.243 range report, questions

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BigBlack

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Well back to the range with second set of hand loads for my 243 this time I had a Chronograph with me.

I am using Lee’s Reloading Data Book so if you have something else please lookup my load and see if you can answer my questions.

Gun is a Remington 700 .243 22” barrel that is fully floated and no other work.

Load is
Winchester Brass Full Length Sized
CCI BR-2 Primer
H4350 (5 each of .5gr increments from 37gr to 40gr 35 total rounds)
Sierra 100gr Game King Set 20 thousands off lands

Here are the results, groups are not what I was expecting but I have a question regarding the velocities

Powder Charge, low, high, avg, sd, group
37, 2504, 2568, 2537, 21.74, 1.227
37.5, 2607, 2704, 2650, 35.60, 1.930
38, 2650, 2702, 2673, 20.75, 1.234
*38.5, 2754, 2761, 2757, 2.34, 1.207
39, 2699, 2746, 2722, 19.90, 2.104
39.5, 2745, 2791, 2772, 16.17, 1.825
40, 2783, 2829, 2809, 15.14, 1.537

*chrony only picked up first two shots. I was not checking on it.

Now my question:
My load book claims my starting velocity should be 2806 and my max velocity should be 2973. I am showing no signs of high pressure and would like to try some 40.5 and 41 grain loads. Do you think this would be okay?
 
My Hodgdon book is listing loads with a 24" barrel. So with a 22" barrel you might in the ballpark using that powder.
It's also showing 40grs of H4350 as MAX.
 
Hodgdon's 2007 annual manual shows 40.0 gn max. for 100 gn projectiles,but Hodgdon's #26 indicates 39.0 start (vel = 2664) and 43.0 (vel = 2994) max. for H4350. As always, start low and work up slowly to published maximums.
My Hornady#7 Manual lists 40.8 gn max. for the 100 gn pills, Speer #14 lists 42.0 gn max., Nosler#6 lists 41.5 gn max. Sierra's manual (Edition V, 2nd printing) does not list H4350. It does list IMR 4360 at 41.7 gn max. and AA4350 at 40.0 max.

You also may be able to shrink your group size by trying different seating depths. All guns seem to have their own personality and preferences. My .300WSM likes 150 gn bullets seated .035 off the lands and one of my .222 Remingtons likes to be seated within .010 of the lands. Take your best two groups with the lowest sd's and play with the COAL. You may be pleasantly surprised.

I hope this is helpful.

Poper
 
.243 Winchester's Best Powders

IMR 4350 for hyper 62 grain bullets; Hodgdon H4350 for 90 grain bullets; Alliant Reloder 22 for 100 grain bullets; 105 grain loads like IMR 7828 SSC. These stats are from my personal chronograph findings. Alliant RL-25 is too slow-burning for best .243 velocities, and best saved for larger calibers applications. I'm a velocity freak, so I don't waste time with the likes of Alliant RL-19, etc. Still velocity is not king, if not extremely accurate. If I could have only one powder for all .243 applications, it would be H4350, handsdown. Cliffy
 
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