243 Winchester powder advice.

[Propbndr]

LOL Kinda been that way, you pay for one box of 50 Noslers what you do for a 100 of other manufacturers bullets. They kill stuff real good. I use NPs for most of my hunting. However, I am starting to use more Sierra TGKs, partly because they are less spendy. If you can find some Reloder 26, try that behind a 100 gr bullet. I have a 243 (26" 8T 3R) that gets them up to 3200 fps+. Just started with the RL 26, but it's looking like I should be able to get to 3/4 MOA or less. We'll see.

I would love too but, none of the reloder powders have been available in quite a while. For some reason, 100 grain flat based bullets are also not available. I can find BT’s in a few but, as several others have suggested, I want to try FT. I have a few 95 grain SST’s left. I am going to try them again in front of some IMR-4064 that I have again. I have never had much luck with them though.

 

[Hudge76]

I haven’t seen it mentioned yet, but I’m having good luck with Hunter powder in .243 Win.

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

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

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.

sometimes gunbroker will have some specific bullet I am looking to buy. they may be marked up a little. the add-ons on GB really add up. Some shipping costs are a joke and are really just added markup. IMHO.

 

[Todd Earhart]

A little over a year ago I decided I needed a 8 pound or less hunting rifle. So I built a .243 based around a savage action. Probably as much fun as I've had in load development for a rifle. So many choices of powder and bullets. It was a lot of good combinations and was hard at times to determine what was best. In the end H4350 won out.
Todd

 

[Infrequent Shooter]

A little over a year ago I decided I needed a 8 pound or less hunting rifle. So I built a .243 based around a savage action. Probably as much fun as I've had in load development for a rifle. So many choices of powder and bullets. It was a lot of good combinations and was hard at times to determine what was best. In the end H4350 won out.
Todd

and bullet?

 

[Todd Earhart]

Actually two different bullets. Hornady 100gr interlock and Hornady 75gr hp.
Todd

 

[Propbndr]

I used to shoot the Hornady 75gr HP in front of IMR-3031. Loved that round. Too bad they discontinued it. My old rifle was a tack driver with it.

 

[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.

Well that little husky is a picky rifle. Didn’t like most of the powders and bullets I tried, including H414, H4350, IMR 4350, VVN550, H4831SC - it didn’t like sierra 85 grainers, Nosler 85 portions, Nosler 100 grain partitions. I was just about to give up but found a stiff load of IMR 4064, Fed 210, Lapua brass and Sierra 100 grain flat base bullets were the recipe the rifle liked. The only load that would get 5 shots under an inch at 85 yards. It actually will get under .5 with that combo. I shot 3 - 5 shot groups that were all about the same. When the wind lets me I’ll verify it wasn’t a fluke and call it a wrap.

I like rifles that aren’t picky, that shoot a variety of loads well, unfortunately this isn’t one of those rifles but I’ll keep it if I feel the load is repeatable.

 

[Todd Earhart]

I used to shoot the Hornady 75gr HP in front of IMR-3031. Loved that round. Too bad they discontinued it. My old rifle was a tack driver with it.

I found 300 of them and bought them. This little rifle shoots them very good.
Todd

 

[Propbndr]

I found 300 of them and bought them. This little rifle shoots them very good.
Todd

Where?

 

[Todd Earhart]

I bought a guy out on 6mm bullets and they was part of this lot.
Todd

 

[Propbndr]

I was finally able to score a pound of Varget. I am going to load some 95 grain SST’s and 100 grain Interlocks and keep my fingers crossed for good results. I still can’t find any flat based 100 grain bullets anywhere. I was about to also grab some H4831SC but someone else beat me to it.

 

[22vartarg]

I am using Vihtavuori powder N160 for heavy bullets between 105–107 grain.

 

[SKWERLZ]

IMR-4831 is a great powder for the 243.

This!
N560, H4831 and R23 as well!

 

[Propbndr]

I am using Vihtavuori powder N160 for heavy bullets between 105–107 grain.

Can’t use those weights Rifle twist is not fast enough. Is 1 in 9.25.

 

[Propbndr]

This!
N560, H4831 and R23 as well!

Tried to grab some H4831SC but someone beat me to it. The others not were available where I shop.

 

[22vartarg]

Can’t use those weights Rifle twist is not fast enough. Is 1 in 9.25 delivery also has reloading data for 58 through 95 grain bulletshas reloading data for 58 through 95 grain

Vihtavuori has reloading data for the 243 Winchester for 75-95 grain bullets that should work in your rifle.

 

[just_jon]

IMR 3031 is all I’ve shot in 243 for the last 30 years. FYI, I shoot mostly 75 to 90 grain bullets.

 

[loteksw]

I need suggestions on powder for my 243 Winchester with a 1 in 9.25 twist rate. All my testing has done at 50 yards with Hornady 100 grain BTSP’s.

First, my rifle just loves Norma Whitetail 100 grain SP’s. I consistently get dime size groups. Other commercially available rounds give me 1” to 2” groups at best.

The best groupings are with 36.2 grains of IMR-4064, 1” to 1.5” groups. I have tried other weights of 4064 with no success. My worst groups are with Hodgdon Superformance, I am lucky if I get 3” groups. I have tried a small handful of other powders with very limited success.

I disassembled at Norma round and found it had 43 grains of an extruded powder. According to the Norma Reload Data, the only powder that matches that weight and velocity is Norma MRP. Unfortunately, Norma no longer sells reloading components. I have read that Reloder 22 is a close match to MRP but, that is not available either.

Can anyone suggest a powder I can try?

I have a Savage 10 with 9.25 twist. I shoot 40g of rl16 over 100g grand slam. Fills my case up..03 jump , crimped for my clip. In a lead sled with 9 power scoop at 100 yrds I can cover my groups with a dime. PS: I use to rl16 in my 6.5 cm, and 300wsm. at 200yrd my creedmoor is holding under 2" off a bag.

 

[jonbearman]

I have had great accuracy using H4831 and the short cut version with 75 grain hollow points.