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.243 Win

OK243

Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Dec 3, 2009
335
3
39
Tuttle, Oklahoma
I was wondering what is the best combination for a .243. I plan to do mostly varmint shooting but would like to keep a good all around load. Right now I have Hornady 100gr BTSP that I need to load. Any help would be great.
 
Re: .243 Win

I had a Sierra GK 85 grain with 44.2g of H4350 set at 2.61 OAL that is very accurate in my Browning XBolt and chronoed at 3070 but I can't get 4350 any more so I'm working up some loads with Nosler 95gr BTs and RL-19. I think it's going to end up somewhere around 45.3 grains.
 
Re: .243 Win

Someone here mentioned IMR 4064. Has anyone used that before and if so what grain bullet?
 
Re: .243 Win

You should be more specific.
Tell us what brand of rifle it is, what twist it is..
Things like that help alot
 
Re: .243 Win

I shoot 75 and 87 grain hornaday v-max with reloader 15 and 210m federal primers 37.5 with the 75s and 35.5 with the 87s both loads knock deer dead with ease. And make a complete mess of coyotes. The hornaday book has your 100 SPBT at 405bc C.O.L listed for that is 2.630 and the powders listed are,, reloader 19 39.5--44 grains Win 760 33.4--40.9 Imr 4064 29.4--34.2 H4350 37.4--40.8 Imr 4831 38--42.5 Reloader 22 41.8--45.3 VIHT N-165 43.3--47.2 Imr7828 41.6-45 WIN WMR 40.8--47.9 Now these are the low to redline loads so don't go over the high for saftey hope this helps.
 
Re: .243 Win

If you wanted a long range round in that rifle try the 105 AMAX. Will reach 1000.
 
Re: .243 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: John69</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My apologies. I have a Remengton 700 SPS-V, 26" barrel with a 9.5 twist. </div></div>

I have the same rifle. Couldn't get the 105 Amaxes to shoot well consistantly (pity...) but did get some 1/2" groups mixed with some keyholes and 5" groups with retumbo. Figure that out... ONe day it would be golden, the next day a complete sh*t storm. Maybe they'll work for you if you're lucky... Anyway my rifle didn't like much of anything (I tried 100gr, 95's etc) until I got to about 87gr bullets or lighter, then things tightened up to mostly around an inch/inch and a half for 87-80 gr bullets I tried. So far I've had the best luck with Varget and IMR4350 for powders, with 75gr V-maxs and Speer 75gr HP's. I'm down to consistant .75" groups with my best load, 75gr V-max, 38 gr Varget, OAL 2.600".

Good luck!! I'd be interested in how things work out for you...
 
Re: .243 Win

Newbie did you try any H4350 or Hybrid 100V with the 105s or just Retumbo? Trying a different powder would be a good thing to do with the 105s in that barrel.
 
Re: .243 Win

I'm going to load for my .243 that is a Win. Mod. 70. Unless I've done it wrong, it's a 1:10 twist I like the med-hvy barrel.

Trying two powders, 4064 and 3031 IMR's
Using Barnes 90 gr. X

Two manuals give me ranges from 34.5 to 38.5 with 4064.
Starting at 36.0 and going in .50 increments till I find the sweet spot. I usually start mid range and work up. I'll let you know how that comes out.

I bought it used after I tried it and it printed a 3 shot mini-clover leaf, in a 22 rimfire bull at 100. The rounds were ballistic tips, but I have no idea what weight. I may find that I need a lighter pill for that type accuracy; but if I go lighter, I'll use my AR.

Odd that for the same weight in FMJ, Lyman starts at 21.0 and only goes to 25.0 Must be to save pelts??
 
Re: .243 Win

Hey John,I shoot 4350,4831,and RL22 in my .243.Mine has a 1-8 twist barrel and I mostly shoot 95 and 107gr SMK,s.None of these will shoot enough better than the other to say which is best.4350 has always been a favorite in the .243.Good Luck, Pete
 
Re: .243 Win

I'm getting some good groups out of my Howa with 24" barrel.
using 87 gn V-MAX and 36.0 grains of 4064, Nosler brass. Chrony's at 2970 - 3000.
 
Re: .243 Win

h29zo70.jpg
I go for 85 or 87 gr. bullets for my 1:10 twist barrel.
 
Re: .243 Win

Friend of mine has a 243 and his go to load is the Sierra 85gr HPBT and IMR4350, I use the same bullet in my 6MM Rem, he also has a screaming load with the 55gr Nosler but I cant recall the powder used right off hand.
 
Re: .243 Win

I want a tighter group than .1/2 moa. I know the rifle will shoot it, which is why I bought it. I just don't know what pill and powder it likes yet. Rained out this weekend, last shooting day the winds were SW at 22 mph, so I'm still holding. Feel like a kid waitng on Christmas.

Wonder why I4350 is the powder of choice for .243 and I4064 is the long time choice for .308.
 
Re: .243 Win

I have been using the 70gr Speer TNT bullet on top of 39.7gr A-4064 with amazingly accurate groups. The rifle is a Tikka with a 1-10 twist.
 
Re: .243 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: beretta989</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I shoot 75 and 87 grain hornaday v-max with reloader 15 and 210m federal primers 37.5 with the 75s and 35.5 with the 87s both loads knock deer dead with ease. </div></div>

I gut shoot rodents at 200yards with Hornady Vmax and lung shoot ruminants at 500 yards with Nosler ballistic tips.

I was wondering what a Vmax would do to a ruminant's lungs.
 
Re: .243 Win

I have just started loading with my 243 T/C ICON with 1/10 twist and 24". I've had very good luck with Varget which is close to the IMR 4064. have 2 loads that are shooting near 1/4 MOA. One was with 36.5 and the other 39 gr. I'm using Nosler brass and 210M Primers and the 85 SGK HPBT loaded .010 off the lands which has plenty of room in the Mag. One is just over 3000 fps and the other 3200fps I've started with the 95 Berger and IMR-4831 in Lapua case with the same primer .020 off the lands to fit the Mag but have a lot of testing to do yet. Weather got so bad Saturday I had to stop, couldn't use the chrony for blowing snow. First group was just over 3/4" and second was just over 1/2".....here's the target with the Varget....5 shot group at 100....So far in my testing it's hard to shoot bad groups out of this ICON I usually have to spend months getting a factory rifles shooting like this one and haven't done a thing except adjust the trigger and shoot it......Diamonds are 1" tip to tip...

85maxload.jpg

This is the 2 berger groups...and just getting started...

1stVLD.jpg


2ndVLD.jpg
 
Re: .243 Win

I like that definition of a Vet. Been there, done that.

My brass is Honady, with Barnes 90 gr. X bullets, IMR 4064. Win primers.

That .293 is what I'm talking about.
 
Re: .243 Win

i use reloader 25 with the 105's in my 243AI with great results.fills a high % of the case vol. up so the powder in the cartridge lays more consistent from round to round.just a thought.
 
Re: .243 Win


I have a Savage .243 built on a long action just for the heavier bullets, 9.25 twist 22" barrel.

I have a load for the 70 Nosler Ballistic tips but now want to work up some loads for the heavier bullets. 95 Berger VLD's, 107 SMK's or 105 A-max.

Care to share any loads for the 105 A-max ? Are they as seating depth sensitive as the 95 grain Bergers ?

I plan on using H-4350 with Winchester Large rifle primers and Lapua brass.

Mike
 
Re: .243 Win

Hey John69, I have the same rifle for my groundhog gun. I'm running IMR 4064 and 70 gr. Nosler BT's in Lapua brass at about 3464. I've shot 3 shot groups in the .3's until I start thinking and pull shots
blush.gif
. I plan on revisiting the 75 V-maxes before summer and maybe the 88 gr. Bergers, but the 70gr. load is doing a great job. I rarely get exits on adult groundhogs as close as 50 yds. and have taken them with 1 shot kills to 500 yds. Here's a picture of a 500 yd hog and my rifle. This load is a hammer on chucks. I haven't had a chance to run it any farther than 500yds.

PICT0004.jpg
 
Re: .243 Win

Thanks Arcorey, I think I will try the 70s, or maybe an 85 gr when I am done with these 100 gr. I like what you have done with your SPS.
 
Re: .243 Win

John,

Win M 70 heavy barrel

37.2 BLC2
Win Large rifle primer
Win brass
Hornady 65 VMAX

BLC2 sure as not a go to powder for the 243 but gave great results in my rifle. If I had to pick one combo for varmints would be IMR 4350 and Sierra 85 hp
 
Re: .243 Win

For the most part, I'm a paper puncher,plate ringer, just love shooting ragged holes. What do you guys do with the pelts from all those varmint kills?
 
Re: .243 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Newbie did you try any H4350 or Hybrid 100V with the 105s or just Retumbo? Trying a different powder would be a good thing to do with the 105s in that barrel. </div></div>

I had tried IMR4350, H4895 and possibly RL-15 although I can't seem to find the targets to go with the RL-15. Now that I look back the IMR4350 produced some really good groups with various loads (<1 MOA, some around .5) but I couldn't reproduce them day to day and the 'best' load seemed to change. Mind you, this was the first 3 boxes of bullets I had shot, from a brand new rifle. Now that I have a year and 1000+ rounds experience under my belt I think I should try it again. I discovered at some point that taking my rifle out of the plastic stock after each trip to clean it seemed to do nasty things to my consistency (inconsistent pressure on the barrel?) so I have quit doing that. Thanks for the advice you have inspired me to give these bullets another chance.
 
Re: .243 Win

98tj,i do have some load data on the a-max's i'll dig into my records as i dont recall what i was shooting.right now im running the berger 105gr. vld's with 45.5gr of rel 25 at 3007fps avrg.
 
Re: .243 Win

check some of my notes on the a-max.brass was lapua,pri were fed 210GMM,.002 neck tension,.010 off the lands,groups were 3 shots @ 100yrds,5-10mph wind,

IMR 7828 ssc 44gr.
vel-2980
sd-22.51
grp.-.572

rel 25 45gr
vel-2841
sd-27.01
grp-.365

h4350 41.5gr.
vel-3041
sd-8.66
grp-.231

these charge weights were not picky to a little variation.these were some of my better grps but all loads were repetable around .5moa or less.hope this helps a little.
 
Re: .243 Win

No good news on my load development. Worked up in .5 increments with 4064, from 36 to 38 grs. Nothing came together until I hit 38. grs with the BarnesX 90 grainer. Max is 38.5 and that just may be the ticket. For some reason, the best groups seem to be near the published max. Win. Mod. 70, 1:10 Trwist

One of you Professors, check your notes and see where I should be here. I have other powders, but, really want to use the 4064.

RL-15, TAC, IMR 4895, IMR 3031.
 
Re: .243 Win

What's the problem? I am not trying to put you off, but you have an accurate load with the powder you want to use. If you are having no extraction problems or high pressure signs, run the 4064. That is the powder I have had the best accuracy with in a sporter Remington(SPS in a McMillan Hunter stock). It outshines the next most accurate rounds by a mile. As a matter of fact, before I tried the 4064, I was thinking about using the action as a donor because the other powders performed so poorly.
 
Re: .243 Win

nashlaw, I would have thought so too. 4064 works great in my .308 loading, but shot like crap in the .243. It's even showing promise in .223, with at 69 grainer, though the best load is at published max (25 grs.) and I think another .5 will bring it in. Wondering if I should start lower and work toward the mid-range load, as opposed to starting at the mid-range and working up?

There are always alternative. Lighter bullet, changing OAL. Mine is a Win. Mod. 70 , 1:10 twist. Stealff claims good accuracy with 36 grs. with an 87 grainer, go figure?

Throw me a bone and tell me your best .243, 4064 load, BarnesX 90 gr. hp.
 
Re: .243 Win

I do more reading than posting here but I do have a good load for 243. 46gr H414 85gr Speer SPBT .010 off the lands 3385fps
All I know is it will put a groundhog on the carpet.
243trg.jpg
 
Re: .243 Win

James, NC

Appreciate the dope. If working on the low end, with 4064 and 90 grainers doesn't work; I'll go to a lighter pill and as a last resort, different powder. No way I should not be able to get .300 or so from this rifle. I know it's not the gun, and when I'm shooting .3's with an AR on the same day, it shouldn't be me either.

Someone please advise on the optimum pill weight for a .243 with 1:10 twist?
 
Re: .243 Win

my wifes win mdl 70 243 likes a 70 or 75g hpbt with 37.5g 4064 with cci primers and fc brass
 
Re: .243 Win

pac:
That could be an indication of the need for a lighter pill with 1:10 twist. I'd rather buy lighter pills than another powder, as I have so much 4064. Thanks!
 
Re: .243 Win

actually i dont know the twist of hers, she wanted to shoot and we were running low on factory ammo for it and i threw some loads with the 70 and 75's together with a mid range charge from my reload book and it worked with her gun go figure. i can find out the twist and get back to you
 
Re: .243 Win

My Mod 70 is 1:10, and I think that's what you'll find. Now by works well, what does that mean exactly. I threw so loads together that were not sub moa. I know the gun has shot a cloverleaf with some factory balistic tips. They were handed to me just to shoot the rifle prior to purchase. I have no idea what the weight was. That's what and why I bought it. I expect to find a 1/4 moa load for it.

37.5 with the 90 gr. Barnes was about 1.5 inch groups
 
Re: .243 Win

Now that I really do not which way to go, will try different factory ammo, have my sons' T3's and a R700 custom with 1/8 twist and 25' barrel and my buddy's 243. Will work up the best for my rifle, based on what you guys recommend, and let the rest fall where the may since they are hunting guns.
 
Re: .243 Win

Berger says 1/8 twist rec. is 105 gr. Has anyone used the 115 match hunting VLD in that type of barrel, compared to the 105?
 
Re: .243 Win

Probably time for me to play with seating depth on the 90's, but when they're gone; I'm going to 70 grainers.
 
Re: .243 Win

So I'm probably off base, but doesn't anyone run the 115gr DTAC? (No laughing - my 243 is still being built so I have no experience with this caliber yet?)

Mark
 
Re: .243 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CountryBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">So I'm probably off base, but doesn't anyone run the 115gr DTAC? (No laughing - my 243 is still being built so I have no experience with this caliber yet?)Mark</div></div>DTAC's are the ticket in .243. But the 115's really need an 8-tiwst, and you'd be better off with a 7.5.

Look here: http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html
 
Re: .243 Win

Got it....so the barrel I've ordered is indeed a 7.5 twist in 26"...so what would be the best choice here?...I am interested in hitting pie pans at 1K and I think this will get me there with the right loads.

Any comments?

Mark
 
Re: .243 Win

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CountryBoy</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Got it....so the barrel I've ordered is indeed a 7.5 twist in 26"...so what would be the best choice here?...I am interested in hitting pie pans at 1K and I think this will get me there with the right loads. Any comments? Mark </div></div>The .243 is still king, provided that you don't care about barrel life: It will shoot flatter than a 300Win Mag, and if you keep the velocity up it can outshoot the 6.5's and 7mms as well. There is lots of cheap excellent brass available and hardly any recoil. The only issue is barrel life, which might be better than expected (maybe closer to 2000 instead of 1000) when using very slow powders. Try a few loads from the 6mmBR article yourself, then if you get stuck PM George (A10xRifle), he's got lots of experience with load development for the .243 heavies.