243 Reloading

[res45]

I went to the range with a friend of mine yesterday to help him set up his 7 mm Mag. and his 243. He was shooting Remington Core-lock 100 Gr. SP factory ammo in the 243. The 7 MM worked out fine last 3 shot group had all holes touching at 100 Yds. The 243 however was a different story it was very erratic,the rifle is a older Savage but its in excellent shape and the scope is of excellent quality and is mounted fine so I see no problems there. He wants to start reloading for the 243 since he shoot it allot more.

I picked up his brass yesterday and cleaned it last night,not having any knowledge of loading and shooting the 243 I was wounding what bullet weights and powder combinations might be a good start. I pretty sure the barrel has a 1 to 10 twist rate does that lend itself to lighter or heavier bullets. Any help and your experiences working up a load for this round would be appreciated. Thanks Ronnie

 

[Handgunr]

res45,

I dont use the 100grs. in my .243, and although right now, I'm using a light 58gr. VMax for varmints and such, I'd probably stay in the middle range of bullet weights like the 70-85gr. area as a standard weight anyway.

That's just me.

The bullet weights seem to range from 55 grs., on up to 105grs.
I guess it all depends on what you're going to do with the gun, and what you're going to hunt. For varmints like woodchucks , fox and coyotes, I personally like the lighter bullets. For deer, I'd opt for the 80-95gr bullets myself.

As far as powders are concerned, I've had the best luck in using IMR4895 and Varget. Other's I know have had good luck with IMR4350 as well.

My load using the 58gr. VMax was 43.5grs. of IMR4895, and a Fed. 210M primer. I shoot it out of my Browning A-Bolt, and it's extremely accurate for a sporter rifle. The load is well below maximum, but checking your manuals will dictate what you should or shouldn't use.

Good luck,
Bob

 

[ranger335v]

No magic loads available for the .243.

Check any manual, look at the few powders giving max velocities for the bullet weight your friend chooses to shoot. That will tell you which ones are most effective for that combination.

 

[nitesite]

If you are shooting midium or light bullets I would avoid any powder that results in a compressed load.

H4350 and Varget are nice in that they don't require magnum primers, and are very insensitive to temperature variations. Leave cartridges in the hot sun or out on a freezing shooting bench and the pressures remail virtually the same.

I have very good hunting results and excellent accuracy with 58-gr V-Max Molys and 95-gr Combined Technologies Ballistic Silvertips. That said, I've had very good success with Hornady 100-gr Soft Point Spitzers also.

 

[res45]

I appreciate all the help I reload allot of different round but haevn't done any .243 as of yet, I have several manuals so data is't a problem what I'm looking at here is if there is any pattern to powder and bullet that showed up it others post.

I'm thinking IMR 4350 is probably going to be the powder I start off with, as for the bullet something between 80 and 100 Gr. and I want be doing any compressed charges either I seldom if ever have to even load most rounds I shoot close to the MAX. to get consistant accuracy. Most of the shots around here are within 200 Yds. max Whitetail & a few yotes are the game of choise.

 

[cdrt]

I have an older Savage 110L in .243 and it does have the 1 in 10 twist. I have not had a problem with 100 grain bullets. I still use IMR 4895 with the Rem Core-lokt bullet. Mine will hold under an inch at 100 yards and it's taken a lot of deer since I first got it in 1968.

 

[Handgunr]

My new Browning A-Bolt (first Browning rifle I've ever owned) shoots unbelievably well with IMR4895 and the 58 gr. VMax's.
Under an inch at 200yds. yesterday........

But, if it gets dirty, a baseball won't cover 3 shots..........a quick cleaning and she's right back there......

Bob