.243 Win with 80 & 88 Grain Bergers ~ Loading help required please.

[robbobsam]

Hiya Guys,

I shoot a Tikka T3 Super Varmint in .243 with a 1 in 10 twist stainless barrel and I want some reload advice with Berger Bullets.

I contacted Berger and Walt Berger was very helpful and sent me loads of data as below.

80 Grain IMR 4350 39.0 2888 43.8 3231
80 Grain H4350 40.5 2836 45.6 3200
80 Grain NORMA 204 40.5 2825 44.5 3111
80 Grain AA 3100 43.0 2849 46.0 3065
80 Grain RE-19 41.5 2856 46.8 3229
80 Grain VIHT N160 44.5 2962 46.8 3119
80 Grain WW 760 40.0 2903 44.0 3236
80 Grain Ramshot Hunter 40.5 2908 45.0 3221
80 Grain H4831 SC 41.0 2898 45.8 3231
80 Grain IMR 7828 SSC 44.5 2927 49.3 3293
80 Grain IMR 4064 35.5 2886 39.7 3174
80 Grain IMR 4895 36.0 2979 39.8 3237
80 Grain VECTAN SP11 38.5 2919 43.0 3222


88 Grain IMR 7828 ssc 42.0 2826 47.1 3138
88 Grain H4831 sc 42.5 2785 47.6 3089
88 Grain NORMA MRP 42.0 2756 46.3 3066
88 Grain AA MAG PRO 44.0 2795 49.5 3128
88 Grain RE-22 42.0 2839 47.1 3136
88 Grain VIHT N165 42.0 2763 47.0 3039
88 Grain WW WXR 42.0 2823 47.3 3133
88 Grain Ramshot Magnum 45.5 2781 51.0 3137
88 Grain IMR 4064 33.5 2717 37.5 2985
88 Grain IMR 4350 37.5 2772 41.9 3078
88 Grain H414 38.0 2740 42.5 3048
88 Grain RE 19 40.0 2751 44.7 3075
88 Grain VIHT N140 35.5 2737 39.5 2986
88 Grain NIHT N160 41.0 2722 45.4 3016


The problem is I dont want to have to buy 20 tubs of powder to find an accurate load.

Can some of you guys out there shooting a Tikka T3 with Berger 80 & 88 grain varmint bullets point me in the right direction please with powders please.

 

[Browningguy]

I've been using H414 with bullets weights from 58-85 grains and it seems to work well with all of them. I'm shooting a Savage 12 FV in .243. I have also tried RE19 but did not have as much luck with it.

 

[robbobsam]

I've been using H414 with bullets weights from 58-85 grains and it seems to work well with all of them. I'm shooting a Savage 12 FV in .243. I have also tried RE19 but did not have as much luck with it.

I am getting great groups using H414 with 87 grain V-Max...... if it works with 87 grain V-Max should it be ok with the bergers too ???

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

I get group from the mid .2's to low .5's with H414 and 70 gr. Speer TNTs. Max load of h414 and no pressure signs. 26" McGowen barrel with 12 twist chambered SAAMI spec .243 Win. Depends on how well I do my part the size of the group.

Mike

 

[Browningguy]

I would think so, the only other bullet I have shot enough of to have an opinion is the Nosler 70 Gr. BT. All these loads are in Lapua brass with CCI BR primers. My most consistant groups using H414 in both is:

Berger 68 Gr. - 46.5 gr. This is the max load in my 12FV, I start getting heavy bolt lift on warm days with a 47 gr. charge.

Nosler 70 Gr. - 46 Gr. There is also a lower velocity node in my rifle at 45 grains, but the 46 gr. load runs very well.

From my viewpoint the bullets are practically interchangable as far as powder loads/accuracy go. Moving from a 87 gr. to 88 gr. bullet I would probably start load development a grain or two below the 87 gr. load, but that's just me being very cautious.

 

[25AI260]

has anyone tried a heavier bullet with h414...

i'd like to try 105's or 107 's ...

 

[KMart]

I have not loaded any Bergers, but the 85 Sierra HPBT Gameking seems to like IMR 4064. I have loaded it in a 700 Rem, Browning A Bolt, and Ruger #1. All 3 rifles shot in the .5" range between 36.5 and 37.0 gr of powder. All 3 rifles were factory off the shelf rifles with no tuning. Used CCI 200 primers.
Ken

 

[tunanut]

Yeah, I shoot 90g Sirroccos out of my 10 twist using 44.5g of H 414, but it's a 243 AI. H414 also shoots 87's and 85's great, but my barrel doesn't like 95's and really hates 105's. I've tried R19, R22, and H 4350, but like the 414 the best.

 

[AckleymanII]

Pet load in several 243's of mine...

for the 80g Berger is with IMR 4064 with a Fed 210 primer, and Rem brass.

Start off with 39.0g with the bullet just touching the lands and increase powder charge stopping when ever you see pressure. In many 243's over the years, about 41.0g is where the top pressure accuracy node is. I bump the shoulder back with a Forester(bonanza) neck sizer. Accuracy is usually in the low 3's.

You will have to play with seating depth to get the nitty gritty on shooting tiny groups with this load.

I have never shot Lapua brass with this load, but would be very tempted to do so.

We hunted coyotes in Mexico for many years, the 80g Sierra Single shot pistol bullet with this load out of a 26" barrel was 3520 fps. 80g Bergers were right there with it, and you should give the 80g Sierra Blitz BT a shot in your rifle...they may shoot better than the Bergers.

For some reason, in the 243, the 85-90g Bullets really take a nose dive in velocity. I opted for the faster load since I did not want to unzip the yotes.

 

[gube]

I have had great success using 42.8 gr of H-414 with an OAL of 2.83 in my 243 T3 lite with a 1 in 10 twist.
I also contacted Walt for info and the info that he sent me "mirrors" what you have. The first powder that I tested was H-414 and accuracy was about 1/2 MOA so I never bothered testing any other powder. I would like to try the 87 gr V-max but can't seem to find any out here in sunny Alberta. I've been waiting on the local retailers here since spring and still no luck.

 

[cstilt]

I shoot a savage sporter in 243 with a 22" barrel. H4350 at 42.5gr and 44gr both equal roughly 1/4" groups at 100 yards with the 80gr Bergers. If I remember right I'm jumping them about 0.01". I hope that helps.

 

[CdnHotshot]

H414 provided excellent accuracy w/BERGER 80gr in 243Ackley, 1:10 PacNor, BAT action.
46.0 with sticky bolt lift @ avg. 3581 fps ES14.3 SD6.55
45.2 avg. 3534 fps ES10.33 SD5.00, slightly cratered primers with NO stiff bolt lift
Very well suited powder for 80 gr. bullets with lots of velocity potential.

H4350 using 45.1 gr. @ 3493 fps ES8.06 SD3.31
The groups @ 300 yds were vertical stringing
Lots of "potential" with this powder.

 

[prm]

hey
i shoot a winchester m70 in 243win 1-10twist
berger 87grains VLD
norma mrp 46 grains
remington brass
cci 200lr

 

[potatoe]

This thread is almost a year old, I would hope this fella found a load by now