Just got a new Remington 700 CDL .243 and am looking to load some good deer rounds with my available stock. i have some Sierra 100gr SPBT bullets and some Varget. Of course, I need to experiment with loads, but would like some suggestions for alternatives. What powder do you prefer? What bullet? I will appreciate your help.
Suggest .243 loads for deer?
- Thread starter Sniper66
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Wow, how ironic; I was going to mention the bullets you have. I helped a fella get started in reloading, he used these bullets and the accuracy was simply astounding from his Rem 788. My experience loading for my rifle in .243 has been that propellants slower than Varget, are the most accurate, and have good velocity. H4350, H414/W760, and IMR 4831 are what I like, but the Varget you have can load up some fine ammo as you know. Another propellant that seems to do very well is SC 7828, with very snappy max velocity if able to work up. Good luck.
FROGO207
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I have had really good luck with Hornaday 100 grain BTSP Interlock and H414 in my 243 Handi Rifle at near max loads with mixed brass. Shot so well (MOA at 200 YDS) I never tried to improve it. YMMV
the Black Spot
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80 gr speer with varget
JimKirk
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I'll second the IMR 7828 ... Works very with 100 grain in the .243 Win.
GooseGestapo
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41.5gr IMR4350.
Gets 3,000fps from 22" bbl, last three .243's I had (Stevens M200, Savage Axis, Marlin X7S) shot at/under .5", 5-shot groups at 100yds.
Gets 3,000fps from 22" bbl, last three .243's I had (Stevens M200, Savage Axis, Marlin X7S) shot at/under .5", 5-shot groups at 100yds.
Stevenvalleyky
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Both my 243s shoot the 95 grain hornady SST very well, plus its devastating on whitetails with double lung broadside shots. Handi rifle likes H414 near max as well as H4350 about a grain below max. Both shoot well under an inch with 5 shot groups at 100 yards with a stable rest.
My Ruger American shoots about any suitable powder well but really likes the H4350 at just above start and right at max. Shoots nice cloverleaf with all 5 holes touching with a solid rest. Also shot IMR7828 and H4895 very well.
Ruger also shoots 100 grain interlocks very well with several powders with IMR7828 best so far of what I have tried.
My Ruger American shoots about any suitable powder well but really likes the H4350 at just above start and right at max. Shoots nice cloverleaf with all 5 holes touching with a solid rest. Also shot IMR7828 and H4895 very well.
Ruger also shoots 100 grain interlocks very well with several powders with IMR7828 best so far of what I have tried.
H1000 period for 95-100 gr bullets, 85-90 gr either load Imr 4831 or 4451, don't know what ranges you'll be shooting, but the pro hunters and gamekings(either 85/100gr) work well, I don't really use coppers for deer and we've taken some BIG muleys, the bondeds work well as well and partitions too obviously, but the pro hunters are always my go to for accuracy and thumpage out to 500 yds.
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Sunray
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My rifle(1 in 9.125 twist. Remington uses 1 in 10.) is partial to Speer 105 grain SP's and 90 grain FMJ's(not for deer) with IMR4350.
Varget will do nicely though. But you must work up the load for your rifle. And remember that deer hunting does not require 1 MOA accuracy. Consistency is far more important.
And varmint hunting with your deer load is great practice.
Varget will do nicely though. But you must work up the load for your rifle. And remember that deer hunting does not require 1 MOA accuracy. Consistency is far more important.
And varmint hunting with your deer load is great practice.
Remington has used 1:9.125 for years
Tinybob
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Another bullet option is Speer SPBT 100gr. The classic design are the ones I use for deer. They're almost identical to Gameking you have. As far as powders H1000 and H414 both near Max are awesome. I'd say H1000 is more consistent for me though. Both combos group sub 1/2 moa with rest.
Col. Cornelius
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100gr SP Hornady Interlock bullet w/ 42.0gr IMR4350 & CCI 200 primers, COAL 2.695"
Very accurate deer load. My son put down a nice 4x4 blacktail with it.
Very accurate deer load. My son put down a nice 4x4 blacktail with it.
Right now the Sierra 100 GR Pro-Hunters are my go to with H414 and magnum primers. I have not strayed much from this as the rifle and caliber are new to me. My plan was to try a similar bullet with H4350, but 4350 is scarce around here right now.
-Jeff
DM~
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I've owned a .243 Win. since the 70's, and I no longer will even shoot at a deer with my .243, unless it's loaded with 95 or100NP's...
YES they are that much better of a bullet for deer sized game, in .243... They will deliver deep penetration with plenty of expansion, just what's needed for a less than perfect shot that you will some times get.
That same bullet works VERY well in my .240 Wby. too...
DM.
YES they are that much better of a bullet for deer sized game, in .243... They will deliver deep penetration with plenty of expansion, just what's needed for a less than perfect shot that you will some times get.
That same bullet works VERY well in my .240 Wby. too...
DM.
redbullitt
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I have been messing with a 6mm creed lately. 108 ELD and H100v. I figure that powder ought to be worth a look. Worked well for me so far.
The only 243 I have loaded for did really well with h4350 and 100 grain (pretty sure thats the weight) sierra hunters. Nothing fancy, but it shoots well and kills deer
The only 243 I have loaded for did really well with h4350 and 100 grain (pretty sure thats the weight) sierra hunters. Nothing fancy, but it shoots well and kills deer
iShoot17
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H4350 and 90gr Nosler Accubonds have served my wife well multiple times!
CarJunkieLS1
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My wife's Savage .243 shoots very well with plain old Winchester Power Points factory loads. She used the factory ammo her first year and never got a shot.
The next year with Supreme 780 and a 95 Ballistic Tip two does went down to that load. 2990fps from a 22" barrel. Was like a grenade went off inside them. Neither bullet exited but did plenty of damage for them to both drop within 25 yards.
The next year with Supreme 780 and a 95 Ballistic Tip two does went down to that load. 2990fps from a 22" barrel. Was like a grenade went off inside them. Neither bullet exited but did plenty of damage for them to both drop within 25 yards.
DLrocket89
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95 gn Nosler ballistic tip over 40.9 grains R19, CCI 200 primers, Hornady brass. Shoots into 1 hole out of a Savage axis, took a decent sized whitetail doe in one shot this year at 150 yards.
Jeff Flannery
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All my .243's (ruger American, rem.700bdl, rem 700adl) all LOVE imr 3031. Every load I worked up with various powders, including varget, win 748 and 760, cfe223, imr 4064.. 3031 outperformed them all
It might be easier to identify powders that don't deliver fine accuracy in the .243 because the .243 seems to be one of those rare cartridges that is happy with almost any powder it's fed.
I don't know if Speer even makes them anymore but their 90 grain spitzer worked well for me. I haven't tried them yet, but 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip might be a good choice, too.
I don't know if Speer even makes them anymore but their 90 grain spitzer worked well for me. I haven't tried them yet, but 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip might be a good choice, too.
for deer, pretty much any bullet from 85-100+ has been used effectively. Im partial to the 100gr Sgks, 100gr Hbtsp, and 95gr balistics, I also like the 85gr Sgks.
SInce you already have the 100gr Sgks id start there. Varget should be use able, but a slower powder will likely yield move velocity, better fill ratio, and MAY produce better accuracy.
I run all my overbore cartridges with powders on the slow side, and all have produced consistently good accuracy. When Ive used faster powders it seems like they are a little more finicky.
SInce you already have the 100gr Sgks id start there. Varget should be use able, but a slower powder will likely yield move velocity, better fill ratio, and MAY produce better accuracy.
I run all my overbore cartridges with powders on the slow side, and all have produced consistently good accuracy. When Ive used faster powders it seems like they are a little more finicky.
Arkansas Paul
Member
I like H380 for its ease of measuring. Stuff meters like butter. Set it and forget it.
My wife's Ruger M77 likes it with Sierra Gameking bullets. We have both taken a deer with it. Mine ran 30 yards. Hers was DRT.
My wife's Ruger M77 likes it with Sierra Gameking bullets. We have both taken a deer with it. Mine ran 30 yards. Hers was DRT.
Captcurt
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I had good performance with the 95gr Ballistic Silver Tip and 90gr Accubond with both R-17 and IMR-4350. I tried some 90gr Ballistic Tips on one bambi and it was a mess. The bullet exploded on the shoulder and completely ruined a shoulder, some ribs and literally made a mess inside. The little fryer still went 50 yards. Completely gutted a coyote with the same load. I think that I will bite the bullet, pun intended, and go back to the Partition. They work every time.
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