Finally Tried Some IMR3031....

[beartooth91]

Now that the summer high country fishing season is over, I've been trying to punch a little paper. Took the .243 out, today, and shot some loads behind the Nosler 70 grn BT, a bullet with which this Savage .243 is quite finicky about (It shoots the Nos 80 BT and the Hdy 75 V-Max quite well.). First group was with some recently purchased IMR3031.

Nos70BT_3031_Nov13 by beartooth91, on Flickr
Have read that IMR3031 shoots well, with the lighter bullets in the 243, but, this was a bit much.....! Second and third groups were incremental loads of IMR4895:

Nos70BT_4895_1_Nov13 by beartooth91, on Flickr

Nos70BT_4895_2_Nov13 by beartooth91, on Flickr
Checking my records; earlier this year, I shot the same load as today's second group, so, this was a verification:

Nos70BT_4895_7-Feb-13 by beartooth91, on Flickr
So, I'll keep playing with the 4895 version and see if I can get it to shoot, also.
My new, fast-twist, 22-250 didn't turn in a stellar performance. It seems finicky with the lighter bullets.
Finally, I went to pull the trigger on my dream rifle, at Grab-A-Gun - a heavy-barreled .243 varminter (Savage 12 LPV) and ended up getting a Howa Laminated Varminter, in a .243. It was $147 less. This will be my first non-Savage rifle. My wife procured the .243 sporter (the one I shot the above groups with).....

[foxx]

Wife's no dummy! :)

[stomp442]

IMR 3031 has always given me excellent groups but its just so temp sensitive that I move on to something else. I have a Ruger 308 that just loves that stuff and groups much like your 243.

[Ibex]

beartooth,
Consider the 85gr Nosler with IMR 4895, I think that you will be impressed with the performance. I have pet loads for both 6mm Rem and .243 Win clear up in the top end of max that has given both excellent accuracy, in several different barrels, as well as smoking velocity.
Give it a try. Good luck!