Powder preferances for light bullets in 243 win

[Quackaddict]

Now that I for the most part have got my new 243 up and running, I would like to put it through the paces with powder and bullet combos. I don't plan on running anything heavier than the 87 Vmax, and more likely will never cross the 70 blitzking weight after seeing what it and 40.5 grns of Varget do to pigeons. I havent done any accuracy testing yet, when I get the rifle back from bedding I will begin that.

With that said, what powders are on the short list for you guys with the lighter bullets in 243? Varget is listed everywhere and seems appropriate for many of the smaller bullets, but from there I have a hard time picking out different powders.

Thank you in advance for you comments.

 

[trappst]

I really like IMR 4064 with 70g Noslers in 243 and 6mm Rem.

 

[trentalan34]

Varget gets my vote for 60 gr Sierra HP and 70 gr Noslers, but I have also had really good luck with powders that aren't the first ones mentioned like IMR4831 and H335.

 

[CJ6]

IMR 4320, 4064 for 65-70gr bullets 12 twist bbl

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

I kind of like CMR100.

 

[WyleWD]

For the 70, 75, and 80 gr bullets my go to powders are N-550, R-17, WW760, and 4350. Mine is a 10 twist with a 26" barrel. Right now my favorite and most accurate load is using either N-550 or R-17 in Norma cases, with the 75gr V max. Very serious WHUMP factor on 'chucks and 'yotes. WD

 

[mattri]

IMR 4064 has given me the best results with:
58grn Vmax
65grn Vmax
87grn Sierras
100grn Sierras
100grn Hornadys.

This was over everything from H4831 to IMR 4350 to Varget.

IMR 4064 is by far the best powder I have used in my .243, 22" sporter Savage 1:9.5 twist from 100-500 yards.

 

[pd721el]

I run w760 in my 243 and 260 rem and love it.

 

[jerrschmitt]

I used Reloader 15 with some 55 grain Noslers for a short range prairie dog load this year. Worked great. I also use it with my 70 grain Nosler load.

 

[RJinTexas]

I also find that IMR 4064 gives me a slight accuracy edge over Varget in bullets weighing 55 - 75 grains in most 243 Win's regardless of barrel length.

Regards
RJ

 

[Quackaddict]

Sounds like I need to get me some 4064! I finally got a decent load worked up with Varget, I used it first bacause I also use it in my 308, Not having 50 different powders is nice. Im getting .5-.7 inch groups at 100 yds with a 70 blitz over 42.3 grns varget, velocity is right at 3500. Will 4064 get me more speed?

 

[CPorter]

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 70, NOS BalTip 39532
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch or 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch or 660.4 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.

Matching Barrel Time: 1.192 milliseconds

These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

24 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 75%. These powders have been skipped.

Powder type Fill Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms RPM-9.125 rpm-12
Accurate No.2230 75.8 39.3 2.55 3282 100 48271 11258 1.193 258,963 196,920
Accurate No.2460 78.2 40.2 2.6 3300 100 48912 11475 1.193 260,384 198,000
Accurate No.2520 79.2 41.1 2.66 3331 100 48844 11794 1.192 262,830 199,860
Accurate No.2700 86.4 44.3 2.87 3230 95.1 48129 11913 1.192 254,860 193,800
Accurate XMR 2015 79.9 36.4 2.36 3248 100 48175 10157 1.193 256,281 194,880
Accurate XMR 2495 84.1 39.2 2.54 3355 100 50940 11322 1.193 264,723 201,300
Accurate XMR 4064 88.1 41.5 2.69 3361 100 50727 11859 1.193 265,197 201,660
Accurate XMR 4350 93.4 45.5 2.95 3389 98.7 49064 13632 1.191 267,406 203,340
ADI AP 2214 103.4 52.2 3.39 3291 91.2 46322 14332 1.192 259,673 197,460
ADI AR 2206 79.9 38.5 2.49 3216 99.2 46115 10986 1.193 253,756 192,960
ADI AR 2206H 79.1 38.5 2.49 3207 99.1 45995 10924 1.192 253,045 192,420
ADI AR 2208 82 40.1 2.6 3265 98.5 46077 11894 1.192 257,622 195,900
ADI AR 2209 92.7 46.4 3.01 3305 93 45740 13565 1.192 260,778 198,300
ADI AR 2213 96.4 48.7 3.16 3316 91 45834 14207 1.192 261,646 198,960
Alliant Reloder-12 77.1 38.3 2.48 3237 100 46695 10595 1.192 255,413 194,220
Alliant Reloder-15 83.6 40.7 2.64 3329 98.8 47240 12538 1.192 262,672 199,740
Alliant Reloder-19 97.7 47.1 3.05 3321 93.6 46386 13772 1.193 262,041 199,260
Alliant Reloder-22 100.8 49.6 3.21 3373 94 46826 14772 1.192 266,144 202,380
Alliant Reloder-25 106.3 51.5 3.34 3393 97.7 46383 15165 1.192 267,722 203,580
Hodgdon Benchmark 77.4 37.3 2.42 3229 99.9 46268 10816 1.193 254,781 193,740
Hodgdon BL-C2 78.1 41.3 2.68 3316 99.8 47847 12171 1.193 261,646 198,960
Hodgdon H1000 104.4 52.3 3.39 3289 91.2 46344 14297 1.192 259,516 197,340
Hodgdon H380 89.9 45.2 2.93 3320 95 48181 13278 1.193 261,962 199,200
Hodgdon H414 84.9 44.5 2.88 3287 92.6 47701 12960 1.193 259,358 197,220
Hodgdon H4350 92.8 45.7 2.96 3279 92.1 45928 13143 1.193 258,727 196,740
Hodgdon H4831 SC 99.1 49.8 3.23 3292 90.7 46121 13949 1.192 259,752 197,520
Hodgdon H4895 79.9 38.5 2.49 3207 99.1 45995 10924 1.192 253,045 192,420
Hodgdon Retumbo 109.4 53.6 3.47 3398 98.2 46598 15543 1.192 268,116 203,880
Hodgdon VARGET 80.5 39.4 2.56 3259 99 46004 11672 1.193 257,148 195,540
IMR 3031 80.9 37.7 2.44 3322 100 46815 11256 1.192 262,119 199,320
IMR 4064 83 39.6 2.56 3271 98.7 46467 11761 1.193 258,095 196,260
IMR 4320 81.8 40.5 2.62 3283 98.8 45676 12022 1.192 259,042 196,980
IMR 4350 91.3 44 2.85 3328 96 46185 13274 1.192 262,593 199,680
IMR 4831 95.6 46.4 3.01 3354 98.1 48137 13468 1.193 264,644 201,240
IMR 4895 82.1 39.1 2.53 3301 99.7 44393 11933 1.193 260,462 198,060
IMR 7828 102.2 49.2 3.19 3335 91.2 45924 14470 1.192 263,145 200,100
Lovex S-060 79.7 38 2.46 3235 99.5 46115 11064 1.193 255,255 194,100
Lovex S-070 97.1 46.5 3.01 3362 98.1 49004 13535 1.193 265,276 201,720
Norma 201 82 39.3 2.55 3302 99.8 48175 11724 1.193 260,541 198,120
Norma 202 81.3 38.9 2.52 3288 100 47422 11265 1.193 259,437 197,280
Norma 203 old 89.5 42.6 2.76 3353 99.8 48910 12605 1.193 264,565 201,180
Norma 203B 84.1 40.9 2.65 3331 99.2 47398 12508 1.192 262,830 199,860
Norma 204 92.7 46.1 2.99 3298 93.2 46352 13335 1.193 260,226 197,880
Norma MRP 100.1 50.3 3.26 3409 95.7 46725 15318 1.192 268,984 204,540
PB Clermont PCL 507 78.1 39.7 2.57 3289 99.7 46770 11781 1.193 259,516 197,340
PB Clermont PCL 516 81.7 42.4 2.75 3293 97.7 47014 12452 1.192 259,831 197,580
Ramshot BigGame 88 43.1 2.79 3333 99.1 46764 12848 1.192 262,987 199,980
Ramshot Hunter 89.9 46.6 3.02 3346 96.7 46782 13755 1.192 264,013 200,760
Ramshot TAC 77.5 39.6 2.56 3289 99.7 46757 11753 1.193 259,516 197,340
Rottweil R901 79.2 37.5 2.43 3302 100 48882 11183 1.192 260,541 198,120
Rottweil R902 82.4 39.5 2.56 3298 99.8 48234 11688 1.193 260,226 197,880
Rottweil R903 89.5 42.7 2.76 3351 99.7 48858 12620 1.192 264,408 201,060
Rottweil R904 94.3 45.9 2.98 3268 92 46707 12945 1.193 257,859 196,080
Rottweil R905 101.1 49.3 3.19 3337 91.5 46854 14324 1.192 263,303 200,220
Rottweil R907 84.4 42.9 2.78 3283 95.2 47692 12565 1.192 259,042 196,980
SNPE Vectan SP 11 85.9 43.2 2.8 3332 99.1 46791 12838 1.192 262,908 199,920
SNPE Vectan Sp 7 83.9 43.7 2.83 3323 99 47818 12659 1.192 262,198 199,380
SNPE Vectan SP 9 81.2 40.8 2.64 3292 99.1 46795 12101 1.192 259,752 197,520
Somchem S321 77.9 40.4 2.62 3300 99.8 47589 11888 1.193 260,384 198,000
Somchem S335 81.7 38.9 2.52 3230 100 48076 10435 1.193 254,860 193,800
Somchem S341 80.9 42 2.72 3281 99.1 47162 11943 1.192 258,884 196,860
Somchem S365 95.2 46.1 2.99 3392 100 46948 13409 1.193 267,643 203,520
Somchem S385 97.9 48.4 3.14 3331 95.6 48538 13647 1.193 262,830 199,860
Vihtavuori N130 75 35.3 2.29 3191 100 47005 9595 1.192 251,783 191,460
Vihtavuori N133 78.7 36.6 2.37 3195 100 46598 9787 1.193 252,099 191,700
Vihtavuori N135 84.4 39.3 2.55 3273 100 48070 10679 1.193 258,253 196,380
Vihtavuori N140 83.1 39.7 2.57 3256 100 47274 10879 1.193 256,912 195,360
Vihtavuori N150 88 42.4 2.75 3311 100 47754 11540 1.192 261,252 198,660
Vihtavuori N160 98 47.7 3.09 3250 92.1 47101 12791 1.193 256,438 195,000
Vihtavuori N165 102 49.7 3.22 3288 94.8 47479 13269 1.192 259,437 197,280
Vihtavuori N540 82.6 42 2.72 3254 99.3 47508 11781 1.192 256,754 195,240
Vihtavuori N550 88.1 44.8 2.9 3358 98.2 47722 13489 1.192 264,960 201,480
Vihtavuori N560 98.2 49.9 3.23 3374 91.2 46585 15034 1.192 266,222 202,440
Winchester 748 76.4 40.1 2.6 3316 99.9 46601 11953 1.193 261,646 198,960
Winchester 760 87.8 45.1 2.92 3345 95.7 46906 13612 1.192 263,934 200,700
Winchester WXR 99.7 49.9 3.23 3372 93.8 46910 14781 1.192 266,065 202,320

 

[82boy]

Benchmark works well with 70gr SMK's

 

[jo191145]

I haven't tried a ton of powders in the 243 but IMR-4350 with 80gn Bergers really shoots dots out of a factory Savage VLP. My load is well over any modern book data tho.

 

[Ackman]

In the std. 243 I always shot W760 and a Sierra 60HP @ 3800. It was all-holes-touching accurate. That's a good bullet, blows a jackrabbit literally to smithereens.

In .243AI it's W760 in one and H414 in the other, with 65 or 70gr bullet.

 

[Quackaddict]

Well after getting some varrying results from Varget, I did some load workup today with IMR 4064 and Nosler 70 Bt's, some of the results were promising, but to be honest this remington barrel has been a bit of a letdown, very inconsistent and copper fouls very quickly. I will see what another range session brings, hopefully as I near 200 rounds down the tube it will even itself out, otherwise I can see it wearing an aftermarket in the near future!