Tikka T3 .243 *Range Report*

[lb-ft]

Can’t recommend IMR 4064 enough. Pure magic at 37ish with any 85-90 gr projectile.

Honestly though, there are numerous suitable powders.

TONS of great info here:

.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

 

[JMAN80]

I ended up with 12# of IMR 4064 before the " current administration " took over. And I've found many good to great loads with this powder and the .243 having an accurate gun trumps powder selection in my opinion. I'm sure there is better powders for this cartridge but, I've had great experiences from 58-100 gr. Dont get huge velocity with 100's but accuracy is great.

Got some IMR-4064 under some 85gr hpbt sierra game kings for the weekend. Fingers crossed for good results!

 

[rfwind]

My old Ruger tang safety 77 shot everything well. 100 grain Hornady still killing deer for my brother

 

[JMAN80]

My old Ruger tang safety 77 shot everything well. 100 grain Hornady still killing deer for my brother

Always wanted a M77 Varmint in 243. Great guns.

 

[koger]

Since posting on this thread I traded into a Tikka T3 Stainless .243 Sporter barrel. I mounted a 4x12 x44 Vortex viper, and tried two loads of IMR 3031 behind Hornay 100gr BTSP and 70 gr Sierra bthp. The 100 gr grouped slightly under 1/2" for 2-3 shot groups and the 70 gr grouped in the high .3's for 2 -3 shot groups, about the best I can do with a lightweight hunting rifle and 4x12 scope. I was shooting off a Caldwells bulls type bag front and low rabbit ear bag for the back.

 

[JMAN80]

Since posting on this thread I traded into a Tikka T3 Stainless .243 Sporter barrel. I mounted a 4x12 x44 Vortex viper, and tried two loads of IMR 3031 behind Hornay 100gr BTSP and 70 gr Sierra bthp. The 100 gr grouped slightly under 1/2" for 2-3 shot groups and the 70 gr grouped in the high .3's for 2 -3 shot groups, about the best I can do with a lightweight hunting rifle and 4x12 scope. I was shooting off a Caldwells bulls type bag front and low rabbit ear bag for the back.

I can’t wait! Going shoot it this weekend being his DNZ scope base came in….. nothing special but a solid rig my
Son can be proud of!

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Got some IMR-4064 under some 85gr hpbt sierra game kings for the weekend. Fingers crossed for good results!

85 gr Sierra's and 87 gr Berger, H-VLD's, WILL shoot, Awesome in the 1-10 Twist, .243 Win.,.. Tikka's !

 

[JMAN80]

85 gr Sierra's and 87 gr Berger, H-VLD's, WILL shoot, Awesome in the 1-10 Twist, .243 Win.,.. Tikka's !

I’ll post an update this weekend.

 

[nmkid]

H4350?

Try some H-4831. I always used 44.5 grs. No idea how fast it was but, it was so accurate.

 

[JMAN80]

Try some H-4831. I always used 44.5 grs. No idea how fast it was but, it was so accurate.

Can get H4831SC but man it gets expensive trying different powders these days! Lol

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Can get H4831SC but man it gets expensive trying different powders these days! Lol

If, you can find N-160, on a descent Sale, try some, as it worked BEST, in my Tikka with, 85 -87 grain Bullets.
My son shot, a 5 shot group of, .277 Ctr / Ctr with, my Factory .243 Win, Tikka ( 43.7 grains, IIRC ) @ 3,165 FPS and my grandson has Killed 2, Large bodied, Desert Mulies with, the 87 grain H-VLD's at, .070,. "Off Jamb"
with N-160 and it's,.. EASY, on Barrels ! He practices Steel Targets using the Cheaper, 87 gr. V-Max.
I gave him the Rifle about, 3 -4 years ago and, His last Buck was, a 30+ inch, Heavy horned, 4 x 5.
Both Bucks were, DRT at, 227 and 268 Yards.

 

[JMAN80]

If, you can find N-160, on a descent Sale, try some, as it worked BEST, in my Tikka with, 85 -87 grain Bullets.
My son shot, a 5 shot group of, .277 Ctr / Ctr with, my Factory .243 Win, Tikka ( 43.7 grains, IIRC ) @ 3,165 FPS and my grandson has Killed 2, Large bodied, Desert Mulies with, the 87 grain H-VLD's at, .070,. "Off Jamb"
with N-160 and it's,.. EASY, on Barrels ! He practices Steel Targets using the Cheaper, 87 gr. V-Max.
I gave him the Rifle about, 3 -4 years ago and, His last Buck was, a 30+ inch, Heavy horned, 4 x 5.
Both Bucks were, DRT at, 227 and 268 Yards.

Man that awesome! I “think” we have settled on 38.0gr of IMR-4064 Under that 85gr Sierra GameKing HPBT.

 

[ATFIV]

IMR 4064 will get it done in a 243.
with 75-85 grain bullets.

I have the same gun. Have yet to find a load that doesn't shoot great or pretty darn good. I've sent 58 gr Hornady thru 100gr Round Nose and everything in between with IMR 4064 and IMR 4831. My gun just shoots great, doesn't care. If I could pick one ? 90gr Nosler BT on a Max Charge of IMR 4831( per Hodges web sight ) will stick 5 of them in the same hole. Dont like shooting the 58gr at hyper speed because I don't want to wear out this barrel. But, moving them along with a start load 3400 fps with 4064 shoots awesome. Can I express how much I love this rifle? Nope. I'd be writing for hours.

 

[Phys86]

If, you can find N-160, on a descent Sale, try some, as it worked BEST, in my Tikka with, 85 -87 grain Bullets.
My son shot, a 5 shot group of, .277 Ctr / Ctr with, my Factory .243 Win, Tikka ( 43.7 grains, IIRC ) @ 3,165 FPS and my grandson has Killed 2, Large bodied, Desert Mulies with, the 87 grain H-VLD's at, .070,. "Off Jamb"
with N-160 and it's,.. EASY, on Barrels ! He practices Steel Targets using the Cheaper, 87 gr. V-Max.
I gave him the Rifle about, 3 -4 years ago and, His last Buck was, a 30+ inch, Heavy horned, 4 x 5.
Both Bucks were, DRT at, 227 and 268 Yards.

Did you find n160 to be temp.stable in the 243?

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Did you find n160 to be temp.stable in the 243?

It was pretty good. ( No issues here from, the Spring/ Summer, sight in / practicing, to late Fall,.. Deer, kills ! )
But, I've read that,. VhitaVouri has since, improved it, even Better for, Temp stability and it's printed on the New cans.

 

[JMAN80]

Well….. Looks like the Tikka likes H4350!

 

[Chilly807]

I've got a similar rifle, T3 Lite in 243 Win. It started life as a 308, then had a very lightly used 243 barrel put on it.

It likes 90 Accubonds over IMR 4831, right around 2900 fps if I remember right. It's always liked slower loads, for some reason. Every time I tried pushing it hard the groups opened up.

I've also tried 75 VMax over H414, again decent accuracy.

 

[JMAN80]

I've got a similar rifle, T3 Lite in 243 Win. It started life as a 308, then had a very lightly used 243 barrel put on it.

It likes 90 Accubonds over IMR 4831, right around 2900 fps if I remember right. It's always liked slower loads, for some reason. Every time I tried pushing it hard the groups opened up.

I've also tried 75 VMax over H414, again decent accuracy.

My sons likes that 85gr Sierra Hpbt GameKing.