243 Prairie Dog loads 75/87 gr V-Max

[IA_shooter]

Ok, so I'll be going on a Prairie Dog outing in just over a month and I want to load up 300-400 of either 75 or 87 grain V-max to take along. My barrel is a 24" 1-8 twist and I'm guessing it will like the 87's better but maybe it will shoot the 75"s just as well? Any input on that would be great. What powders seem to work best in a 243 for that weight range of bullets. Must be a very temp stable powder because I may be shooting in some pretty HOT conditions. Should I just try some Varget and call it good? Any others I may be overlooking? Thanks.

 

[mongo chicago]

In my 6mm rem. I use 39 grs. of Varget with the 87 gr. Hornady V-Max. I get an average velocity of 3213 fps. And about a 3 inch group at 400 yards. Seeing as you are using a 243, I would start with about 4 grs. less.

 

[Plumsask]

Savage 22” Barrel, 75 vmax 45.9 Gr H4350 chrono at 3340 FPS and produced great accuracy. The other savage 243 I had settled on 75 vmax and 40.0 Gr of IMR 4064, also just over 3300 FPS. I’m thinking the H4350 will be more temp stable. I use these loads for coyotes here in southern sask. As always start low and work your way up- none of these loads produced any pressure signs

 

[urbanrifleman]

N160 is just a pleasure to load. Get some. Do not look back.

 

[redneckbmxer24]

For 75-87gr bullets in 243 I can’t think of a better powder than H4350. I’ve shot the 75gr Vmax in 8 twists and they did just fine, even over 3500fps they held together and accuracy is great.

I’ve only run a couple boxes of 87gr vmax but I shoot a lot of the 87gr BTHP and it’s a great bullet. I’ve probably shot close to 5K of them almost all from 8 twist 243’s, I love them for a cheap bullet to shoot to break in a new barrel and get a couple hundred rounds on them. I’ve found that there’s always a node right at 42gr of H4350 which is a very mild load that’s easy on throats and they like to jump so I try that first seated .020 off the lands. The result is almost always one ragged hole groups and an ES below 20 and avg velocity 3250-3300 for a 26” barrel. I don’t know how explosive they’d be on a prairie dog sized animal but they open groundhogs up pretty nasty, much more so than the 75gr vmax. Work great on deer too.

 

[Zero333]

My best load with 75's 80's 87's & 90 grainers has been 47 great of H-4831sc.

Tested with varget h4350 and the h4831sc.

 

[long40shot]

For the 87s, a stout load of H4831sc is what i use.

 

[ranger3]

In my 8 twist 243 I shoot 36.8 grains of 4064 and 210m primers with 87 vmax. This load is easily good out to 400 yards or better and is very accurate.

 

[stacy]

H-414 FOR ME !!

 

[Tommie]

For 75-87gr bullets in 243 I can’t think of a better powder than H4350

Same here.
The 87’s carry a long way out there and do great in windy conditions. Anything inside of a quarter mile is a gimme.

 

[Damon555]

lI don’t know how explosive they’d be on a prairie dog sized animal...

.....they will work very well. My boy hit a prairie dog @778 yards with a 105 Amax and it did a real number on it. This was out of a 6XC....The 243 will really step it up a notch too!

 

[vmaxpro]

So far Im going to vote re16 and 75 vmax. Seated .020 out had two nodes at low end (42-43 gr) and top end (44.5-45.5). Velocity seems on par from alliants load data.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

N160 is just a pleasure to load. Get some. Do not look back.

I just bought 3 pounds of N-160 and plan on using it with, the Horn 87 grain, V-Max bullet, in a NEW 1-10 Twist Tikka, T3 Lite, Stainless, 22.4" BBL., .243 Win. cal. and was thinking about using, 42-44 grains ( in 1/2 grain increments), with this Bullet, Rem Brass, COAL will be about, 2.675 to 2.700 to fit the Tikka Magazine and CCI Primer,... ANY thought's or, Pet loads with, N-160, in 1-10 TW ?? TIA,.. Lefty
I agree, N-160 should be a great Powder, to add, a little extra BBL "Life", to a .243 !!

 

[urbanrifleman]

I just bought 3 pounds of N-160 and plan on using it with, the Horn 87 grain, V-Max bullet, in a NEW 1-10 Twist Tikka, T3 Lite, Stainless, 22.4" BBL., .243 Win. cal. and was thinking about using, 42-44 grains ( in 1/2 grain increments), with this Bullet, Rem Brass, COAL will be about, 2.675 to 2.700 to fit the Tikka Magazine and CCI Primer,... ANY thought's or, Pet loads with, N-160, in 1-10 TW ?? TIA,.. Lefty
I agree, N-160 should be a great Powder, to add, a little extra BBL "Life", to a .243 !!

Max is going to be around 46.

 

[Plumsask]

I’ve loaded the 75 vmax in the 243 with H4350 and Imr4064, in the two savage rifles there seemed to be an accuracy node in the 3300-3350 FPS range- and I also agree as earlier stated that N-160 is a prime candidate for these bullets- even more so for the 87 grain. It’s currently my go to powder for the 6mm ackley and an 87 berger VLD Hunting at 3450 FPS which is still a mild load.

Ave

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

@ Plum,.. I will also be trying, the 87 HVLD Bergers ( I've read, good reports of, accuracy with, the 1-10 tw barrel ) but they are, quite a bit more expensive than, the Hornady's for everyday, steel plate shooting !
I have several Pounds of IMR 4350 for, the lighter bullets ( 75-80's ). My MAIN bullet will be the 87's with N-160 as long as, they,.."shoot" !

 

[SSL]

H-414 FOR ME !!

Or AA2700 (rumor has it AA2700, H414 and W760 are all the same powder, but not sure I totally trust that ). AA2700 is brilliantly accurate with 75-grain VMAX in my .243, but not sure how it would stand up to extreme heat.

 

[Iowa Fox]

After shooting the 75 v-max and the 87 v-max side by side on Prairie dogs it is my opinion that anything the 75 can do the 87 can do better. Especially as distance comes into play. I won't take 75s out again.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

After shooting the 75 v-max and the 87 v-max side by side on Prairie dogs it is my opinion that anything the 75 can do the 87 can do better. Especially as distance comes into play. I won't take 75s out again.

My lightest bullet to "plink" at ground squirrels & rock chucks at 200- 300 yards will be, the 80 gr Sierra, btsp #1515 Blitz with, a light/ medium load of IMR 4350 or H4895 depending on best accuracy obtained. I too, like the longer and much better BC's of the 87 V-Max as, it get's Windy on the Idaho deserts/ plains in the winter/spring and I'm thinking that, it will be my main, longer range Bullet with, N-160 for, coyotes, targets and steel plates. I live on the edge of town and 15 min's to my shooting spot, so re-sighting of, loads, off my portable bench in the desert, is not a big deal for me. Yup, many guys are shooting the Hornady 87's very well, in 1-10 Tikka's, 1-9 Rem 700's and Savages !

 

[wupterchook]

Or AA2700 (rumor has it AA2700, H414 and W760 are all the same powder, but not sure I totally trust that ). AA2700 is brilliantly accurate with 75-grain VMAX in my .243, but not sure how it would stand up to extreme heat.