H4350 For .243 Reloads

[PCCUSNRET]

I tried working up a round for a couple older Remington 788's this past weekend. I made up 10 rounds each using Nosler 95gr. BT's starting at 39 grains, increasing by .5 until I hit 42 (42 grs is listed as Max on Hodgdon's web site). By the time I reached 39.5 grs I was seeing flattened primers and ejector imprint in the case. I stopped shooting these rounds and plan to pull the bullets from the remaining 30 rounds. I was using FC brass so it may be that this brass is just too soft for this powder. Does anyone else use this powder for their 243?

 

[243winxb]

Back in 2008 i loaded for the 243win.-42.0gr- H4350 using 88gr vld FB & 90gr hpbt Berger bullets & Sierra 85gr hpbt. CCI BR2 primer. Remington brass. no pressure signs that i can remember, nothing in my notes. Accuracy was good. But still using IMR 4350 & IMR4831.

 

[HOWARD J]

I was using:
85 gr Sierra SP with 41 gr H4350
105 gr Speer SN with 39 gr H4350
100 gr Hornady BTSP with 39.5 gr H4350
105 gr A max with 39 gr H4350
105 gr Speer RN with 40gr H4350
I used these loads on a new Savage Edge with Winchester & PPU (PRVI-PARTIZAN cartridges.

The only damage was the Win cartridges had a slight bulge near the web
No marking or bulge on the PPU cartridges.
The headspace on this rifle may be a little off but if so the PPU cartridges
took care of the problem.
The PPU brass may be a lot stronger.
I have used heavier loads (H4350) in this rifle--no problem on the brass except the very slight bulge on the Win cartridges.

Have you checked your scale to make sure it is accurate ?????????

 

[kelbro]

I tried H4350 with no issues but got much better accuracy and speed from IMR4064.

 

[GooseGestapo]

Bullet seating depth is important. If you are seating the bullet "long" into the grooves, you will see pressure signs sooner.

Primers and cases are significant. Anything besides Winchester or Norma will have lower (thicker) capacity cases and will show pressure signs sooner. (i.e. the presumption that Federal cases are "soft". They aren't soft, they are thicker, hence lower volumn).

I use 41.5gr of IMR4350 with a 95gr Nosler B.T. in a Marlin XS7, but seat to .030" off the grooves. I also use Winchester brass and Win or Fed. #210 primers. No pressure signs but 3,000+fps and excellent accuracy.

I do use Federal brass in numerous applications but do observe that they are as much as 2-5% heavier in some instances than Win. or Remington (ie: 7mmRemMag.).

 

[PCCUSNRET]

The thicker brass may explain this. I haven't compared the FC brass with Reminton or Winchester, but will do so before I load any more.

I know for a fact that the rounds weren't touching the lands. I triple checked the C.O.A.L. to make sure that I was back .020 off the lands. Figured since these are older guns I didn't one to take any chance with pushing these rounds up to the lands.

Even the 39.5 grs felt stout in these guns. Based on the condition of the brass I think this would be the "max" load for these two guns. Since they weren't grouping at under an 1" it won't bother me trying another powder.

The scale is dead on. Actually, I double weigh every charge (I know, but that's the way I am when it comes to my reloading). All my rifle loads are within 1/10th of a grain. The only major variations in my loads would be the weight of the brass and the weight of the bullets (can't believe they can't get the weights of the bullets a little closer to what is on the box).

Thanks for the suggestions.

 

[Strongbad]

The only load I run in my 788 243 is with H-4350 and 95 gr. Hornady SST's. Good speed for a carbine length barrel and excellent accuracy. Load is 40.5 grains. The Model 7 I have likes IMR-7828SSC with the same 95 gr. SST's, but the 788 shoots a hair better. Very tight little groups.

 

[GooseGestapo]

My admonition regarding seating depth in regards to the .243 goes back about 25yrs ago. I loaded some .243 for a friend's M788 .243. We were using the Speer 105gr Spitzers. They were loaded to "touch" the lands. Load was a starting load from an earlier Speer manual. Even the "starting" load locked up the action, and the extractor cut in the bolt ruptured at a thin spot, ruining the bolt. Even back then, Remington sent the gun back saying they couldn't "fix" it as they no longer had parts for the M788. His brother-in-law that knew Mr. Walker at Walker Arms in W.Alabama said "bring it in, I'll fix it". He did! They re-welded,machined and heat treated the bolt and put in a new extractor. When asked "how much", he winked and said "you couldn't afford it, so don't worry about it"... I used it to train a new employee...... Go, shoot it, and enjoy it! Just don't shoot no more Speer 105's in XXXX-XXXX brass....... And we haven't since.......!!!
fwiw, it was reformed G.I. .308 brass iirc.