243 Winchester powder advice.

[Curmudgeon]

Try the drop down menu on the home page of this site. Shoot your way through that and you’ll find something and then probably need a fresh barrel. Cheers

 

[beemanjohn]

I can't believe no one else has said this yet. Your Norma ammo does not use a Hornady bullet. 4064 is a very good powder that usualy works well in a 243. My guess is your gun does not like that bullet. Try something else.

 

[SEGARE]

R16

 

[Laurie]

Norma is a Swedish ammunition company. Alliant is an American company based, I believe, in Indiana. It use to be part of Dupont then became Hercules.

You're confusing manufacturing, branding and brand ownership which aren't always the same things. Re22 or any other Reloder grade was never made by Dupont. Under regulatory pressure and anti-trust legislation the USA's main (single?) powder and explosives company was split up over 100 years ago with all double-based grades divested off to one company (Hercules) and the MR (later IMR) single-based powders to another, which became part of the Dupont group.

Alliant ATK AFAIK doesn't make any smallarms propellants, but buys them all in from contracted manufacturers - General Dynamics' St. Marks, Florida plant for the Power-Pro grades; Eurenco Bofors in Karlskoga, Sweden; Nitrochemie Wimmins ag in Switzerland make the rifle grades.

Bofors also makes Norma brand powders, and Nitrochemie packages the majority of its handloading grades output as Reload Swiss, most sold only in Europe but three or four also in the US with Alliant branding. (eg, RS60 = Re17).

 

[AckleymanII]

I Like K22, I found that IMR 4350 with 100g Hornady BTSP shot very well with Win primer. Later on, I went with R#22 with cci 250's.

I ran into a fellow at the rifle range that was shooting a rifle like mine using R#26 with fed 215's. He was getting 3150 fps with the 100g Sierra btsp he was shooting with pretty good accuracy.

I have shot Remingtons and Ruger 77's for many years.

OP, be sure that you bed your rifle and float the barrel, start at the start.

Norma has had some incredible sales on their ammo in the past year. It maybe cost effective for you to get on their email list and take advantage of one of those sales.

 

[K22]

Back in my youth, I had a Remington 788 in 243. My father and I loaded 75 grain HP’s with IMR 3031. I could pick off 20 ga shotgun hulls at 100 yards with it. It made me sick to have to sell it many years ago.

Losing a "shooter like that" is always a tragedy.

In my younger more foolish days after I became someone affluent, I made so many idiotic trades / sells that I've lost count. There is something to be said for being of limited financial means having to learn to shoot what you have and making it work.

Before I graduated from college and obtained my first professional job, I had one centerfire rifle, a Winchester Model 70, 243 Win with a 3 x 9 Redfield scope. I had more fun with that one rifle than the entire safe full of rifles I have now. I become one with that 243 such that I was extremely confident with it whether be groundhogs, foxes, or eastern white tail.

In those days I kind of fancied myself as a mountain man. Well all that changed when I met the woman of my dreams who became my wife. She civilized me.

 

[Propbndr]

I can't believe no one else has said this yet. Your Norma ammo does not use a Hornady bullet. 4064 is a very good powder that usualy works well in a 243. My guess is your gun does not like that bullet. Try something else.

I agree with you that the bullet I am using may be part of the problem. I have not tried other manufacturers. I need to look at Serria and Sperry. Nosler is just too expensive.

That said, The Hornady bullet has better G1 ballistics. The sectional density’s and lengths are the same. The big external differences are the Hornady is BTSP and has a cannelure ring where the Norma is / does not. The Norma is just SP. The Hornady is readily available and is relatively inexpensive. The bad thing is that even though the Norma main web site lists some components, they no longer offer reloading powders for retail sale and the 100 gr SP is not available for sale either. I was told that by a Norma USA sales rep. He had no info on whether or not that may change.

 

[Propbndr]

I Like K22, I found that IMR 4350 with 100g Hornady BTSP shot very well with Win primer. Later on, I went with R#22 with cci 250's.

I ran into a fellow at the rifle range that was shooting a rifle like mine using R#26 with fed 215's. He was getting 3150 fps with the 100g Sierra btsp he was shooting with pretty good accuracy.

I have shot Remingtons and Ruger 77's for many years.

OP, be sure that you bed your rifle and float the barrel, start at the start.

Norma has had some incredible sales on their ammo in the past year. It maybe cost effective for you to get on their email list and take advantage of one of those sales.

The rifle is already free floated and bedded.

 

[Propbndr]

Losing a "shooter like that" is always a tragedy.

In my younger more foolish days after I became someone affluent, I made so many idiotic trades / sells that I've lost count. There is something to be said for being of limited financial means having to learn to shoot what you have and making it work.

Before I graduated from college and obtained my first professional job, I had one centerfire rifle, a Winchester Model 70, 243 Win with a 3 x 9 Redfield scope. I had more fun with that one rifle than the entire safe full of rifles I have now. I become one with that 243 such that I was extremely confident with it whether be groundhogs, foxes, or eastern white tail.

In those days I kind of fancied myself as a mountain man. Well all that changed when I met the woman of my dreams who became my wife. She civilized me.

You would be sick with what I sold. Not only the 788, I sold a fully accurized Colt Model 1911 45 cal, a Remington 870 slug gun and a surplus WW2 M1 carbine that had never been issued. But, when your kids need milk, you do what has to be done.

 

[K22]

You would be sick with what I sold. Not only the 788, I sold a fully accurized Colt Model 1911 45 cal, a Remington 870 slug gun and a surplus WW2 M1 carbine that had never been issued. But, when your kids need milk, you do what has to be done.

Here's my two sad tales, not including firearms I sold that owned, most of which I regret.

In the 70's, I had a chance to buy a vintage 45 Colt Peacemaker, 7 1/2 barrel, from a farmer in the remote area of Greene County, PA where I hunted groundhogs. This pistol had been in his family for generations. If I remember correctly, he was only asking $50 but I probably could have negotiated it down to less since he needed cash. However, I was as struggling college student with very limited funds therefore I passed on the offer. Besides, what was I going to do with a fixed sight 45 Long Colt which shot expensive ammo. Can you imagine what that pistol might be worth today? Every time I see Matt Dillion on Gunsmoke with that similar Colt, I get the hives.

Sad story two, my uncle had a Winchester, Model 70, pre-64 with a Mauser action in the great 257 Roberts caliber. He offered it to me at a bargain price, but I already had my excellent 243 Win and again of limited financial means, I declined but that was one fine beautiful rifle. That's one I wished I could have gotten back. A real keeper.

 

[jmkasza]

I have a Savage Model 12 with the 1 in 9.25 twist, I have yet to find a powder* that doesn't shoot well. Been loading in the 75-100gr range. For what it's worth, it doesn't like the 90-95gr VLD type bullets, but favors the 75-87gr varmint rounds. For the $$ the Speer 75gr HP is hard to beat.

*Standard favorites from the reloading manuals. I've loaded with Varget, H4350, IMR 4350, RL17, and IMR 4895 so far. Best results have been with Varget and the Speer 75gr HP.

 

[nakneker]

Currently dealing with a 243 Husqvarna, lightweight 4000. I wanted to shoot the 85 grain partitions. Yesterday was my first session with the rifle and it’s does not like that bullet. Tried four powders and couldn’t find anything with potential. I’m fixing to try a couple more powders today, gonna try some 85 grain sierras, ballistic tips and some hornadys too. I love the rifle, looked for many years to find it but if it’s a problem child it won’t stay here.

I’ve had a love hate relationship with the 243 for 45 years. My first 243 was Remington ADL, shot fantastic with factory ammo, that was before I reloaded. I’ve owned a few Remingtons and never had one that didn’t shoot, I could always find a load but I have had other 243s that I couldn’t get to shoot no matter what I tried. I kinda of swore it off but like I said, I’ve wanted this rifle for a long time.

I have high hopes of getting this one to get under an inch, 5 shots at a 100. The fun begins in about a half hour. No wind, 100 yard range outside the house. Load and shoot and see what we can find.

 

[SecondsCount]

I am using a powder with a similar burn rate as 4064 with 105 grain bullets, in a 9.25 twist Remington. My last range visit had two five shot groups that averaged 0.45"

I've also had some success with H4895 and 95 SMKs.

 

[DiffEQ]

That said, The Hornady bullet has better G1 ballistics.

Try shooting a flat based, lighter bullet, G1/G7 coefficients be damned.

 

[Propbndr]

Try shooting a flat based, lighter bullet, G1/G7 coefficients be damned.

I may just do that. I found that my son’s 30-06 and 308 just love IMR-4064, 52 and 43.6 grains respectively, and Hornady 150 grain Interlocks. Dime sized 5 shot groups at 50 yards. I wish Hornady didn’t discontinue the flat based 243 Interlocks.

 

[Propbndr]

I have a Savage Model 12 with the 1 in 9.25 twist, I have yet to find a powder* that doesn't shoot well. Been loading in the 75-100gr range. For what it's worth, it doesn't like the 90-95gr VLD type bullets, but favors the 75-87gr varmint rounds. For the $$ the Speer 75gr HP is hard to beat.

*Standard favorites from the reloading manuals. I've loaded with Varget, H4350, IMR 4350, RL17, and IMR 4895 so far. Best results have been with Varget and the Speer 75gr HP.

Mine hates 95 grain SST’s. As a matter of fact, I have not found a rifle in my whole family that they shoot well in. They are a devastating round on whitetails though. You almost don’t have to skin them.

 

[DiffEQ]

I may just do that. I found that my son’s 30-06 and 308 just love IMR-4064, 52 and 43.6 grains respectively, and Hornady 150 grain Interlocks. Dime sized 5 shot groups at 50 yards. I wish Hornady didn’t discontinue the flat based 243 Interlocks.

Yes, I still have about 130 left of 150gr Flat Based bullets, unknown make, pulled from a deceased shooter's reload pile. They are much more accurate in my Model 81 300 Savage than the Winchester 147gr BT bullets. I think the longer bearing surface in the barrel makes the difference.

 

[WyleWD]

My favorite, all time do it all bullet for the 243 Win is the Sierra 85 BTHP with IMR 4064 or Varget or IMR 4895 or IMR 4350 in that order. This bullet shoots like a match bullet in every 243 Win I ever owned from 10" to 9 1/2" twists. It also had excellent terminal performance. I've successfully taken varmints, predators and eastern white tail with this bullet. You may want to try it.

+1^^^ That bullet in a 243 or 6xc is hard to beat!! IMR4064, Win 760, H4350, or AA2700 have been good to great powders for me in the 243. Definitely give it a try. JME. WD

 

[Propbndr]

A huge problem I am running into is that no one that I have checked, either local or trusted online, has anything in the 85 to 100 grain weight range. I am going to use whatever I buy for both target and whitetail hunting. So the lighter weights will not do for me. Everybody has Hornady only. Even the manufacturers websites show their bullets to be out of stock. I even tried the In-Stock Alert website. Absolutely nothing out there. The same goes for all the powders you guys have recommended.

 

[Lone Hunter]

I can't believe no one else has said this yet. Your Norma ammo does not use a Hornady bullet. 4064 is a very good powder that usualy works well in a 243. My guess is your gun does not like that bullet. Try something else.

This ^^^^^