.243 load
Hey all. I have a .243 on order and plan on loading for it when i receive it. I was looking at the 100 GR. Speer Grand Slam's for deer size game and the 70 Gr. TNT's for varmint. However, after some thinking I have reached the thought that the Sierra 85 Gr. HPBT would be an excellent choice for shooting both and not having to load two different bullet weight. What are the thoughts of you .243 experts?
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Ive shot the 243 for years with the 85 gr Sierra BTHP. It is Federal Premiums best selling factory load around this area. I reload for several customers in our shop and this is the first choice usually.
It is very accurate ,has an excellent BC and SD , It does well on deer and as a varmit load performs fine.
the first combo I try is 39 gr. of IMR 4064 and this bullet, A few rifles do better with IMR 4350 or Varget but 4064 is first choice.This load is listed as max in Lymans book but so far ive never found a rifle that had any sign of pressure problems with it.
You may want to start a little under and work up to be extra safe.
The trajectory on this load is almost identical to the 22/250 55 gr load, so you know it shoots flat. My longest kill was 400 yds. on a groundhog so far. Remember this bullet doesnt blow up on contact like a pure varmint type and you have to use care around livestock and populated areas.0 -
DS Cole is giving you excellent advise. My .243 really likes IMR 4350 powder and shoots Sierra 100 Gr SPBT's well under 1" and sometimes under .5" which I think is fantastic from a Lightweight Carbine ( Win M70 )and only a 2x7 scope. It also shoots Barnes 85 grain X bullets very well with the same powder and very accurate. Will be working on a 60 grain varmint load in the upcoming weeks/ month. Both of the above loads are near max according to my Sierra manual. You will like this cartridge, fun to load for and shoot and it kills with a remarkable authority for its size.
Good luck and have fun.....0 -
I've used the the Sierra 85 gr.hpbt for a few years now and I really like it, I feel like you it's an all round bullet. With my rifle I get the best accuracey using IMR 3031, I'm over max. according to the book, velocity is around 3300fps but with my rifle there are no signs of excess pressure, again let me say though WITH MY RIFLE! I don't know what kind of varmints you will be hunting, but if your hunting coyotes like I do, this combination I use definitely is not a pelt saver, but it drops them flat out. 0 -
I only use my 243s for deer. I have a Rem 760 and a Rem 600 in 243 that like 41.0gr of IMR 4350 with a 100gr Hornady SPBT. My brother uses my handloads in his Win 70 featherweight. My father loads the same but with a 100gr Rem core-lokt in his Ruger 77 ultralight. I have had success with this load and a 100gr Nosler Part too but have stayed with the Hornady. It is a consistent performer with at or near MOA accuracy in all the above rifles (sub MOA for my rifles). Hornady's manuals caution against using light charges of slower powders in 243 so stay within the manual specs. For me, I like to have more than one load. Working up a load is fun. The more reloading/shooting time the better!
Ron0 -
Check the 243 out with some 95 grain Nosler Ballistic Tips, and H4350.
You'll never look back..
The Sierra 85 HPBT is a very good bullet, actually excellent, but it is not a hunting bullet !
It will do good most all the time but just when you may need it the most it may not do the job.
Gun control is hitting what your aiming at.0 -
I would have to agree with MRBruce about the Nosler 95gr Ballistic Tips and the 4350 powder . I've tried several other bullet-powder combos but this work best for us. I have been loading this combination for approximately 10 years for whitetail and have had excellent success, with my son and myself taken over a dozen whitetails with just one humane kill shot each. We use this in a Remington 700 BDL and a Browning A-bolt Medallion with both shooting -1" groups at 200 yds. You will find this is a very good caliber for deer size game and smaller.
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Thanks for the suggestions guys. This will save me a little time and money of finding a good load, but then again thats some of the fun in reloading[:D]. The H4350 was a given for me from the get go and i will try the 95 Gr. ballistic tip, what would you reccommend for varmint such as prarie dog. The 55 or 70 Gr. ballistic tip? 0 -
Jon,
My old load is 44 grs. of 4831 behind an 85 gr. bullet. Sierra has edge on accuracy. Nosler has edge on Bullet performance on big bame.
I load my wifes .243 up with 42.5 grs. of 4350. For whatever reason that case family seems to like slower powders. -good luck
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[8D]Yo jon, I'm shooting a Weatherby Vanguard VGX .243, just last friday 4-22-05 I took it to my range with loads- my best accuracy was with 44.2 gr's of IMR 4831, 70 gr SIERRA HPBT-.507" group (3)shots, it opened up to 1" as the BBL got hot and the load reached MAX at 45.2 gr.[}:)][}:)][}:)][:D]
I'm only wearing Black untill they make something darker0 -
I would echo the thoughts on the 95 Gr Nosler BT's...but I've had excellent results with RL22.
Eric
All American Arms Company
www.galleryofguns.com
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