The 243 and Varget

thatmikeguy

thatmikeguy

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I have a provlem and I'm hoping someone can help.
I have plenty of Varget and some Hornady 87 grain BTHP's and V-Max's but I can't find load data for the two of them together. I noticed that the Speer 85 grain SPBT is very similar to the 87 grain HPBT in length, weight, and BC. Speer lists a Varget load in their manual. 37.5 grains up to 41.5 grains.

Speer 85: .950" long/BC is .380 in the manual, .404 online

Hornady 87 HPBT: .958" long/BC is .376

Hornady 87 Vmax: 1.028" long/BC is .400

Hornady groups these two bullets together in their manual which has me wondering if their bearing surface is the same which leads me to the ultimate question:
Is the load data interchangeable between the Speer 85 and these Hornady bullets?
Or, am I wasting my time?
 
Just use 85 grain data. 34.3 to 36.5 on Hodgdon's site. Two grains will not make any difference. You load for the bullet weight. Who made it or its shape(that'd cover the BC) doesn't matter.
And remember that a V-Max and the HPBT are varmint bullets. No good for anything larger. Explosive on varmints. Blow big holes in coyotes hides if hide hunting is part of your plan.
 
Varget is a good powder for the 243 with medium weight bullets.
As has been said, go by weight of the bullet, it doesn't matter who made the bullet or what shape it is.
Hogdon's on line list the same max load for the 85 grain bullet as they do for the 90 grain, so just go by that.
And don't get hung up on COAL. Seat them deep enough so they will work through the magazine and the bolt will close on the cartridge and shoot away.
 
Sounds good but why the discrepancy between the Speer data and the Hogdon data.
Hogdons max load is below speers minimum load. Hogdon lists the 85 tsx which is very different but if it's the same as the 90 then I would think its ok.
 
All of the figures in all of the loading manuals are only guides designed to keep hand loaders safe. Start some where and gradually work your loads higher, while watching for excess pressure indications on your rifle.
How flat the primers get when fired is usually the first indicator of pressure most loaders look for, but it is also the most variable and unreliable of any of the indicators used.
With bolt action rifles the bolt "sticking" on opening is a sure fire indicator of a heavy load, maybe considerably higher pressure than you should have. The sticking comes about because high pressure seated and stretched the walls of the case tight against the chamber and considerable power is required on the bolt to cam the bolt open and loosen the case.
After shooting your reload and the bolt opens with no extra felt pressure to lift the bolt handle than is required to remove a loaded cartridge from the chamber, you certainly do not have excess pressure.
I would go by Hodgdon on line as a guide, but to each his own, and work up your own loads.
 
The Hornady manual is the most lawyerized one out there... particularly with the more historical cartridges... just look at their 7X57 data... the Hodgdon website seems to have adopted the "less is best" mentality also... a few months ago they altered the 7X57 data, reducing the max loads by 15-20% across the board.

I don't use Varget much in .243, more H4350 and W760... my 87 VM load is 44.5 grains of H4350.
 
I'm considering switching to IMR or H4350. Then i'd have reliable data for it and it seems they are the most popular, best powder options for the 243.
I was only hoping to use up my Varget cause i have it. Is anyone using the Speer 85 grain SPBT?
I don't like the idea of bullets smaller than 80 grains for 243.
i know many guys use them and like them but i think it handicaps the calibre somewhat. I want to use bullets in the 80 - 90 grain range.
 
thatmikeguy said:
I'm considering switching to IMR or H4350. Then i'd have reliable data for it and it seems they are the most popular, best powder options for the 243.
I was only hoping to use up my Varget cause i have it. Is anyone using the Speer 85 grain SPBT?
I don't like the idea of bullets smaller than 80 grains for 243.
i know many guys use them and like them but i think it handicaps the calibre somewhat. I want to use bullets in the 80 - 90 grain range.
Click to expand...

A few years ago I loaded a box of twenty each, 85 gr Speer and Barnes TTX, for a friend of mine to use in a Vanguard 243 he bought from me for his wife. I told him the hollow point TTX were for big game and the soft point spitzers were for wolves and coyotes.

They go caribou hunting, and his buddy tells him the hollow points are varmint bullets, and the softs are for big game. They come back with six caribou, all taken with the 243 because his buddy's rifle froze up, and everyone is happy. :)

Next Spring we are checking the zero on a few rifles, and he opens the box of TTXs. It is full, not a one fired. They had used the 85 Speers on those caribou, so we open the other box, and there are only 13 loaded round in the box.

Ted
 
Well, i got out on the weekend with my 243 x bolt cause it was +1 outside. I tired my 87 grainers with varget and the results are very promising.
I've got more shooting to do but at least i'm headed in the right direction. The 87 grain v-max liked IMR4831(i had got some from my dad) .8' group for that combo.
I used a starting charge of 36 grains of varget and the 87 HPBT's grouped 1.5' and with 36.5 grains of varget, 3 shots went into 1.25". I made a bunch more loads
with 87's of each kind with 37 grains and up. Hopefully it'll only get better. Thanks for all the help.
 
thatmikeguy said:
Well, i got out on the weekend with my 243 x bolt cause it was +1 outside. I tired my 87 grainers with varget and the results are very promising.
I've got more shooting to do but at least i'm headed in the right direction. The 87 grain v-max liked IMR4831(i had got some from my dad) .8' group for that combo.
I used a starting charge of 36 grains of varget and the 87 HPBT's grouped 1.5' and with 36.5 grains of varget, 3 shots went into 1.25". I made a bunch more loads
with 87's of each kind with 37 grains and up. Hopefully it'll only get better. Thanks for all the help.
Click to expand...

P.S - don't use the VM's on big game...
 
I am using
36.5g of varget
87g V-max
CCI BR2
Federal brass

the wifes 243 axis is .48" at 100 and right at 3" at 400yrds.

Its my new favorite gopher gun.
 
Consider the beger hunting bullet. It's made to shed mass amounts of weight after penetration and guys love them. It's basically a large varmint bullet.

This is right off of the Berger site:

The hunting bullet line is made up of match grade bullets with quickly lethal terminal performance. These bullets penetrate through the first 2″ to 5″ of tissue and bone. Once deep inside the vitals it will shed 40% to 90% of its mass as fragments.

This energy dump causes massive hydrostatic shock. This shock and the fragments produce tremendous internal tissue damage. The animal may not drop in its tracks, but it can’t go far with this much internal damage. Berger’s match grade approach and sleek designs also make these bullets effectively lethal at close and extended ranges.

You owe it to yourself to see how accurate and deadly Berger’s hunting bullets will be on your next hunt.
The hunting bullet line is made up of match grade bullets with quickly lethal terminal performance. These bullets penetrate through the first 2″ to 5″ of tissue and bone. Once deep inside the vitals it will shed 40% to 90% of its mass as fragments.

This energy dump causes massive hydrostatic shock. This shock and the fragments produce tremendous internal tissue damage. The animal may not drop in its tracks, but it can’t go far with this much internal damage. Berger’s match grade approach and sleek designs also make these bullets effectively lethal at close and extended ranges.

You owe it to yourself to see how accurate and deadly Berger’s hunting bullets will be on your next hunt.

Sounds like a varmint bullet, doesn't it?
 
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