Powder selections .243 & 7mm08

[Iowa Fox]

How much does barrel length play in the choice of powder? Especially for the 243.

 

[savage308]

How much does barrel length play in the choice of powder? Especially for the 243.

it depends on bullet weight. if im using a 105 g amax and h1000 then I need a longer barrel for more complete
and uniform powder burn than if im using a 58 vmax with big game.

 

[boltgunluvr]

You playing with seating depth? There are plenty of bullets/chambers that prefer jumping. I observe too many folks seating too close to the lands and assuming the rifle won't ever group well. I have a few rifles that prefer jumping almost .070!

 

[Iowa Fox]

How about 15" of barrel length and 105s in the 243

 

[gunrack]

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.

Gonna load up a few a give it a shot once it breaks freezing around here.

 

[gunrack]

How much does barrel length play in the choice of powder? Especially for the 243.

I have no idea. My barrel is 22" with a 9.25" twist

 

[Zero333]

I have a 22" and 26" .243, I don't think twice about powder selection based on barrel length, I have my Favorite powder(s) for the 243. H-4831 always works nicely.

 

[K22]

I've been shooting and loading for the

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!

I've been shooting and loading for the 243 since the late 60's and I've yet to find a powder that shoots better than IMR 4350 with 90 to 100 grain bullets.

I've had a lot of success with IMR 4064 and Varget in bullet weights 70 to 85 grains. IMR 4895 will work but not as good at the others in my experience. I don't shoot bullets lighter than 70 grains in the 243.

A bullet you may want to try is the 85 grain Sierra BTHP with IMR 4064 or Varget. This bullet can serve as an all around bullet. It shoots like a match bullet, excellent accuracy, and good terminal performance especially on predators and varmints. It even works well on white tail deer if you avoid shoulder shoots; placed in the lungs and they go down quickly.

 

[gunrack]

You playing with seating depth? There are plenty of bullets/chambers that prefer jumping. I observe too many folks seating too close to the lands and assuming the rifle won't ever group well. I have a few rifles that prefer jumping almost .070!

I am seating close at this point. Have tried .030 off and .015 off but I had other issues going on. If I were going to load up some and try a long jump where would you recommend I start?

 

[gunrack]

I've been shooting and loading for the


I've been shooting and loading for the 243 since the late 60's and I've yet to find a powder that shoots better than IMR 4350 with 90 to 100 grain bullets.

I've had a lot of success with IMR 4064 and Varget in bullet weights 70 to 85 grains. IMR 4895 will work but not as good at the others in my experience. I don't shoot bullets lighter than 70 grains in the 243.

A bullet you may want to try is the 85 grain Sierra BTHP with IMR 4064 or Varget. This bullet can serve as an all around bullet. It shoots like a match bullet, excellent accuracy, and good terminal performance especially on predators and varmints. It even works well on white tail deer if you avoid shoulder shoots; placed in the lungs and they go down quickly.

Got some loaded up with IMR4350. gonna give it a try as soon as the weather clears up. I forgot to mention 100 gr.

 

[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.

Got the chance to go out and shoot this morning. I loaded up 18 rounds of IMR 4350 with 100 grain Sierra Game Kings (boat tails) varying in powder charge by .3 grains. I then loaded up 18 rounds of the same powder and charge weights with the only difference being the bullet, 100 grain Sierra Pro hunters (flat base) on the second set. The boat tails would not hold a group under 1.5" but the same powder charge with the flat base bullets at three of the powder charge weights shot under 1" and two of the three shot under 1/2". All the bullets were seated .025" off the lands.

Looks like IMR4350 and the 100 grain flat base Pro Hunters is the way to go.

 

[Andrew Cox]

Adi 2208 & iMr 4064 are equal in burning rate 243 or 7mm-08

 

[J_idaho]

For mag length ammo nothing shoots as good as 6mm Berger 95 gr classic hunter” hybrids” at least .015” off lands. I use h4350

 

[XTR]

Very old thread here.

in my 7-08 hunting rifle I found 2000MR to give good precision and great velocity with 140 class bullets. I push 140s at 2900 from a 25” barrel. It’s a hunting rig. I worked up the load 10 yrs ago and loaded 60 or 80 rounds. Still have 40 or more.

 

[Flycaster1977]

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!

I have had great experience with RL 15 or norma 203b for both those cartridges.

 

[Propbndr]

My 243win does not like any type of boat tail. It shoots best, 1” or less at 100 yards, using Sierra 100 grain SPT’s with either 42.6 gr of H4831SC or 35.2 gr of IMR-4064 with a COAL of 2.650”. I am using Norma brass and Rem 9 1/2 primers for both.

The down side of H4831SC, I find, is it tends to clog whatever if it being dropped from. I will be getting regular H4831 the next time that I restock.

 

[C.E.Smith043]

H4895 is the most versatile powder out there. It works in more cartridges than any other powder. Not that it may be the best choice for a particular load, but it will be usable.