Best load for .243

[Bob72]

I'm shooting .243 with Nosler 95 grain purple tips. Anybody want to share there best load for this combination? In fact, any loads for any 95 grains. Thanks in advance...

 

[NCsmitty]

The "best" load will be the one that shoots well in your rifle. All I can offer is a link to www.hodgdon.com and www.alliantpowder.com where you can select potential powders and loads to try. There are several new powders that have good potential, but sometimes the older powders still get it done. Start low and work up, as Alliant loads are listed maximum, and a 10% reduction to start is recommended.


NCsmitty

 

[4895]

H-4350 (2900fps), IMR-4064 (2800fps) are good loads (per Hornady manual). IMR-4831 gives 3000 fps as a max load. There are tons of choices. I prefer H4350.

 

[ssyoumans]

Most will steer ya to 4350 - it is the classic powder for the 243, but I like Ramshot Hunter. Works great with 85gr - 100gr rounds. I've been having some good results with H414/w760 as well, but more so with the 75gr VMax rounds.
I didn't like Varget in my 243 with several weights (70-87gr).

 

[interlock]

a lot can depend on the length of your rifle barrel... i would suggest if it is shorter go with a faster powder. i had a 20 inch barrel 243 and used N140 with 100 gr bullets. With imr 4350 i found i was getting a huge muzzle blast... i guessed i wasnt burning all the powder in the barrel

 

[TC8500]

.243 Powders

WW 760 and H4895 work well for me with Nosler BTs both 70grain and 95 grain.

 

[GooseGestapo]

I had a Savage M110 that wanted the 95gr Nosler BT with 42.5gr of RL22 for near 3,000fps. Later, A Marlin XS7 that prefered 41.5gr of IMR4350 for near 3,100fps.
Each rifle is a "rule unto itself". Try either of those above, and include IMR and H4831. Between these four powders, you'll find one YOUR rifle likes. My brothers/nephews Savage M110 wants IMR4831 @ 42.0gr for 3,100fps. Every rifle is different..... though there are distince trends.... Also try Federal 210 and 215 primers.... The slower powders often prefer a magnum strength primer at colder temperatures....

 

[Striker Fired]

I used to shoot a .243 for long range praire dogging,(my record is 786yrds).For that I used 85gr Sierra varminter over IMR4831. I also had some other loads with H4895. I can't remember all the powders I tried with that rifle, but it was quite a few and those two came out as the best of all of them. If your going for accuracy , I found the most consistant groups with cases that were already fired in that gun. When I got a batch of new brass, I would load up some cheap bullets and just fire them into the berm, just to get once fired brass from that rifle, but that was for the best possible groups. For 95gr to stabilize good(depends on the range), your rifle "should" have 1:10 , mine had a 10inch twist and 95gr was at the "upper weight" to get good accuracy, but every gun is different.

I did have a hunting load that I used for mule deer that I used new brass with.Other hunters looked weired at me when they saw me hunting with a long bull barreled rifle But I was always the one with a filled tag.

 

[GP100man]

Start with the slowest powder & work ya way up to speed .

I balance speed with grouping with H414 but for groups it`s IMR4895

Your Rifle May Vary , but all mentioned are respectable canidates for the medium cased small bore.

 

[ricehombre]

RL22 42-43gr or IMR 4350 41-42gr depending on the length of barrel or let the rifle choose.

 

[TonyT]

I have used both IMR-4350 and IMR-4831 for full power loads. For loads below maximum velocity I use IMR-4895 or IMR-3031.

 

[Mykey]

When my daughter was shooting a 243 it loved RL19 with a Sierra 100gr Pro Hunter. Worked up the same load for a friend and his 243 with equal results. Very accurate and had no problems killing deer with that load.

 

[viking499]

What about a powder for 55 grain noslers?

 

[teddy52food]

55 gr noslers

My savage likes 46 to 46.5 grs of BLC2, CCI lr primers. Start low & work up. My neighbor uses IMR 4895.

 

[Skyshot]

Savage model 11, 100 grn Sierra Gameking , load is 45. grns of IMR 7828 (this is close to max start at 43.grans and work up) fed. 210 match primers and Winchester brass. 5shots @ 100 yards. We've taken lots of whitetails and several blackbears with this load and at distances between 50 yards and close to 300 yards and have all been one shot kills. This load works good for the 95. Nosler BT also but the Sierra was just a bit more accurate in my particular rifle.

 

[the Black Spot]

Varget powder for all bullet weights.