Reloading for 243 Win.
- Thread starter dvdcrr
- Start date
Bucksnort1
New member
dvdcrr,
Which weight bullet are you considering? I have loaded a few, and I mean fewer than ten rounds, for my .243 with 100 grain bullets. When I retrieve my load data, I will share with you. I don't use a chronograph for any of my reloads, of any caliber, so I don't know if I'm getting what the loading manual indicates. What I can tell you is, I'm able to pop 10" balloons at ranges up to 200 yards and without zeroing the weapon.
From a friend, I bought a Remington 798 (Mauser action), .243. It is made by Zastava in Serbia. My friend bought it from another owner who may have zeroed the rifle. When I got it, the scope was not attached. I mounted it and was, as I said, able to pop balloons easily so I'm thinking the original owner zeroed the rifle. This summer, I will zero the rifle properly.
At this point, I have no problems with the recipe I'm using and the bullet weight. I should probably load lighter weight bullets to make this a flatter shooting caliber.
Which weight bullet are you considering? I have loaded a few, and I mean fewer than ten rounds, for my .243 with 100 grain bullets. When I retrieve my load data, I will share with you. I don't use a chronograph for any of my reloads, of any caliber, so I don't know if I'm getting what the loading manual indicates. What I can tell you is, I'm able to pop 10" balloons at ranges up to 200 yards and without zeroing the weapon.
From a friend, I bought a Remington 798 (Mauser action), .243. It is made by Zastava in Serbia. My friend bought it from another owner who may have zeroed the rifle. When I got it, the scope was not attached. I mounted it and was, as I said, able to pop balloons easily so I'm thinking the original owner zeroed the rifle. This summer, I will zero the rifle properly.
At this point, I have no problems with the recipe I'm using and the bullet weight. I should probably load lighter weight bullets to make this a flatter shooting caliber.
schmellba99
New member
I loves me some .243 - one of the best all around rifles you can get IMO.
My load is as follows:
Winchester Brass trimmed to .003" short of throat (not sure what the trim length is off hand), shoulder bumped to .003" off chamber
95 grain Combined Technologies BST set .005" off of the lands (this gun loves projectiles set almost on the lands)
40.5 grains of H414
Winchester large rifle primer
I have no clue what the velocity is - I can tell you that it's more than enough to punch a hole in a Texas white tail. My guess is that it's just north of 3000 FPS. It is just over .5 MOA at every range I've shot it at (out to 400). More than adequate for hunting.
My load is as follows:
Winchester Brass trimmed to .003" short of throat (not sure what the trim length is off hand), shoulder bumped to .003" off chamber
95 grain Combined Technologies BST set .005" off of the lands (this gun loves projectiles set almost on the lands)
40.5 grains of H414
Winchester large rifle primer
I have no clue what the velocity is - I can tell you that it's more than enough to punch a hole in a Texas white tail. My guess is that it's just north of 3000 FPS. It is just over .5 MOA at every range I've shot it at (out to 400). More than adequate for hunting.
I reload for my wife's ruger .243. But rather than trying to boost it's performance I take advantage of its mild character. 100 grain Hornady Interlocks over 34.0 grains of IMR 4895 makes a very mild load with little that kills deer with ease. I also load for a buddy who shoots coyotes with his, 55 grain Nosler over 40 grains of IMR 4895. just depends on what you want.
I put a 10" twist on a 1938 Turk Mauser and used a standard 243 reamer.
I necked down some LC 308 brass to 243.
I went to the range on 9-12-2003.
Things went wrong and I took this picture.
I have not shot the rifle since, but the picture was downloaded 20,000 times in the first year.
Since then I have learned that thick necks can cause the chamber neck to pinch the bullet, thus delaying the bullet starting to move, thus raising pressure.
Since then I have begun measuring chambers with pin gauges.
I now believe that one can get away with necking 308 down to 260 90% of the time. For safety 10% of the necked down cases must be culled.
I now believe it is NEVER a good idea to neck down 308 brass to 243 and put in a standard chamber without turning the necks.
Been loading .243 for about 40 years. Isn't any different than loading any other cartridge, except you need to load the right bullet for the game you're hunting and the rifling twist can matter for the bullet weight.
Most less than 80 grain bullets are varmint bullets. Over 80's, considered to be heavy bullets, are suitable for deer sized game. Thanks to the bench rest guys there are match grade bullets available now too. No such thing in the 'olden days'.
My rifle(Cooey M71. It's a low end M70A I glass bedded a Win M70A walnut stock onto and did the trigger. Consistent minute of deer all day, every day.) has a 1 in 9.125 twist(Ruger uses 1 in 9.). It likes heavy bullets. Most commercial hunting rifles are rifled for 'em. Even heavy barreled 'varmint' rifles. Faster twists tend to shoot heavy bullets better than slow twists. Slow being 1 in 12 and up. Slow twists tend to shoot light bullets better.
Tried a few powders in the beginning, but settled on IMR4350 for 90 FMJ(the plan was foxes for the fur) and 105 SP bullets. Both from Speer. Haven't ever bothered with premium bullets or fiddling with the OAL. No varmint cares what bullet kills it and neither does Bambi. My rifle isn't up to high grade accuracy anyway. And it never did like varmint bullets.
"...necked down some LC 308 brass to 243..." More trouble than it's worth. Saves no money as .243 brass is easy to get and relatively inexpensive. Necking down any cartridge, .260 Rem included, generally, always requires neck reaming and turning though.
Most less than 80 grain bullets are varmint bullets. Over 80's, considered to be heavy bullets, are suitable for deer sized game. Thanks to the bench rest guys there are match grade bullets available now too. No such thing in the 'olden days'.
My rifle(Cooey M71. It's a low end M70A I glass bedded a Win M70A walnut stock onto and did the trigger. Consistent minute of deer all day, every day.) has a 1 in 9.125 twist(Ruger uses 1 in 9.). It likes heavy bullets. Most commercial hunting rifles are rifled for 'em. Even heavy barreled 'varmint' rifles. Faster twists tend to shoot heavy bullets better than slow twists. Slow being 1 in 12 and up. Slow twists tend to shoot light bullets better.
Tried a few powders in the beginning, but settled on IMR4350 for 90 FMJ(the plan was foxes for the fur) and 105 SP bullets. Both from Speer. Haven't ever bothered with premium bullets or fiddling with the OAL. No varmint cares what bullet kills it and neither does Bambi. My rifle isn't up to high grade accuracy anyway. And it never did like varmint bullets.
"...necked down some LC 308 brass to 243..." More trouble than it's worth. Saves no money as .243 brass is easy to get and relatively inexpensive. Necking down any cartridge, .260 Rem included, generally, always requires neck reaming and turning though.
When you are working up loads for accuracy, don't be afraid of trying the slower burn rate powders. My Model 70 does not like anything faster than IMR4350 and shoots 1-inch or less groups with IMR4831 using 75 to 85 grain varmint bullets. The IMR4350 goes behind the 100 grain Nosler partition for deer.
The thing that all my accurate loads for my Model 70 have in common is that the base of the bullet is sitting right on top of the powder charge. In other words the case has no "air space" but the charge is not compressed. This may also be called 100 percent loading density but I'm not sure that is the correct term.
Every rifle is different as to its favorite loads, but in some cases the slower powders seem to give great results in the .243 Winchester.
The thing that all my accurate loads for my Model 70 have in common is that the base of the bullet is sitting right on top of the powder charge. In other words the case has no "air space" but the charge is not compressed. This may also be called 100 percent loading density but I'm not sure that is the correct term.
Every rifle is different as to its favorite loads, but in some cases the slower powders seem to give great results in the .243 Winchester.
My best in .243 is the Sierra 85 gr HPBT
37.5 gr IMR 4064
Remington 9 1/2 LR Primers
COAL 2.650
Winchester cases.....
my best groups were with new, neck sized brass but I generally FL size everything including .243 I have not got around to chornographing this load yet but probably around 2950-3050 FPS.
The rifle is a Remington 700 ADL
37.5 gr IMR 4064
Remington 9 1/2 LR Primers
COAL 2.650
Winchester cases.....
my best groups were with new, neck sized brass but I generally FL size everything including .243 I have not got around to chornographing this load yet but probably around 2950-3050 FPS.
The rifle is a Remington 700 ADL
brasscollector
New member
Do you know your twist rate?
Ole Joe Clark
New member
I have a Remington Mod 700 that I have had for a long time. I took it to the range a couple of month ago, and it still shot as straight as it did 30 years ago, with 30 year old shells. Most were reloads. Trouble is I and old and shaky now, but at least I can shoot off a rest. I had some decent groups of three shots each. 70 grain Hornady bullets over IMR 4350. It's great caliber.
Excellent caliber to load for and shoot. While you many be tempted to hot rod your rounds, because you can, don't. While hot and fast is cool 3,600 fps or better. It will reduce the life of your barrel in that caliber. I would recommend keeping your rounds down to 2,900 fps with 75 to 85 grain bullets. This should double the life of your barrel from 750 rounds to 1,500 rounds or better.
Just a suggestion, stay safe.
Jim
Just a suggestion, stay safe.
Jim
2-15-2007 I went to the range with a Sav99 6mmBR 14" twist 75 gr Vmax
0.1" 3 shot 50 yards
0.3" 3 shot 100 yards
11- 30-2007 I went back with 65 gr Vmax
0.3" 3 shot 100 yards
8-5-2009 I put a 6mmBR 8" twist barrel on a rem700, 87 gr Vmax
0.55" 5 shot 100 yards
I have shot these same bullets in 243s I built, and never did this well on first and second trip.
I think the difference is the quality of the brass.
The RP and Lapua 6mmBR brass are very consistent.
0.1" 3 shot 50 yards
0.3" 3 shot 100 yards
11- 30-2007 I went back with 65 gr Vmax
0.3" 3 shot 100 yards
8-5-2009 I put a 6mmBR 8" twist barrel on a rem700, 87 gr Vmax
0.55" 5 shot 100 yards
I have shot these same bullets in 243s I built, and never did this well on first and second trip.
I think the difference is the quality of the brass.
The RP and Lapua 6mmBR brass are very consistent.
Fla_dogman
New member
I load 42gr of IMR 4350 behind 100gr gamekings. I'm getting 1" groups at 200 yds off of a bench with a Savage 110. I used mixed brass too.
I've tried different powders but have had very good luck with IMR4350 in my .243. I use Remington brass, CCI primers, and have used Remington, Berger, and Barnes bullets. So far the best shooting is the Barnes 80 grain TTSX but all bullets have given satisfactory results. My rifle has a 1:10 twist.
I started my reloading about forty years ago with some of my dad's 4350 and when I eventually got a .243 the 4350 was the go to powder for it. Decades later and half a dozen various .243s and having tried ten or so different powders I have yet to find a better powder for heavier bullets in the cartridge. (I have always loaded 85-105 grain bullets). Current favorite load is the Hornady 105 OTM @2800 fps driven by 42 IMR (1992 lot) Win LR caps in Win brass.
Ive got two loads to try:
1. Sie 100 gr. Gameking, 41.5 gr. IMR4350, Win case and primer, 0.010" off the lands.
2. Nosler 90 gr. Balistic tip hunting, 42 gr. Win. 760 powder, Win case and primer, 0.005" off the lands.
Rifle is factory stock M77 Hawkeye. Leupold scope, Warne rings.
1. Sie 100 gr. Gameking, 41.5 gr. IMR4350, Win case and primer, 0.010" off the lands.
2. Nosler 90 gr. Balistic tip hunting, 42 gr. Win. 760 powder, Win case and primer, 0.005" off the lands.
Rifle is factory stock M77 Hawkeye. Leupold scope, Warne rings.