeing any pressure sign's ???
I don't mean it as a insult, but how experienced of a reloader are you ? Do you know what the primary over pressure sign's are ? As freezer filler asked are you reading data from manual ,
are you a sub moa shooter ? What model of rifle are you shooting ? What year is your firearm ? Barrel length ..give us as much info as possible. What is your shooting equipment ? such as bi-pod etc .... there are so many variables with what you are asking ...what are you using to measure fps ?? is it sunny, cloudy......Please remember & don't be shy,,,we are all here to help each other. Well some of us anyway....lol
I don't mean it as a insult, but how experienced of a reloader are you ? Do you know what the primary over pressure sign's are ? As freezer filler asked are you reading data from manual ,
are you a sub moa shooter ? What model of rifle are you shooting ? What year is your firearm ? Barrel length ..give us as much info as possible. What is your shooting equipment ? such as bi-pod etc .... there are so many variables with what you are asking ...what are you using to measure fps ?? is it sunny, cloudy......Please remember & don't be shy,,,we are all here to help each other. Well some of us anyway....lol
What would you consider being a max charge of IMR-4831 in a .243win with a Hornady sst 95gr bullet ? My numbers are telling me that the gentleman is already getting close to the max with that powders burn rate & pressure with a 95gr bullet.. I don't mean to offend or insult anyone, so please school me up if I'm wrong here.
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In my experience, the 243 will peak out at about 43/44 grains of IMR 4831 with a 100 grain bullet, for around 2950 or so in a 24" barrel
I would think the 95 grain pill might accept another grain of powder, but it would be proper to work up in ½ grain increments.
JMHO, Dave.
I would think the 95 grain pill might accept another grain of powder, but it would be proper to work up in ½ grain increments.
JMHO, Dave.
Yes, you have to work up the loads, watching for excess pressure signs, to make sure you are not over loading your rifle. And always use loads that you are comfortable with.
I'm looking at my note book and on Nov.14, 1990, with the temperature 45 degrees F., I chronographed five of my loads in my 243 Ruger 77, with 22 inch barrel. The chronograph was an Oehler 33, the load was 47 grains of Norma 205 with a 100 grain Sierra bullet. The velocity averaged 3094 fps.
I always interchanged the load of H4831 and Norma 205/Magnum powder, as I could never notice any difference in pressure between the two.
At the same time I had an European made 243 and 45 grains of H4831 or Norma 205 was maximum in it.
Since then I have loaded for three other 243 rifles and every one of them would easily take 46 grains of H4831 or N205, with a 100 grain bullet. Every one of my 243 rifles have given long case life, with no enlarging of the primer pockets to shorten their life.
My present 243 is the Marlin XL7 and it takes 46 grains with no sign, whatsoever, of excess pressure, with a 100 grain bullet and either H4831 or Norma 205.
I like the Norma powder better, because it is denser than H4831, so there is no, or very little, compression with the Norma powders.
And yes, the heavy loads do shoot the best.
Also, regarding the temperature, I make no allowance for temperature. I have been shooting quite a bit at the range this summer, with the temperature often over 30 degrees C, and I use the same hand loads, with every calibre, that I use in the winter.
If I was using handloads that stretched the primer pockets, I would slack off the load in hot weather, for sure. But I don't load heavy enough loads to worry about it.
I'm looking at my note book and on Nov.14, 1990, with the temperature 45 degrees F., I chronographed five of my loads in my 243 Ruger 77, with 22 inch barrel. The chronograph was an Oehler 33, the load was 47 grains of Norma 205 with a 100 grain Sierra bullet. The velocity averaged 3094 fps.
I always interchanged the load of H4831 and Norma 205/Magnum powder, as I could never notice any difference in pressure between the two.
At the same time I had an European made 243 and 45 grains of H4831 or Norma 205 was maximum in it.
Since then I have loaded for three other 243 rifles and every one of them would easily take 46 grains of H4831 or N205, with a 100 grain bullet. Every one of my 243 rifles have given long case life, with no enlarging of the primer pockets to shorten their life.
My present 243 is the Marlin XL7 and it takes 46 grains with no sign, whatsoever, of excess pressure, with a 100 grain bullet and either H4831 or Norma 205.
I like the Norma powder better, because it is denser than H4831, so there is no, or very little, compression with the Norma powders.
And yes, the heavy loads do shoot the best.
Also, regarding the temperature, I make no allowance for temperature. I have been shooting quite a bit at the range this summer, with the temperature often over 30 degrees C, and I use the same hand loads, with every calibre, that I use in the winter.
If I was using handloads that stretched the primer pockets, I would slack off the load in hot weather, for sure. But I don't load heavy enough loads to worry about it.
I have had really good results with 95 gr sst and 33 grains of varget in my savage 243. It is considered a starting load but it yielded the best accuracy. The gun and developed load will shoot with the holes touching at 100 yards if I do my part. If you want faster speeds try switching to H4350. With a 95 gr bullet you can achieve over 3000fps. But in my eyes its more about accuracy.
2600 fps with 40.5 ain't right. 39.5 gives 2,793 fps according to Hodgdon.
However, if you're getting consistent 3/4" groups, I wouldn't worry about the velocity. Consistent accuracy beats velocity every time.
42.8 is max for a 95. NOT 43/44 grains. Makes no difference who made the bullet.
Ladder tests don't tell you anything about accuracy either. They only tell you where a particular load hits a target compared to other loads.
However, if you're getting consistent 3/4" groups, I wouldn't worry about the velocity. Consistent accuracy beats velocity every time.
42.8 is max for a 95. NOT 43/44 grains. Makes no difference who made the bullet.
Ladder tests don't tell you anything about accuracy either. They only tell you where a particular load hits a target compared to other loads.
Dave.
