Powder for .243 Win reloads, 55 grain Nosler BTs

[Jonathan_S]

What powder(s) have shot really tight groups for you?  I'm developing a load for my wife's Savage Axis .243 w/ 20" barrel

Nosler Brass
Winchester Large Rifle or Rem 9 1/2 primers
Nosler 55 grain Ballistic Tips

Yes I've looked around and on Nosler's site but I really like firsthand info from Hunt-Wa members.

Thanks 

[LittleJohn]

I have same set up with 52 gr H380, Doing just under 4000 fps
My tikka groups great with it

[Biggerhammer]

I've always liked Varget powder for the lighter bullets when it comes to the .243 Win. It's a good powder for here in Eastern WA due to it being quite temperature tolerant. Once you find a good load you don't have such a large swing in impact change when shooting chucks in 100 degree weather and then to the extreme other, coyote in the winter at 17 degrees or colder with the same load.

[Jonathan_S]

Thanks LittleJohn...do you have a pressure for that load?  Length at 2.710"?

I really thought H380 would do well.  That's good to hear.  I have a pile of H380, H4831sc, IMR 4831 and IMR 4350 so hopefully I can put something together with it.  However, I am not afraid to spend the bucks to get a good setup...I already did that with the Nosler Brass 

Biggerhammer, your input is always appreciated.  I was afraid somebody reliable would say Varget  I haven't been able to get hold of any for awhile

[DaveMonti]

I have a Rem. 700V in .243 Win that is probably 30 years old.  It was my first wholly purchased firearm and I used it to shoot woodchucks in PA.  I've run a lot of different loads through it and have found IMR-4895 to be the best.  Keep in mind that back when I was doing a lot of fiddling with loads, IMRs were by far the most readily available and least expensive powders.  Since I've found a good load (I'll reply with the specifics when I get home), I've not really tried many other powders. 

I am not sure about the pressures, speed of burning of 4895, bullet coefficients, etc., but I've tried many different increments of powder to get as flat shooting as possible for long distance shooting.  When I was a bit younger, I could shoot a 6 shot group at 1/2 to 3/4 inch at 100 yards fairly consistently.  I believe I settled on a 60 gr. Sierra HPBT for my hunting load, trekking along at 3900 fps or so.  Again, I'll verify that. 

The other thing I did with this powder is that I reduced the powder considerably and it shot very well at 100 yards (it was my "reduced load").  I shot this rifle a lot just to shoot tight groups with the reduced load, and went to a lot of "turkey shoots" where the target was an egg at 100 yards.  Pay $2 per shot, hit the egg offhand at 100 yards, and you win a frozen turkey!  We ate a LOT of turkey while I was growing up.  I think my best year was something like 32 turkeys and hams at about 12 different turkey shoots that year.  I wish we had those types of shoots around here.  I know the "live" turkey shoots have disappeared all over, but shooting at an egg or small water balloon at 100 yards offhand can be a challenge!  I suspect most "turkey shoots" are shotgun splash cards anymore. 

[Jonathan_S]

  IMR4895 is one that comes up in a few searches.  Thanks Dave.

[Karl Blanchard]

I run imr3031 with my 58gr vmax with good success.

[Jonathan_S]

  thanks

[VarmintVentilator]

If you have any, h414 works really well in most 243's with the 55gr bt's.

[Wazukie]

The Best powder I've found for my Remy is Varget.  The last few pound I've bought was from "The General Store" in Spokane.   

[demontang]

I've been running h414 in my 243 from 55gr to 95gr nosler. Was getting 1/4" group from the 55gr nosler and getting about 1/2" out of my new accubonds.

[Jonathan_S]

I got lucky and picked up some Varget today.  First time I've had any for a while. 

So I've got IMR4350, H380 and IMR4320 for now.  I'll see what works best.  If were unable to get a great load with any of those, then we'll check out some of the suggestions here.

Thanks again everyone