• Winner! Quick Shot Challenge: What’s the dumbest shooting myth you’ve heard?

    View thread

.243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

5RWill

Optics Fiend
Full Member
Minuteman
Supporter
  • Oct 15, 2009
    6,518
    2,912
    34
    Mississippi
    Just got some in and was wondering what powder everyone is using for their accurate load with these bullets. I figured i'd start off with varget, if that doesn't work, move to IMR 4350, then maybe some reloader 15 or Reloader 17.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    I'm about to start reloading for a 243 and have asked some questions, here's what I found out. ( for 105, 107 and 115s)
    H4350 most used
    H1000 2nd
    RL 17, RL 25 and retumbo used by some.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    No varget? I guess well see. Might just start with H4350 then.

    FWIW is it hard to get the 105gr VLDs to shoot in a factory gun? Do they really need to be jammed into the lands? I shoot 175gr BT LRs out of my .308 and they're set at 2.805 nothing special and shoot great.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    Varget will be to fast burning for you. The load John Whidden uses with his 105gr VLD's (Hunting) is 47gr of N160. He gets the 105s going out at 3300fps, but he's also moly coating, and using a broughton barrel which has very shallow lands. The load has won him severl NRA LR championships. However most people have trouble with that load unless you follow everything John does.

    I think you'll find IMR-4350, H4350, and H4831SC to work well for you.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    Yeah after doing some reading i realized varget was probably too fast and the manual recommended IMR 4350 so first groupings are with it 36, 37, the 38-40 in 1/2 grain increments.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use H1000 with that bullet in a Remington factory 243 varmint, get about 2930fps. </div></div>

    Niles whats your COL? Due to magazine length i had to seat mine at 2.790. It sucked... though the gun is a youth .243.

    If i can't do anything with IMR 4350 will be moving to H1000 or H4350 or some more slow burning powders.

    Also anyone else having the meplats varying quite a couple of thousandths (3 or 4)? My first box of bergers (175gr BT LRs) meplats were very consistent. COL with the comparator shoes them all doing fine, which i guess is the point, but it just bothers me.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    For 105's - H4350 works very well as does H4831Sc. H1000 really shines better for the heavier 115's as I can't quite get enough powder in the case with H1000 than I can with the other two.

    I run 50 grains of H1000 under Berger 105 Hybrids for 3050fps out of my 24" 1/7.7 Bartlein with no pressure and its a slap full case with compression

    I use 43.2 grains of H4350 and 45.5 grains of H4831SC for 3050 fps.
    The best accuracy has come from the H4831SC at 1/4moa at 400 yards.

    I usually don't like to select a load based just on 100 or 200 yard groups. I like to push out and make sure that it maintains.
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    Got around 1/2 MOA with 4 shots of 40grs of IMR4350. I'm ecstatic
    smile.gif
    got to chronograph it and then put the Leupold VX-R patrol on it.

    jip4wh.jpg
     
    Re: .243 Berger 105gr VLD loads.

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Blackops_2</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Niles Coyote</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I use H1000 with that bullet in a Remington factory 243 varmint, get about 2930fps. </div></div>

    Niles whats your COL? Due to magazine length i had to seat mine at 2.790. It sucked... though the gun is a youth .243.

    </div></div>

    I run 2.795 OAL, If I load to the lands it still shoots well but I have to use a AI mag system as the length is to long for the factory mag. I played with the seating depth and found 2.795 worked just as well and my ES actually went became more consistent. win/win

    link to my thread