Powder selections .243 & 7mm08

[gunrack]

I am looking for some suggestions please. I have just bought a .243 win and currently have a 7mm08 which I reload for. The powders I have on hand are Varget, IMR4350, and IMR4320. The load data in the Sierra manual and the Lee manuals show that the 4350 to be a listed powder that will shoot in either. I currently run it in the 7mm08 under 120gr sierra's. Both rifles have a twist rate in the 9" range.

I am planning on shooting the 90 - 100 grain bullets in the .243 and from 120 to 139 grain in 7mm08. My question is I am looking for alternative powder than the IMR 4350 to have on hand that will cross between these two calibers with the given bullet weights that will shoot well. Hoping someone here has the experience with another powder to get me there.

Would the IMR4895 or the IMR4064 be good choices?

Thanks in advance!

 

[22BRGUY]

I am looking for some suggestions please. I have just bought a .243 win and currently have a 7mm08 which I reload for. The powders I have on hand are Varget, IMR4350, and IMR4320. The load data in the Sierra manual and the Lee manuals show that the 4350 to be a listed powder that will shoot in either. I currently run it in the 7mm08 under 120gr sierra's. Both rifles have a twist rate in the 9" range.

I am planning on shooting the 90 - 100 grain bullets in the .243 and from 120 to 139 grain in 7mm08. My question is I am looking for alternative powder than the IMR 4350 to have on hand that will cross between these two calibers with the given bullet weights that will shoot well. Hoping someone here has the experience with another powder to get me there.

Would the IMR4895 or the IMR4064 be good choices?

Thanks in advance!

This might help

http://reloadersnest.com/rifle.asp

 

[Terry]

Use the Sierra loads!

They always work for me.

 

[swd]

Take a look at Reloader 17.

 

[7887mm08]

Take a look at Reloader 17.

 

[7887mm08]

I am looking for some suggestions please. I have just bought a .243 win and currently have a 7mm08 which I reload for. The powders I have on hand are Varget, IMR4350, and IMR4320. The load data in the Sierra manual and the Lee manuals show that the 4350 to be a listed powder that will shoot in either. I currently run it in the 7mm08 under 120gr sierra's. Both rifles have a twist rate in the 9" range.

I am planning on shooting the 90 - 100 grain bullets in the .243 and from 120 to 139 grain in 7mm08. My question is I am looking for alternative powder than the IMR 4350 to have on hand that will cross between these two calibers with the given bullet weights that will shoot well. Hoping someone here has the experience with another powder to get me there.

Would the IMR4895 or the IMR4064 be good choices?

Thanks in advance!

My Bad for the last post! Anyway, try imr4064 imr4895 I've used both but I settled on varget as my go to powder for both

 

[normmatzen]

Per quickload, RL-17 is the most efficient powder for a 7-08 or 7X57. And the 243WIN didn't shoot as well as other powders for me. When I shot 243 WIN in long range BR, I settled on H1000 for 105gr bullets and 1-8 barrel. 46 gr H1000 was just right for my bullets and the burn rate gave excellent barrel life.
And, I do use RL-17 in my 7X57 hunting rifle.

 

[Rustystud]

Varget, Reloader-15, IMR4064, H4895, W-748, all come to mind.
Nat Lambeth

 

[th82457]

IMR 4831 & H414/W760 are also worth a try. I think Varget, W748 & IMR 8208 may be the accuracy powders for these cartridges. Good Luck

 

[boltgunluvr]

4350 for 95 gr and heavier. Preferably 4064 for lighter than 95 gr. And Varget is very close to 4064 as far as burn speed.

 

[digrazir]

Per quickload, RL-17 is the most efficient powder for a 7-08 or 7X57. And the 243WIN didn't shoot as well as other powders for me. When I shot 243 WIN in long range BR, I settled on H1000 for 105gr bullets and 1-8 barrel. 46 gr H1000 was just right for my bullets and the burn rate gave excellent barrel life.
And, I do use RL-17 in my 7X57 hunting rifle.

I have had good luck with a slower burning powder also. IMR 7977 with 105 and 107 grain bullets in a 1-8 barrel. I am getting good accuracy using 45.4 grains. I only have access to a 300 yard range do there is no point in overly hot loads. The lighter loads combined with the slower burning powder should extend barrel life. Ray

 

[gunrack]

4350 for 95 gr and heavier. Preferably 4064 for lighter than 95 gr. And Varget is very close to 4064 as far as burn speed.

All I could find in the way of the powders that everyone has mentioned and what the books say is Varget, IMR4064, and IMR4895. I had some Varget but I bought more because the guy at the shop told me he couldn't find it anywhere and he only had 1 lb on the shelf. I also bought some IMR4064 which he had plenty of and some IMR4895. He didn't have any of the Reloader 15, 17, or 19.

Fixing to load up an OCW test batch with IMR4064 and check this one out first.

Thanks everyone for all of the input! I will update with results when I get the chance to shoot it.

Thanks again!

 

[nastynatesfish]

I liked arcomp in both. I shoot varget in my 7-08 with 140s. I think arcomp is a good crossover powder for anything in the 308 family

 

[bheadboy]

I have in my experience found the following imr4064 works well all bullet weights,
for easy metering have switched to H414 and found excellent velocity, uniformity and flexibility with different bullet weights.


Bob

 

[kolar55]

I am looking for some suggestions please. I have just bought a .243 win and currently have a 7mm08 which I reload for. The powders I have on hand are Varget, IMR4350, and IMR4320. The load data in the Sierra manual and the Lee manuals show that the 4350 to be a listed powder that will shoot in either. I currently run it in the 7mm08 under 120gr sierra's. Both rifles have a twist rate in the 9" range.

I am planning on shooting the 90 - 100 grain bullets in the .243 and from 120 to 139 grain in 7mm08. My question is I am looking for alternative powder than the IMR 4350 to have on hand that will cross between these two calibers with the given bullet weights that will shoot well. Hoping someone here has the experience with another powder to get me there.

Would the IMR4895 or the IMR4064 be good choices?

Thanks in advance!

You mentioned you have 4320 on hand. It works well in my 7-08 with 140 Nosler ballistic tips. As does 760 and Varget. I've had good luck with 4320 in the .22-250 also. I would think some of these would be good in the .243 too. The old adage was 4350 in the .243 though.

 

[smoooth]

As Bheadboy stated, H-414 IS the way to go for .243, amazing accuracy all around. I don't shoot 7mm-08 so I can't speak to that one.

 

[Dgd6mm]

If you can find it Ramshot Big Game.

 

[Zero333]

IMR-4350 is great in the .243 for 85gr and heavier bullets. In the 7-08 and 140's, a max load of IMR-4350 will be slightly compressed but will work nicely too. Don't be afraid of compressed loads.

 

[jsthntn247]

Of the powder you listed Varget works well for up to 140 in the 08 but would be a little fast for above 80 grains in the 243, but it would work. If your barrels aren't too short 4350 is your best choice for both.

 

[gunrack]

Of the powder you listed Varget works well for up to 140 in the 08 but would be a little fast for above 80 grains in the 243, but it would work. If your barrels aren't too short 4350 is your best choice for both.

Thanks to everyone who has responded. I have found a load for the 08 that shoots bug holes with the 120 grain bullets. 45.2 grains of IMR4350 will shoot one hole from 44.8 to 45.5 it shoots under a 1/2".

Tried the 4064 in the .243 with not much luck but I suspect I have a bad scope. The gun got knocked off the bench the other day at the range which put a little ding in the crown. It also landed on the scope and knocked it off pretty bad. I straightened the scope up in the rings and re-zeroed it but it will not shoot a consistent 1" group now at 100 yards. Re-crowned it yesterday and put another scope on it this morning. Will shoot it again once the weather warms back up. Going to load up some IMR4350 and another shot with IMR4064.