low recoil .243 load

[jgh4445]

Yeah, I know its already a low recoil round for the most part, but I'd like to introduce a 10 year old girl to shooting centerfire. Someone ( not me) took her out deer hunting and let her shoot a .243 with a 100 gr partition that was a bit warm. The result was that she was a bit too close up on the scope and got hit above the eye. Now, she's afraid of recoil etc. What I'd like is to find a load for an 80 or 85 gr load somewhere around 2700 fps. The .243 is the only option in this case and I wanna be sure its a mild load. I'll also be sure she has proper eye relief instrucion. I'd like to stay away from factory loads too. Anyone loaded anything like that? OH..its a Handi Rifle.

 

[FROGO207]

I would think that you would want to stay with the larger bullet and use a slow propellant to have a smaller perceived recoil. A slower sustained push will be felt as less from a shooter. If you use a lighter bullet the sharp push will feel like more recoil. If you use the 100 grain bullet with IMR 4227 the MAX is 25.0 grains for a velocity of 2450 fps. 22.3 grains is the starting load. You could also use IMR 4198, the MAX is 31.0 grains for 2750 fps, the starting is 27.7 grains. The others are Accurate 2495, IMR 3031, and Accurate 2700 that are relatively slow burning for the 243 and will give less of a sharp recoil. The Handi Rifle is on the light side as far as weight goes and this will also play into the equation IMHO. I own one with the laminated wood and really enjoy shooting it.

 

[jgh4445]

Makes a lot of sense...I'll load some and experiment myself before we go to the range together. Thanks.

 

[NCsmitty]

You might consider using the youth loads listed under the "DATA" column at www.hodgdon.com.
They show an 80gr SP at around 2700 fps, and it should be easy shooting to gain confidence. Only used with H4895 at 60% charge.
It's a PDF file so you need Adobe acrobat to view the file.


NCsmitty

 

[Fat_46]

I just started my 9 year old daughter shooting centerfires after 3 years of 22s. She too is shooting a 243. I loaded 30 rounds with 10 grains of Trail Boss under an 85gr Nosler. The next time will be 13 grains, and I figure she'll be up to Hoddon youth loads within a few months.

You should see the smile on her face after she got done shooting what she calls "her real gun"!

 

[DWFan]

Look here...Post #2...Hodgdon Youth Loads...
http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=606800

 

[Shmackey]

A 60% load of H4895 will be good, but 10 grains of Trail Boss will be great if the goal is to make a truly light load.

In .308 (cousin of your round), I load a 100-grain jacketed round over 35 grains of H4895 (nice and light) or 12 grains of Trail Boss (powderpuff).

www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Trail-Boss-data.pdf

 

[smokey262]

15 or so grains of Blu Dot, 80 grain RP PHP bullet

My 10 year old son could shoot this till the barrel would glow red if I let him

 

[Ol` Joe]

I`m looking for the same type of load for a small 11 yr old boy. I just finished a few 243 Win rds using the 60% / H4895 load from the Hodgdon site and plan on shooting it this week to see how it acts.
I didn`t go all the way to a full 40% reduction, but I want a 87gr bullet to show around 2500 fps over my Pact, not a 2000 fps load like they claim is possible. He will be shooting a H&R Handi rifle at deer this year hopefully, and at ranges under 100 yds.
Hornady shows a starting load at 2700 fps with H4895 and their 87gr in the newest edition, but I don`t recall the exact charge at the moment.

 

[popper]

Unique works good for redued loads. You still get the bang, but feels like a 22LR. After they stop flinching from the bang, go to normal powder reduced loads. Keep them using safety glasses and save the band-aids. Check the eye releif for HER.

 

[dbldown]

Sierra #13 has reduced.
i just loaded 85btsp with 19gr imr 4198 for my 10 yr old.

 

[dbldown]

Sierra #13 has reduced.
i just loaded 85btsp with 19gr imr 4198 for my 10 yr old.

 

[kingmt]

In the 243Win I use a very slow powder BL-C(2) which probably gives about as much recoil as you will see from that gun & it would not be able to cut your eye as long as it is held right. I would use flush scope mounts & if there is room in the forearm load it with lead to keep it from jumping.

Now to answer your question. I also use a powder that is hard to find but it is the same burn rate as Blue Dot. It works very well in 243Win with 65gr pills. For me a max load is about 20gr but it starts working very well at 100yds with 15gr. You only start to fell recoil after 15gr but you will never get enough recoil to mind. I have let my 3 year old shoot it but it is all she can do to pull the trigger. I've never did it yet but I know head shoots on a squirrel @ 100yds would be no problem.

The BL-C(2) is like scary accurate tho & has a huge sweet spot. When you get her worked up to it then check it out. My son is 8 & even though he doesn't complain about the BL-C(2) recoil he rather have the faster powder.

 

[hancjamk]

100 GR. BTSP IMR Trail Boss .243" OAL 2.650" Min 8.0 gr. 1045 fps 27,300 CUP Max 15.3 gr. 1603 fps 39,100 CUP