new .243 win

[conan32120]

Picked up a remington 700 in .243 win (twist rate unknown) this weekend. Already ordered the dies but am looking for some suggestions on which powder and bullet weight to start my explorations with

 

[AJC1]

Picked up a remington 700 in .243 win (twist rate unknown) this weekend. Already ordered the dies but am looking for some suggestions on which powder and bullet weight to start my explorations with

You need twist for intended bullet weight for best powder options. If it's for hunting a 95-100 would be a good choice if your twist will stabilize it... what powder form factor do you prefer???

 

[epags]

Notice: Buy a reloading manual and read the parts before the reloading data!
Notice: Please start your load testing starting below the 42.3 gr shown below....projectile, powder, brass, primers, twist all affect the outcome.
Older Rem 700 243Win.
Projectile: Hornady 87 gr BTHP
Powder: IMR 4831, 42.3 gr
Primer: Rem 9-1/2
Brass: R-P (resized once from same rifle)
Seating depth: 2.695"
Accuracy (my rifle) 1/4"MOA @ 100 yards with scope
Disclaimer: I will not be responsible for the results you get using the data shown.

 

[Shooterbob]

I have had good results from imr 4350 with nosler 95 bt .usually shoots less than 1 inch at 100yards .I did very little load development for them .Gonna try Barnes 85 gr ttsx next with superformance powder I will report back after I get to shoot a ladder of them. And if you do not have solar manual get some .And check twist.

 

[Howa 9700]

Picked up a remington 700 in .243 win (twist rate unknown) this weekend. Already ordered the dies but am looking for some suggestions on which powder and bullet weight to start my explorations with

What is the intended destination of these bullets and hoped for result when they get there?

 

[conan32120]

manuals i have a plenty, and not looking for anything high performance, I'm just a paper puncher and my range is only 200 yds. from my .223 loadings I still have some cfe223 , tac and IMR 4895. just looking for a popular .243 powder and it seems IMR 4350 has quite a following.

 

[dgod]

I like IMR 4350 and IMR 4064 both, the 4064 is a little tricker than 4350, it is a stick powder and I suggest trickle charging the 4064 for accuracy.

 

[JimKirk]

Reloder 17 works well with the 80 grain TTSX (don't think they make a 85 grain TTSX) .... Hunter is another, so is Superformance...

The target below is a 1/2" dot at 100 yards ...8 shots in the dot ... Reloder 17 & 80 grain TTSX....

 

[stillquietvoice]

I've used several powders one that is different is h 4350 over 100 gr Hornady spbt. Gave a little more velocity than imr plus it's less temp sensitive. 39.8 gr, 2 tenths below max in my 1:9 twist savage m11 shoots 7/8 in at 200 yds

5 shot group.

 

[lightman]

The choice of bullet depends on the intended purpose but something around 95 to 100 grains usually shoots well. You can't go wrong using 4350 for the powder. Mine shoots about equally well with 4350, 4831 or RL-22. My 243 has a custom barrel with a fast twist.

 

[Shooterbob]

Jim Kirk you are correct it is an 80 yr ttsx .Unfortunately I don't have any rl17 looks very good. I have superformance to try gonna give it a go.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

My son loads with 6.5 staball. I think 39 grains with a 90 grain hornady bullet. He uses the same powder load for his 6.5 creedmore. I think 129 grain hornady bullets.

 

[AJC1]

Want a cheap ball powder ramshot hunter is good. Shooting in huge temperature swings h4350 or rl16 would be first choice. Nothing wrong with imr4350 or n150.

 

[conan32120]

so H4350 is more temp stable than IMR 4350? I'll be shooting in Fla and my first time loading a high performance cartridge

 

[horsey300]

so H4350 is more temp stable than IMR 4350? I'll be shooting in Fla and my first time loading a high performance cartridge

For paper at 200 yds? Your twist SHOULD be 1:9.125" so 4451, 4166, etc work well, if you want to really bug hole them, the 85 Sierra varmint, 88(?) gr berger, 90 gr speer, 95 Hornady, and 100 gr Sierra prohunter should do quite well for what you're suggesting, look up what powders will get you there with the least volume (I love 4166 with <95) but if you want a little extra boom and thump the h1000 and prohunter will be wowsome too, I've had success with 4831sc as well but found that if I have 4166, 4451, and h1000(being used less than 4451 nowadays), I am completely covered, these are the imr enduron temp stable powders close in burn rate to 4064 and 4350. That being said, all bullets I listed are flat based due to given use, to buck the wind better, I'd throw in the 87 Hornady, 95 nbt, and 100 sgk, all should do well but you shouldn't have to fight prairie winds at 200 yds I'm thinking?

 

[AJC1]

so H4350 is more temp stable than IMR 4350? I'll be shooting in Fla and my first time loading a high performance cartridge

Extruded is more temp stable than ball. Some powders have temperature process??? Rl16, h4350, and n150 are all treated. Single base are usually more stable as well. N150 should be more stable than n550 but you get less velocity.

 

[barnfrog]

prohunter will be wowsome too,

That is a great word, which I am adding to my personal lexicon post haste.

 

[BigBlue 94]

My 1979 R700 Varmint Special loves 75gr HPBT and somewhere around 43 grains of IMR4831. It serves me well on whitetail deer. Somewhere near 3500 fps IIRC.

 

[Bartojc]

WHat are doing with your .243 ? Paper, varmints, deer, distance ringing steel ?

I hunt with mine and I use 100 Gr Sierra Pro-Hunter for my .243. Its a very reasonable bullet, nothing fancy but they shoot well and do their job. I would think anything in the 80-100gr will work for deer if your barrel can stabilize them. I am sure there are better more accurate bullets but for the price these work for me.

-Jeff

 

[conan32120]

WHat are doing with your .243 ? Paper, varmints, deer, distance ringing steel ?

I hunt with mine and I use 100 Gr Sierra Pro-Hunter for my .243. Its a very reasonable bullet, nothing fancy but they shoot well and do their job. I would think anything in the 80-100gr will work for deer if your barrel can stabilize them. I am sure there are better more accurate bullets but for the price these work for me.

-Jeff

just paper and steel, stopped hunting many years ago but I still enjoy pulling a trigger. my barrel tests out at a 1-9 twist rate so if my research is correct I should be good between 75 - 100 grain pills

 

[D.B. Cooper]

I shot NRA High Power with my 243 in Dade City, FL for many years. 100 yrd reduced targets. 60 grn Sierra Match King HPBT w/ 4895 powder.

4895 has been good in that rifle for a lot of stuff. I only recently just started using Superperformance because I started using the Barnes 85 grn TSX for caribou hunting, and that was Barnes' suggested powder. However, 4895 gives me as good or better accuracy but with a slower velocity.

My rifle twist is 1:10. You can measure that on your rifle by putting a mark on a cleaning rod and running it, with a brush, through the bore. Count how many times the mark revolves around and then divide the barrel length by that number. (20" barrel, 2 revolutions, 1:10 twist rate)

With lighter loads, you will get good case life. (5+ reloads). With the superformance, it's looking like 2 maybe 3 before I have to trim them.)

243 is a great all-around, versatile cartridge. 55 grns for varmint. 60-70 for sub 200 yrd paper targets, 90 for white tails. If you're going to hunt anything bigger, look for top-tier, higher performing projectiles. (Barnes TSX, Nosler, bonded, etc.) I took a caribou with 100 grn cup and core (Remington yellow box) and it didn't go well-even with solid lung/heart hits.

 

[AJC1]

just paper and steel, stopped hunting many years ago but I still enjoy pulling a trigger. my barrel tests out at a 1-9 twist rate so if my research is correct I should be good between 75 - 100 grain pills

My dad was fond of the 87 v-max for steel.

 

[JPM80]

I like IMR 4350 and IMR 4064 both, the 4064 is a little tricker than 4350, it is a stick powder and I suggest trickle charging the 4064 for accuracy.

Both are stick powder.

 

[JPM80]

Reloder-17 is good for .243 as well.