new to .243 reloading

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Howa 9700 said:
A year ago, I tried loading some 243 Win for a Mossberg Patriot youth gun. Goal was 1 MOA with bullets for deer hunting. Never got close to that....not sure if it was me or the gun. But my loads were at least as good as factory ammo in it, so left it at that.
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I've loaded for 2 patriot. A 243 and a 300 mag. 1moa was the absolute best I ever got. Several factory loads were 3moa. Lol. So it could well been the gun. I still hunt with the 300 and my uncle uses the 243. But a precision rifle they are not
 
conan32120 said:
such is the reason for my query. the hodgden site doesn't recommend 3031 for any bullet weight above 75gr but I don't know if my 9 1/4 twist will stabilize that weight. working 6 days a week severely limits my range time and barrel heating limits my rounds down range when I can go to the range
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Ok I checked my journal, here's what I've been loading for my niece for the last year and this year.
I was mistaken about this year's SST's, last year's used 3031, this year's SST's use Superformance.

These loads are all 1 1/2 Moa or less in her Savage. Some are at or near max in Hornady manual but all are under max in Hogdon.
As you mentioned, the 3031 loads are probably not published in any manual for these bullets, I worked those out myself.

I'm sure you know that your gun will be different and your batch of powder could be different so you shouldn't use these loads as a starting point, but these are what we've used with good accuracy in her Savage Axis.

100gr Hornady BTSP, Imr4166-37gr.
Imr3031-33.8gr
H4350-42.4gr

95gr SST
Imr3031-34.8gr,
Superformance-43gr
 
I would try some 70 or 80 gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips since hunting is out of the picture. I had good luck with RL15, RL17
 
AJC1 said:
Light bullets are generally not twist limited and are what 6ppc and 6br shooters used to set world records for a long time. Barrels and bullets are what make accurate rifles. It's a lot cheaper to dabble in high class bullets than high class barrels. You have them both and a dialed in load a half inch group is a bad day.
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Light bullets can be negatively affected by tight twist like 1:7
 
Hugger-4641 said:
Ok I checked my journal, here's what I've been loading for my niece for the last year and this year.
I was mistaken about this year's SST's, last year's used 3031, this year's SST's use Superformance.

These loads are all 1 1/2 Moa or less in her Savage. Some are at or near max in Hornady manual but all are under max in Hogdon.
As you mentioned, the 3031 loads are probably not published in any manual for these bullets, I worked those out myself.

I'm sure you know that your gun will be different and your batch of powder could be different so you shouldn't use these loads as a starting point, but these are what we've used with good accuracy in her Savage Axis.

100gr Hornady BTSP, Imr4166-37gr.
Imr3031-33.8gr
H4350-42.4gr

95gr SST
Imr3031-34.8gr,
Superformance-43gr
Click to expand...
what I've been doing in my quest for an additional choice in powders is I've been eyeballing replies on THR and going to the hodgden site and putting in .243 and the powder and search. It pops up with all the weights recommended for that powder. IMR3031 shows 58-75gr. It makes me reluctant to try 3031 with my current 80-100gr inventory. But thank you for your response:)
 
Following since the beginning.

I’m also struggling with a .243. But I have another issue, I have to shoot a non-lead bullet. I bought this gun just as a coyote gun, but may use it for deer if I ever get the results I want.

When I broke in the barrel I bought 2 boxes of factory. The one shot, clean method. After 10, 2 shots and clean. Anyways, the factory was Winchester 80 and 100 grain. Since it’s a Savage, it comes with a 1/9.25 barrel. I thought it may have issues with the 100s. It shot the 100s right at 1-5” groups, 80s at 3” groups. Once the barrel was broken in, I started with Barnes 80 grain TTSXs, not something you want to pinch holes in paper at $.80 a piece.

I have struggled!!! I have had several -1” groups. But repeating them hasn’t happened.

I tried Nosler 95 grain Etips, not any better. I bought a buttload of other bullets from 65 grains to 108 grains. I’m thinking the 95 grain Ballistic Tip will shine. But I hunt coyotes on the California/Nevada border and I don’t want some chicken$h|t ticket for using lead in California.

I just got my 22-250 dialed with a monolithic bullet so to end this frustration, I may try the Ballistic Tips. And if they work like I think, carry 2 guns, 22-250 in California, .243 in Nevada. But that’s not why I bought the .243.

PS: I’ve broken in several barrels like I did this one. This one cleans easier than any rifle barrel I’ve ever cleaned. Made me think I need to shoot it dirty a few times. I get a good group, load some more, clean the bore, same load shoots like crap. That’s my next attempt, throwing 15 $.80 bullets downrange through a dirty barrel.
 

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one of my problems is barrel heating. after blasting away with my ar I have trouble adapting to the shoot then let cool concept of my bolt gun. In an effort to keep round count and heating down I use 3 shot groups on my ladders and even then I get antsy. as for breaking it in she came to me used and was already broke in.
 
Personally I have learned that the weights that "should" work and the weights that "should not work" are guidelines. Each rifle is different. With our ability to load we have greater control to change this that or the other to suit our rifles. Faster slower both in powder and flat FPS numbers changes things a great deal.

I would play with it and just see what kind of results.

Only thing I have for you is I have tried things that people say should come out of the barrel backwards and they shoot fantastic.
 
kalielkslayer said:
Following since the beginning.

I’m also struggling with a .243. But I have another issue, I have to shoot a non-lead bullet. I bought this gun just as a coyote gun, but may use it for deer if I ever get the results I want.

When I broke in the barrel I bought 2 boxes of factory. The one shot, clean method. After 10, 2 shots and clean. Anyways, the factory was Winchester 80 and 100 grain. Since it’s a Savage, it comes with a 1/9.25 barrel. I thought it may have issues with the 100s. It shot the 100s right at 1-5” groups, 80s at 3” groups. Once the barrel was broken in, I started with Barnes 80 grain TTSXs, not something you want to pinch holes in paper at $.80 a piece.

I have struggled!!! I have had several -1” groups. But repeating them hasn’t happened.

I tried Nosler 95 grain Etips, not any better. I bought a buttload of other bullets from 65 grains to 108 grains. I’m thinking the 95 grain Ballistic Tip will shine. But I hunt coyotes on the California/Nevada border and I don’t want some chicken$h|t ticket for using lead in California.

I just got my 22-250 dialed with a monolithic bullet so to end this frustration, I may try the Ballistic Tips. And if they work like I think, carry 2 guns, 22-250 in California, .243 in Nevada. But that’s not why I bought the .243.

PS: I’ve broken in several barrels like I did this one. This one cleans easier than any rifle barrel I’ve ever cleaned. Made me think I need to shoot it dirty a few times. I get a good group, load some more, clean the bore, same load shoots like crap. That’s my next attempt, throwing 15 $.80 bullets downrange through a dirty barrel.
Click to expand...

All of the savage rifles I've had shoot best somewhat dirty. None of mine like to be super clean, like being able to eat dinner off of, I shoot till accuracy degrades with its best loads and clean most, not all fouling.
 
Are you removing the action from the stock at any point and are you torqueing the action screws to spec. There seems a subset of savage shooters that claim this is a huge deal. They claim it makes a huge difference in the tune of the rifle.
 
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