Running out of a discontinued Powder

[Larry Koch]

Winchester 760 for 243 will shoot great, 75 grain V- max. If there is life left in the barrel. 243 barrels are not know for long round count.

 

[mturner]

4350 and 48431 should both work. With 4831I sometimes find an edge with mag primers.

This info is spot on if you want a true AA3100 equivalent.

 

[Benchrest Braxton]

There are so many great powders today, I personally recommend vihtavuori powders. 100 series for comp shooting (single base) and 500 series for hunting (double base).

 

[pipe]

Like Zero333, i am also mourning the loss of the old H-450. My 25-06 just loves it. Anything From 100 gr, & up it is fast & accurate. I only have a little left. That WIN760 will work for you. Don't push it & you will get better barrel life & better case life. Good shooting.

 

[Burnt Powder]

H414 and W760 are the same powder only packaged by 2 companies. If you look at load data it's always identical

Both powders packaged by the same people, just different labels. Some years back LGS got some 8# cans of H-414. It had H-414 labels stuck over WW 760 labels. Imagine that……

 

[NorCalMikie]

I went down the same path with AA3100 for my 25-06. I tried all of “the” powders with so so results. I got some 3100 and got speed and accuracy, over and above any other powder bullet combo. I found out is was discontinued before it was announced. I searched around and finally found a pound. This is a hunting load and it did me for a life time of loads.

At this point in the game with the majority of our eggs in one basket so to speak, I would suggest a VV powder myself.

Dunno about others, but I am tired of the “new best”. find out it works for me, then discontinued a short time later. Hell, even some of the old stand boys are all but a myth, H322 off the top of my head.

New best?? Most folks have a BUNCH of different powders sitting on the shelf half (if that) used. New best comes around that the others get pushed to the back.
Get a powder, work it till you can't work it anymore then work it some more!! Might be surprised at what's lurking in that powder jug. Got one powder that works in just about everything I shoot. All bullets going in the same hole so that's good enough for me. FPS?? Who cares. Never seen anything out run it.

 

[searcher]

My buddies and I all shoot a couple of loads that put everything else in the bushes in respect to varmints - but these are relatively close range (within around 350-400 yards - but the best accuracy we found among several rifles. I had always shot bullets in the 70's and 80's grain range in my .243 for many, many years. Then I tried some of the new powders and bullets. What a difference! Those .243's get huge benefit. One load is with a 58 V-Max, using Reloader 15 (most accurate in all of our rifles). The other is using W760 with 62 grn, Barnes Varmint Grenades. If you have any of that stuff laying around - give it a try. The Barnes will handles a fast twist better than many, I think.

 

[BigBolt]

I have been using Accurate 3100 powder in my Remington 700 Varmint Special in .243 since I bought it in the 1980's. I have about 25 loads left in the last 8 lbs. I bought at least 10-12 years ago. It has been shooting fantastic groups using the 75 grn Vmax's and the 87 grn. Vmax's. Rifle was rebuilt about 25 years ago and not shot much. I had it tuned up a couple of months ago and it has been shooting some of the best groups I have ever shot. So my dilemma is they don't make the Accurate 3100 powder anymore and I need a replacement. With the cost of powders these days I don't want to go down the rabbit hole and spend lots of $$$$ on powder that just wont work. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Additional info is : Remington 700 in .243. Rock Creek Barrel with a 8.5 Twist. Barrel is 26 inches. Heavy Barrel. Shoots the 75 grn Hornady Vmax . Thanks for any replies.

Here is a good site with lots of information.

Shooter's Reference Cartridges

shootersreference.com

 

[Alguapo]

Got a pound of the most recommended powder H 4831. I went with the short cut version. Did a quick ladder test with 5 different powder charges. It was very windy here . Did well enough to think this will really work quite well. Kept it about .5 inch with the wind really pouring it on but waiting for it to die down between the shots. Just the start but happy so far. Thanks to all for the recommends. At $53 a pound you guys saved me a lot of money.

 

[searcher]

I have been using Accurate 3100 powder in my Remington 700 Varmint Special in .243 since I bought it in the 1980's. I have about 25 loads left in the last 8 lbs. I bought at least 10-12 years ago. It has been shooting fantastic groups using the 75 grn Vmax's and the 87 grn. Vmax's. Rifle was rebuilt about 25 years ago and not shot much. I had it tuned up a couple of months ago and it has been shooting some of the best groups I have ever shot. So my dilemma is they don't make the Accurate 3100 powder anymore and I need a replacement. With the cost of powders these days I don't want to go down the rabbit hole and spend lots of $$$$ on powder that just wont work. Any suggestions would be appreciated. Additional info is : Remington 700 in .243. Rock Creek Barrel with a 8.5 Twist. Barrel is 26 inches. Heavy Barrel. Shoots the 75 grn Hornady Vmax . Thanks for any replies. I could never get mine to shoot

I was happy with the old load I used for years in my .243. While my powder wasn't dropped, my bullets were. I just happen to have on hand some 58 V-Max bullets. I loaded up some with six different powders, including one I hadn't tried in the .243 previously, being Reloader 15. Right off, using the Reloader 15, I got groups better than any I had ever had and actually shot one of the best groups I have shot in my life. Quite surprising when I think of all the custom bullets I have fired out of accurate target rifles. I told my buddies and they tried the same load. Same results. Three impressed guys, we are. I use 41.6 grains at around 3,300 fps. That powder might do well with your 75's, but I'd try it with the 58's if you happen to have any. Factory barrel Ruger was what I used.

 

[Zero333]

Winchester 760 for 243 will shoot great, 75 grain V- max. If there is life left in the barrel. 243 barrels are not know for long round count.

I use pretty much exclusively H-4831 / H-483sc in my 243 barrels and they live much longer than I would of bet on.
2,000 rounds of very heavy range duty (barrel heat hotter than one could touch etc..) is fairly common.
Once accuracy starts dropping off, I start shooting flat base bullets for fun sake's and get another 1k rounds out of the barrel.

 

[Zero333]

I was happy with the old load I used for years in my .243. While my powder wasn't dropped, my bullets were. I just happen to have on hand some 58 V-Max bullets. I loaded up some with six different powders, including one I hadn't tried in the .243 previously, being Reloader 15. Right off, using the Reloader 15, I got groups better than any I had ever had and actually shot one of the best groups I have shot in my life. Quite surprising when I think of all the custom bullets I have fired out of accurate target rifles. I told my buddies and they tried the same load. Same results. Three impressed guys, we are. I use 41.6 grains at around 3,300 fps. That powder might do well with your 75's, but I'd try it with the 58's if you happen to have any. Factory barrel Ruger was what I used.

I found RL-15 and RL-22 to be horrible at cold bore first round hits. Even a hot barrel and cold barrel showed different Point of Impact. Outside temperature also gave me different Point of Impacts at ranges over 330 yards once the barrel cooled down.

I love first round cold bore hits on half MOA targets. My brother is a master at it. Time and time over again he smokes golf balls at 330 yards on his first shot of the day. Then again, he has a thick DOPE book full of data and before loading the chamber he always refers to his DOPE data according to temp, wind, DA, and whatever else he's got written in it.

 

[searcher]

I found RL-15 and RL-22 to be horrible at cold bore first round hits. Even a hot barrel and cold barrel showed different Point of Impact. Outside temperature also gave me different Point of Impacts at ranges over 330 yards once the barrel cooled down.

I love first round cold bore hits on half MOA targets. My brother is a master at it. Time and time over again he smokes golf balls at 330 yards on his first shot of the day. Then again, he has a thick DOPE book full of data and before loading the chamber he always refers to his DOPE data according to temp, wind, DA, and whatever else he's got written in it.

I use a lot of the Rel 22 powders in a few 7 Rem Mags, and the Reloader 15 in a .243, 6Br and my Dasher. Haven't experienced that. They have become my two most favorite powders for tight groups. Just speculating here, but seems it might be more of a tuning issue for you. You worked up your load with a warm barrel, then on a cold shot, your bore diameter was different. Might be able to be tuned a tad to account for the difference, perhaps a few tenths up on the powder charge - or simply adjust your scope to the cold shot?

 

[Zero333]

I use a lot of the Rel 22 powders in a few 7 Rem Mags, and the Reloader 15 in a .243, 6Br and my Dasher. Haven't experienced that. They have become my two most favorite powders for tight groups. Just speculating here, but seems it might be more of a tuning issue for you. You worked up your load with a warm barrel, then on a cold shot, your bore diameter was different. Might be able to be tuned a tad to account for the difference, perhaps a few tenths up on the powder charge - or simply adjust your scope to the cold shot?

I live in a very diverse climate area... Humidity car be one day 60 % and the next day at 95 % + percent.
Same applies temperature. Today it was 22 c with 73 % humidity... Tomorrow will be 32 with 90+ % humidity.. That's where the DOPE data comes in handy...... We have not yet figured out how to make digital data be as consistent at longer ranges besides actual DOEPE.

 

[searcher]

I live in a very diverse climate area... Humidity car be one day 60 % and the next day at 95 % + percent.
Same applies temperature. Today it was 22 c with 73 % humidity... Tomorrow will be 32 with 90+ % humidity.. That's where the DOPE data comes in handy...... We have not yet figured out how to make digital data be as consistent at longer ranges besides actual DOEPE.

Yeah - I have considered upgrading my 25-year old laser range finding Leica binoculars to the new ones which calculate from your base data in respect to temperature, atmospheric pressure, slope, air temperature, etc. to adjust from. Cool stuff out there now.

 

[lb-ft]

.243 Win + .243 AI Cartridge Guide

Shooter's Guide for .243 Winchester and 6mm .243 Win shooting, reloading, and accuracy. Bullets, powder, brass, accurate loads. Rifles and gear reveiws from champions. .243 ammo and ammunition reveiws. AccurateShooter.com is the best guide for precision shooting, with FAQ, Shooter Message...

www.6mmbr.com

4064 hands down. Readily available, phenomenal precision with 87 Vmax & 75s.

 

[Alguapo]

Update. Ladder test tonight with the 75 grn. Vmax and H 4831 SC. Started at 44.0 up to 45.1 grns. For me I got a couple of groups that were pretty dang good for me. I'm a vermin shooter. Anything under a half inch is pretty good. At 44.0 grns I got a .185 , at 44.3 I got a .46, at 44.5 it went back to .185 and at 44.9 I got .195. I want to thank all of you for your recommendations. I'm very happy with the H4831SC. The rifle was built in Salt Lake by a smith that really messed up the rifle. It stayed in the gun safe for over 20 years because I couldn't get it to shoot. I finally got it out earlier this summer and a local gun smith took it and turned it into a real gem. The original smith had the bolt and the barrel all cockeyed. The new smith squared it all up and rechambered it. Re-crowned the muzzle . Zack Merkley at Cross Canyon in Ogden Utah turned it into a incredible varmint rifle. Again I couldn't be more pleased. Thanks.