I have not loaded for the .243 in a long time, most of my time has been spent with the 6mm. I was thinking about Varget for 85gr HPBT and something like H414, W760, H4350 or RL17 for 95gr BT. Any recomendations and personal experiences?
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I have not loaded for the .243 in a long time, most of my time has been spent with the 6mm. I was thinking about Varget for 85gr HPBT and something like H414, W760, H4350 or RL17 for 95gr BT. Any recomendations and personal experiences?
Start with Varget and H414.....cant go wrong.
Go back to the 6mm Rem! ;D
I agree on the 6mm comment. My buddy bought my daughter a Winchester M70 with a youth stock in .243 so I am working with it.
What twist rate do you have? That will dictate what bullets you should use, length wise. Shorter bullets, via slower twist need faster powder.
Barnes lists RL17 for the powder for the 80 gr TTSX.
Just loaded and shot some out of a Browning BLR - 18" barrel and at 45 grains (close to max) I got close to 3275 fps.
I think 80 gr and over I would use RL17 for max loads
I've had good luck with 100 grain Hornady bullets and RL22 powder out of a bone-stock Model 10. I"m averaging 3105 fps and accuracy of about 1/2 inch.
Varget and 414 are great powders, but I can't argue with the results I'm getting with heavy bullets and RL22.
...H4350 with Nos 90's & Sie 85's are the deal for me... :)
RL 17 is the velocity king for 243. However if this is for a young girl with any intent to actually be able to stand the recoil. IMR 4895 is the burn rate to go with. Start load of 4895 will do anything that needs done with a 6mm within a couple hundred yards.
The Sierra 85 grain HP BT is a good bullet but has a lousy BC. I shot a thousand or so back when they listed the BS BC way higher than they currently do.
I shoot the 85 grain Speer SBT over a full load of RL17 in a couple of 243 AI and also have a couple daughters that I know don't want any part of that even in the nine pound rifles they shoot from. 500 fps spred between start load of 4895 and what RL 17 will do. With slower powder if you reduce it much the accuracy goes south plus powder weight figures into recoil.
Sound's crazy but........ most accurate load I've found in my 243 is 26.0 H4895, a hoot to shoot too.
I had great luck with H-414 and even better luck with VV560 when I was shooting a .243. Actually took a prairie dog at 762 yards with that .243(VV-560 and Berger VLD's). I no longer shoot a .243 and I still have 3lbs of brand new and unopened H-414 if you are looking for any powder. I'd probably take $50 shipped for the 3lbs.
I'd have no problem using the H-414 for anything out to 750 yards, but I do think the VV560 was a little more accurate.