Discovery -- Varget in Tikka .243 Win

[K22]

I've been itching to try my Tikka T3 Lite in the field so last week went to the gun shop to pick up some 243 components and they were out of 85 Sierra BTHP's and IMR 4350; my favorite varmint / predator combo for the 243. I'm not a hoarder but I usually don't let myself run this low. Anyway, I picked up a box of 87 grain VMax's and decided I'd give them a try with some Varget - I have quite a bit of Varget since it's my powder of choice for the 223, 22 250 and 308. I've used the 87 Vmax before and had good results with IMR 4350 however I didn't have high expectations since Varget isn't known for it's excellence in the 243 at least as far as I understood.

I looked in my Speer manual and decided to try the starting load of 35 grains for 85 grain bullets and see what happened. Wow - double wow - first group of three .354 inches. Loaded some more back to the range (10 minutes away) - five shot group .567 inches. Not bench rest accuracy for sure but out of my Tikka T3 Lite I was very very satisfied.

Coyotes beware - I'm on my way.

 

[xswanted]

Re: Strange Discovery

I've heard the 87 grain Berger shoots really well out of the Tikkas as well. Might want to play with that one a little bit too!

It might even be a tad easier on fur than the vmax.

 

[bozo699]

Re: Strange Discovery

K22,
My exact findings with my 7mm-08 Tikka T3 lite 40 grains of Varget, 140 grain accubonds and it will shoot in the .3's-.5's it will shoot factory seconds 140 Nosler BT in Federal factory ammo under .750 and usually in the .5's with it also,...very scary accurate factory rifles. like you said they are no custom comp machine but there well under minute of coyote!!!
Wayne

 

[Juma]

I've been itching to try my Tikka T3 Lite in the field so last week went to the gun shop to pick up some 243 components and they were out of 85 Sierra BTHP's and IMR 4350; my favorite varmint / predator combo for the 243. I'm not a hoarder but I usually don't let myself run this low. Anyway, I picked up a box of 87 grain VMax's and decided I'd give them a try with some Varget - I have quite a bit of Varget since it's my powder of choice for the 223, 22 250 and 308. I've used the 87 Vmax before and had good results with IMR 4350 however I didn't have high expectations since Varget isn't known for it's excellence in the 243 at least as far as I understood.

I looked in my Speer manual and decided to try the starting load of 35 grains for 85 grain bullets and see what happened. Wow - double wow - first group of three .354 inches. Loaded some more back to the range (10 minutes away) - five shot group .567 inches. Not bench rest accuracy for sure but out of my Tikka T3 Lite I was very very satisfied.

Coyotes beware - I'm on my way.

48 gr 2213SC with 85gr Sierra.

 

[sbranden]

What COL for the 87 V-MAX's? I've been thinking about trying these in my Tikka T3 Lite in 243win. And I have tried the 87 Berger VLD's. (worked up to 38.4 of IMR-4064 with Fed210GM primers, seated long to 2.795". pretty strong load!)

I wouldn't mind knowing what combo of 85HPBT's with IMR-4350 powder works so well in your Tikka - I just shot 45.7, 45.8, and 45.9 of Reloader 19 today with the 85HPBT's, and it was pretty good - 3/4" I would say. But I know the gun will do better. I have lots of 4350 powder though, and just got another box of the 85's.

 

[K22]

What COL for the 87 V-MAX's? I've been thinking about trying these in my Tikka T3 Lite in 243win. And I have tried the 87 Berger VLD's. (worked up to 38.4 of IMR-4064 with Fed210GM primers, seated long to 2.795". pretty strong load!)

I wouldn't mind knowing what combo of 85HPBT's with IMR-4350 powder works so well in your Tikka - I just shot 45.7, 45.8, and 45.9 of Reloader 19 today with the 85HPBT's, and it was pretty good - 3/4" I would say. But I know the gun will do better. I have lots of 4350 powder though, and just got another box of the 85's.

My Tikka T3 243 has a very short throat so my COL's are shorter than I normally load for the 243. I've been using 2.640 with the 87 Vmax and 85 BTHP Sierra.

With regards to IMR 4350, mine likes 41.0 grains with the 85 BTHP and 40.0 with the 87 Vmax. I use Federal 210 match primers.