Powder for 243

[Rifleman]

Hey guys I just got back from the Ranch in Florida. While there I was helping a friend load some .243. All we had was AA 4350 and 100 gr bullets. The load data said @ 39 grs we should have gotten 2900 + fps. However the chrony said 2400 fps. We were quite disappointed. Now we did have a rifle with a fairly short tube that would account for some of this but not that much. I am convinced that 4350 is better suited for 30-06 class and was likely a little slow for the 243. How AA came up with that speed must have been a long barrel in a sealed breech. Anyway, was just wondering what would be the optimum powder for speed and accuracy in a . 243 with 100 gr bullets. Any insight is appreciated. Thanks much, Rman

[Deleted]

Rman..
In my .243 I shoot 45gns of RL22 or H4831 with a 100gn Hornady Interlock @ around 2950-3000fps..... There might be something better but it's good enough for me....I use the same powders in my .270 so I made it simple... My Hornady book under H4350 /100gn bullet calls for a minimum of 37.4gns @2700fps.....39.1gns @ 2800fps.... and Maximum 40.8gns @2900fps..... Those were taken with a 24" barrel.
Zen

[Rifleman]

Panhandle did you shoot this over a chrony and verify the speed?

[wilmsmeyer]

I have only loaded the 95 gr Nosler ballistic tips R-man. Using 40 gr of H380 got me 2990 IIRC.

Referencing the Nosler reloading guide, some recommended powders to achieve 3000+ are:

IMR4350 - 41.5 gr - 3060
RL22 - 42.5 gr - 3020
AA3100 - 44 gr - 3100
IMR 7828 - 45.5 gr - 3123

These are all max loads and shot from a Lilga 24" barrel. My barrel is 26" and using lighter bullets have got every bit, and more speed, using this manual, as advertised. What gun were you shooting....A semi? Also, from your vast knowledge, does an M1 Garande lose any speed against a similar barrel length of a bolt gun?

Are you planning a big game hunt or looking to target shoot long range? If targets, don't overlook the light pills from Nosler. I have gotten MOA out to 500 yds with 55 gr NBT's at 4000+. Sighted dead on at 300 gives me a MPBR +/-3" to like 375 yds. 17" low at 500. The 70 gr NBT's also do great at 3,650. For these bullets, look no further then H4895 or H414.

The .243 is a great versatile gun which I am sure you know

[deadon]

My load is 40.5 grs of Imr 4350 under the Nos 95 gr Boattail BT and it shoots sub moa at 100 yrds. JM2 Rusty

[wilmsmeyer]

R-man,

When I stated I have only loaded 95 gr NBT's I meant that I've only loaded this weight class using this bullet. I have loaded a few thousand rounds for this gun using mostly the NBT 55's....some 60 sierra HP's, 70 NBT, 75 gr Vmax, 85 gr NP's, 85 gr Barnes X.

[Deleted]

Feb 6, 2011 7:19:56 GMT -5 Rifleman said:

Panhandle did you shoot this over a chrony and verify the speed?

Yes on the RL22 and the H4831....
Zen

[mountainam]

Rifleman, All the above powders that the guys have recomended are great go-to powders. If I may add one to the list it would be Hodgdon Hybrid 100V. It's a newer powder that performs as advertised. They advertise 3100fps for the .243Win. I've tried some this past Fall in my 6mm Rem and clocked 3300+ with 95gr Win/Nosler CT bullets. Very accurate and supposed to be very stable in a wide variation of temps. So I have no doubt that it will do the job in your friend's .243. Good Shooting.

[Rifleman]

Thanks for all the response. I suppose a little clarity is in order. This gun was a ranch gun, I just found it easier at the time to refer to it as a friends, I should have been more specific. It is a Savage youth model, I think the barrel is only 18 in. But I would have to verify. Once a year about 15 boys who have earned the privilage get to go to SC for a doe reduction hunt on a ranch supporters estate. We have an eclectic mix of rifles and calibers, but after I found some 270 rds mixed in with some 30-06 rds I decided we had better go to all one caliber before a disaster struck. So since we are dealing with youth shooters, we did some trading and now have all .243 rifles. Some are youth models and some are full size and most are Savage's with a few Remmys. We also started reloading project to help teach staff and youngsters more about the sport and save money. Keep in mind that dollars are always tight and we are dealing with alot of shooting and ammo to keep things running. When I started buying components it was during the shortage and powder and bullets etc where all in short supply. I was also trying to deal with a minimum of components and cover multiple calibers. So of course that meant compromise. So right now we have a 8lb jug of the AA 4350 and a big box of 1000 .243 Rem 100 gr PSP's. I was just surprised at the low velocity compared to the numbers in the given load data. I suppose we should try some of these in the one Remington 700 varmint we have and compare it to some of the factory Rem ammo we have on hand. In the mean time I was just trying to get some insight in case we do need to buy another powder. Also on a personal level, my go to hunting bolt gun for years has been a very fine shooting Remington 700 in 30-06 but with the neck problems I experience I have been giving serious thought in replacing it with a .243. Of course my personal rifle ammo needs are much different then a rifle and ammo chosen for a youth program. Thanks for all the advice, it is much appreciated.

To answer the Garand question, yes you can expect a given load to shoot slower from any gas gun then from a bolt gun of same barrel length. Also one has to be careful with the Garand because it was made to operate at a certain pressure curve or sometimes refered to as Port Pressure. Certain loads will through off the timing of the gun and cause mal function, and I suppose in an extreme case could be hard on the rifle. I have found though in my experience a 150 gr FMJ loaded with a full charge of IMR 4350 operates the Garand just fine. I also suppose one could go to a Garand forum and get more specific info. Also Hornady does make a factory load taylored for the Garand.
But probably the best choice is keep an eye out for original USGI ball or Match ammo. It can still be bought at a decent price from time to time as it is floating around out there. The Frankford Arsenal and Lake City 173 gr FMJ Match shoots very well. Most shoots better then MOA if the shooter and rifle is up to the task. I just saw a case of the Ball sell on Gunbroker sell for about 50 cents a round, which is a very good deal for reloadable factory quailty 30-06 in anybodys book.

[tcmech]

I average 2920fps with a 100gr sierra soft point and IMR4064 (36.5gr) out of my 243 with a 22" barrel.

I did load some nosler 95 gr ballistic tips with the hybrid 100v (43gr) max recommended load and got 3100fps. Accuracy fell off in my rifle with this load and I had some minor primer flattening so I have not duplicated this but my numbers were

3138 high
3081 low
24.77 standard deviation
56.73 extreme spread
3 of the five shot string were 3081, 3083, and 3087 fps so I was really disappointed with the accuracy.

[Rifleman]

I wonder how the hybrid 100v would do coupled with the Sierra bullet, might be just the ticket.

[tcmech]

My rifle seems to prefer the #1540 flat based sierra bullet over the boat tail bullets. I have also loaded the nosler bullets over IMR4064 and gotten acceptable accuracy, but I did not run them across the chrono.

I have loaded some of them (the sierras) over 42gr of the 100V powder but have not had the chance to check them for accuracy or speed.

I will let you know how they shoot once I get the chance to try them.

[Deleted]

Feb 10, 2011 20:32:39 GMT -5 Rifleman said:

I wonder how the hybrid 100v would do coupled with the Sierra bullet, might be just the ticket.

I might try a pound of that hybrid 100 with a Nosler Partition or their all copper and push it to the max
Zen

[mdgroundhogger]

I don't have a 243 but I do have its equivalent, 6mm Rem., and I've found my 700VLS likes WIN 760 best. I tried Varget & H4350 but they werent even close to what 760 gives me. Just my 2cents.

[lanenebraska]

The 18 inch barrel is your problem.

2400fps is great for that load, and will work ok-- with good shot placement-- out to 100-150yards.

[Rifleman]

Lane i thought so too until I re checked my range notes, that load was 150 fps slower that factory Remington 100 gr Core Lokt from the same rifle.

[tcmech]

Rifleman,

I finally got the chance to try the 100gr sierra bullets with the 42gr of Hybrid 100V powder. Accuracy at 120 yards was a bit over an inch, I did not run them across the chrono but the POI was the same as my hunting load of imr 4064 which chronos at 2920fps. I am pretty sure this load would be about 3000fps.

I hope this helps, I will let you know if I get the chance to run them across the chrono anytime soon.

Craig

[Rifleman]

Thanks Craig.

[ricksalisbury01]

100g Hornady Interlock BTSP with 38grains H414, Shoots sub MOA at 100yards in factory Savage pencil barreled 110 (SSS trigger is the only modification). This is one of the older long actions factory milled for a short action cartridge.

[thelefthand]

I don't have any experience with a .243, but my 7-08 Encore has a 16" barrel and shares some of the issues you're seeing. I found that Varget gave me good speed and only so so accuracy, but BLC-2 gave me good accuracy but lower velocity than I really wanted. I found that VV N140, N540, and N550 give me good speed and accuracy with N550 giving me the best results. I've had great results with Varget in other loads, but that 7-08 Encore was a factory barrel, and was very picky. I don't remember the load data, but the VV poweders all gave me 2400 fps or more with moly coated 140gr NOS BT. I did the moly coating because the barrel is extremely rough inside and fowls terribly. It had to be completely cleaned every 10 rounds or the accuracy went to pot. The moly fixed that. I'm not sure when you're heading back down but I may still have some BLC-2 that you can have if you want to try it. The VV powders can be hard to find if you don't want to mail order it. If you'd like to try some, I can get you a little bit of it. I may have a fair amount of N140 left. If so, like Varget, it shoots really well in .223 loads also, so both of them should do just fine in a .243. Let me know if you're interested.