243 win H4831 Sierra vs Hodgedon data

[BGD]

The max load for 100 grain bullet in the Hodgedon online data for H4831 is 42 grains. The max load in the Sierra manual 5th edition is 44.9.

Anyone load 44.9 before with 100 grain Sierra bullets WLR primers and Remington cases? I just neck size the brass and seat to 2.650.

 

[CarJunkieLS1]

Start low and work up. Watch for pressure signs and let the rifle tell you it's max load. Just last week there was a thread on here where a guy loaded a max load from a Sierra manual without working up to it and he pieced 2 primers and got powder and gas in his face.

Start LOW and work up.

 

[JimKirk]

Yes ...Start low work up ...

Give a look at IMR 7828 also ...

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Hodgdon used a 100gr Speer BTSP, not a Sierra bullet so that will account for some of the difference in load data. I'm not sure what the seating depth is in the Sierra manual but if it's different than what Hodgdon used that will also account for differences in charge weights.

Likes already said, start low and work up. When you find the sweet spot keep it and go shooting lol.

 

[Sunray]

Manuals vary. Who made the bullet is irrelevant. You load for the bullet weight, not the brand. What matters is the conditions on the day of the test, the powder lot used and everything else that was different. Hodgdon, for example, used a 1 in 10 rifling twist 24" barrel. Sierra might have used a proper 1 in 9.125 twist 22" barrel. Have an old Sierra manual around somewhere too. Not at home.
And it gets better. My old Hodgdon 23rd Edition(1977 vintage) manual gives 44.0 of 4831 as the start load and used a 26" barrel. No OAL given at all. As long as you're at or slightly below 2.710" you're fine.

 

[ArchAngelCD]

Manuals vary. Who made the bullet is irrelevant. You load for the bullet weight, not the brand. What matters is the conditions on the day of the test, the powder lot used and everything else that was different. Hodgdon, for example, used a 1 in 10 rifling twist 24" barrel. Sierra might have used a proper 1 in 9.125 twist 22" barrel. Have an old Sierra manual around somewhere too. Not at home.
And it gets better. My old Hodgdon 23rd Edition(1977 vintage) manual gives 44.0 of 4831 as the start load and used a 26" barrel. No OAL given at all. As long as you're at or slightly below 2.710" you're fine.

That is no longer true, it's not only the bullet weight that matters. Today's bullets are made of different materials and different lengths. Some bullets of the same weight provide more friction raising the pressures. Nope, not just bullet weight any longer.

 

[BGD]

I worked up to 44.5 grains with no pressure signs. getting 2745 fps out of an old Remington model 7 with an 18.5 inch factory barrel. I think the twist is 9.5. I was a bit nervous about going over hodgdons max load, but it appears to be ok with the combination I am using. I may inch up to the 44.9 as stated by the Sierra manual and see how much the fps increases and what kind of accuracy I get.

 

[GooseGestapo]

BULLET MANUFACTURER MAKES A HUGE DIFFERENCE.
I destroyed a Rem 788 by substituting a Speer 100fb for a Sierra boatail using H4831.

Start low and work up! IRRC, I went right to 44.0grn. Locked up the bolt. Broke ring around extractor on bolt beating open the bolt.
The .243 with 100gr + bullets must be taken seriously.
Proceed cautiously.

 

[BGD]

Thanks good to know Goose.
I am using the Sierra 100 g GK. Did not have any problems with extracting at 44.5 grains H4831. I started at 42. Primers look ok. I think I will go up .1 at a time to 44.9 just to see. Although 44.5 grains seems to be a good load 2750 fps, same as I am getting with IMR 4350 with 41.7 grains. 41.7 grains is a max load in the Sierra manual.

I think it is a good idea to pay attention to bullet manufactures data and try to use their bullets with their data, but I am kinda new at this.