Need Opinion on these .243 loads

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kevguy

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Ok, I just did a ladder test with 95 gr Sierra HPBT Matchking at 100 yards.
The rifle is a Remington 700 SPS Varmint with 1:9 1/8" twist. On the side of the bullet box, Sierra says clearly "for twists 1:9 or faster." So, I'm out by 1/8" of a twist.

The powder was H-4350 starting with 42.2 gr all the way to the max load of 43.0 gr of powder. 6 shots per target. Federal brass using WRL primer.

I don't like the 42.2, 42.4 or 42.6 gr loads. What about the 42.8 and 43.0 gr loads? Which is better? Is the gun OK to fire these projectiles?


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Just so u know that's not actually a ladder test. A ladder test is done at a distance like 500m and each shot is a different powder load.

What was ur range? 100m?

43gn looks like a keeper! Vertical spread is the most important thing. But regardless good group !

I really like the .243
 
FWIW I couldn't get the Berger 95gr VLD's to work. I think others have had problems getting the longer bullets to stabilize in that factory barrel.
 
AKD said:
Just so u know that's not actually a ladder test. A ladder test is done at a distance like 500m and each shot is a different powder load.

What was ur range? 100m?

43gn looks like a keeper! Vertical spread is the most important thing. But regardless good group !

I really like the .243
Click to expand...

Sorry, yes, 100 yard shot.
 
AKD said:
Just so u know that's not actually a ladder test. A ladder test is done at a distance like 500m and each shot is a different powder load.

What was ur range? 100m?

43gn looks like a keeper! Vertical spread is the most important thing. But regardless good group !

I really like the .243
Click to expand...

I did the same test with 85 gr Sierra Matchking bullets and the groupings were tighter.
 
Ducimus said:
We have the same rifle. I'm getting groups in the .8's with the 75 gr V-Max and 38 grs of Varget. How about you buy some lighter bullets and let me know how it goes...:D
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Well, I'd drop to a lighter bullet EXCEPT I want to try to get this working for a heavier bullet as I'm planning on using this gun to push out to 1000 yards this summer.
 
Any pressure sign at 43?

Keep tuning. Once you find the best powder start adjusting oal.... With a comparator.

Your pretty much at 1moa right now, some tuning could get u closer to the .5 I bet u want.

Don't underestimate the lighter bullets at long range eh. Might fight the wind a bit more but the extra speed is nice in most cases.
 
Nope, all looks good at 43.0 gr of H-4350. I was considering trying 43.2 and 43.4 gr of powder.

1 moa at 100 yards is kinda poor in my opinion. .5 would be nice.

AKD said:
Any pressure sign at 43?

Keep tuning. Once you find the best powder start adjusting oal.... With a comparator.

Your pretty much at 1moa right now, some tuning could get u closer to the .5 I bet u want.

Don't underestimate the lighter bullets at long range eh. Might fight the wind a bit more but the extra speed is nice in most cases.
Click to expand...
 
kevguy said:
Nope, all looks good at 43.0 gr of H-4350. I was considering trying 43.2 and 43.4 gr of powder.

1 moa at 100 yards is kinda poor in my opinion. .5 would be nice.
Click to expand...

If you want to see if your gun..and you...are capable of 0.5MOA, then you've got to be willing to do a lot more experimentation.
Limiting yourself to one bullet/powder type may well be limiting you to your current results.
Current factory rifles are better than ever, but your particular rifle might be a 'Monday' or a 'Friday' unit...not all factory fodder is capable of sub MOA.
Try the 43 grains, but vary the O.A.L...i.e....jammed, at the lands, .005, .010, etc, and you may well find a significant difference.

At the end of the day if this doesn't demonstrate significant improvement, try other powders...that's why it pays to have access to at least two or more loading manuals.

Not to sound perverse, but this is part of the pleasure of personal reloading.. trying to find what seems to be the optimum combination for your particular firearm.
 
Keep in mind, 100 yds is point blank for stabalizing high bc bullets. If you want some one holers at short range you may find the flat based bullets surprising.

I would suggest you try some more load testing with the 43gr load +_ 0.1gr, with bullet seating from 15 jam, 15 jump, 30 jump and 60 jump at a minimum 200m or longer if possible. You may find some interesting things happen within those parameters.

As said before, vertical is what you are trying to manage at distance. The conditions may push you around and open your groups for the best loads. Have fun....great shooting.
 
Sierra 6mm 95gr SMK stability is marginal in 1 - 9.25 twist

I checked bullet stability using JBM calculator and stability is 1.2 at 3100fps, 1-9.25" twist, 25C, sea-level. This is marginal and might cause you (and I) a big headache when it comes to accuracy.

I'm also developing a load for my Remington 700 VTR 243 and will be using 42gr of H4831, Federal primers, Hornady cases and COAL of 2.710" (243 max length).
My rifle shoots 80gr Sierra Blitz 0.6" center to center 5 shot group at 100 yards.

I'll keep you posted,
Alex
 
Please reduce the size of your pictures.
"...was hoping for tighter groups..." Try another powder. Been using IMR4350 with 90 and 105 grain bullets with a low end(glass bedded, Win70A stocked, Cooey M71 with a stock barrel), 1 in 9.125, barrel for eons. Gives me consistent minute of deer accuracy with either bullet. No point in trying match bullets out of my rifle. Its barrel is not up to them.
Have you done a trigger job and bedded the rifle? An SPS is a hunting rifle, but they do improve somewhat with a trigger job and good bedding. A match rifle they ain't though.
Mind you, match grade bullets out of a hunting barrel will make a difference too. Your rifle will be fine, but you likely won't get one hole groups with a hunting barrel. They'll be better than a hunting bullet though.
Your 42.8 load is the one to use. Or you can work up by 1/10ths from 42.7 to 42.8.
43.0 grains is a full grain over max for a 95 grain bullet.
"...checked bullet stability using JBM calculator..." You're putting far too much faith in a computer program.
 
If it was mine I would laod hotter in 0.2 gr increments to see what happens. It is good to know where the limit is and groups might improve. If Wx is cool, then a marginal load today will be too hot in summer.

Once you select the powder charge, try the different seating depths, including 30 thou off.
 
Get reloading data from Sierra

Hi, just got an e-mail from Sierra about 6mm 95gr Match King reloading data:
  1. Use 100gr reloading data adding 0.5gr to starting and maximum load,
  2. Accuracy load is the same as 100gr load adding 0.5gr,
  3. Bullet is stable in 1 - 9.25 barrel twist.
 
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