.243 Win Load Data a rifle question

[skeeter 20i]

Sooo I stopped at the LGS last weekend and saw a Marlin XS7 in .243 for $229 and couldn't help myself. I mean a rifle w/ pretty decent reviews for under $250, it was an easy no brainer for a guy with no brain right?   Does anyone here have any experience with this rifle?

And second I am totally at a loss for which powder to start working up reloading loads for. I have manuals and will verify and work up the loads on my own but which powders are you guys having success with and are there any combinations that seem to preform well for you?  I know each rifle is different but if you guys could suggest a place to begin, I was thinking I would start out with around a 95 grain?  The Barrel is a 1:10 22" 6 groove.  The rifle's sole purpose in life will be a Whitetail backup gun and a fun paper puncher.

The powders I have on hand are IMR4350 and H4831sc (RL22 is the next powder I'm going to buy)  I'll buy whatever powder I need to but that's what I have on hand.

I appreciate any help you guys can offer.

[Jonathan_S]

What is the twist rate?  What bullet(s) are you going to load?

[skeeter 20i]

What is the twist rate?  What bullet(s) are you going to load?

I was thinking I would start out with around a 95 grain?  The Barrel is a 1:10 22" 6 groove

[Jonathan_S]

This is pulled from Nosler's site.  I haven't been loading for the .243 win for long.

Varget and IMR 4350 have been good for me in the lighter bullets (55grain)

H380 is listed and would definitely be worth a try.  The only downside to it is temperature sensitivity.  If you buy RL22 and that works good then I would stay with that 

[C-Money]

IMR 4350 is hard to beat. Thats what I use in the .243....Don't trust my memory, and reconfirm in your loading manual, but seems like I load 40.5gr IMR 4350 with a 100gr Hornaday interlock. Tight groups in the Ruger & Remington rifles that have used this load. Congrats on your new rifle!

[Karl Blanchard]

I have used IMR3031 for light 58gr vmax with lots of luck.  I believe I was using 39.2gr for that load.  42 grns of imr4350 with a 100gr hornady interlock seated close to the lands has been a money load for me for a few years now.  I'm currently shooting the 105gr berger VLD pushed by 41.1gr of imr4350.  Imr4831 is another good option.

[Jonathan_S]

There is so much load data/bullets/powders that will work for you at that bullet weight.  Just start experimenting 

[Karl Blanchard]

There is so much load data/bullets/powders that will work for you at that bullet weight.  Just start experimenting 

  like I always tell guys before I work up a load for them.  Pick the bullet you want to shoot then work from there.  I have never been able to NOT get a bullet and powder to shoot well.  There is always a compination of charge/seating depth that will work.

[Jonathan_S]

  I usually back myself into a corner that way and buy 500+ of the same bullets 

[Karl Blanchard]

I usually back myself into a corner that way and buy 500+ of the same bullets 

  I have 1100, 190gr 30 cal LRAB.......just sayin

[Kittman]

I started using IMR 4320 a while back due to it being about the only thing that was available at that time.  The hunting load that I settled on was 36.5 grains IMR 4320 and 100 grain Nosler Partition.  Still using this load. 

[skeeter 20i]

There is so much load data/bullets/powders that will work for you at that bullet weight.  Just start experimenting 

Thanks yeah I really appreciate what you're saying.  I guess what I was wondering is if there was any sort of general consensus like there is for a 30.06 I can't tell you how many times when I was just starting out that I read something to the affect "if your 30.06 wont shoot 165/168's over 57gr of one of the 4350's sell the rifle"

I chuckled at first and worked up my own loads with IMR4350 & 165AB's, & 165 Interlock's, 165 SST's  and ended ± 57gr and sub MOA.  I was just wondering if there was anything like that floating around for the .243.

[bobcat]

Try looking here:

http://optimalchargeweight.embarqspace.com/ocw-load-recipes/4533485759

[Emptyhanded]

I have had good luck with h4350 and 85 TSX and 95 grain ballistic tips. Imr4350 has also produced some solid loads with 85 partitions. You should be well suited with either one.


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[jasnt]

I've used re15,17,22 ,h4350 , imr4064, varget, imr7828 for bullets ranging from 58-105. All shot sub moa.  I have yet to see a 243 that wouldn't shoot well.

[skeeter 20i]

anyone have a information source location for Hornady 95gr SST's with IMR 4350?  It doesn't list this powder in the hornady book or on the hogdon website?  Can I use the IMR 4350 range from the Nosler BT and Part. as a guide and start in the middle and work up or am I asking for trouble substituting info in broad strokes for somewhat similar projectiles like that?

[Karl Blanchard]

anyone have a information source location for Hornady 95gr SST's with IMR 4350?  It doesn't list this powder in the hornady book or on the hogdon website?  Can I use the IMR 4350 range from the Nosler BT and Part. as a guide and start in the middle and work up or am I asking for trouble substituting info in broad strokes for somewhat similar projectiles like that?

  You will be fine

[lokidog]

There is so much load data/bullets/powders that will work for you at that bullet weight.  Just start experimenting 

Thanks yeah I really appreciate what you're saying.  I guess what I was wondering is if there was any sort of general consensus like there is for a 30.06 I can't tell you how many times when I was just starting out that I read something to the affect "if your 30.06 wont shoot 165/168's over 57gr of one of the 4350's sell the rifle"

I chuckled at first and worked up my own loads with IMR4350 & 165AB's, & 165 Interlock's, 165 SST's  and ended ± 57gr and sub MOA.  I was just wondering if there was anything like that floating around for the .243.

That's funny, my go to load for the last almost 30 years is 56.3 gr IMR 4350 behind pretty much any 165 gr bullet. It is good to hear that the 4350 will work for the .243 as I have one that I'd like to start reloading for sometime as the factory loads I've used are not as tight as I would like.

[Taco280AI]

I use IMR4350 for my 243 and 280AI. Haven't had a chance to dial in a load with the 80ttsx yet but am seeing potential. Can work on it when I get back.

[Todd_ID]

Well, I'm not a reloading guru, but here's my experience this year.  I used 41 grains of 4831 with a 100 grain Interlock in a Ruger American compact .243. That's an 18" barrel.  I put a shot on a big-bodied mature muley buck this year at 140 yards. I hit him exactly where I would with my bow: just behind the shoulder for a good double lung hit.  I left him overnight as it was close to dark, but I knew my shot was within 1" of where I intended.  I tracked him almost 2 miles with only pencil point drops of blood.  My guess and research has led me to believe the bullet never expanded, and I put a 6mm hole through his lungs.  I've now learned that my combination either needs to be limited to 100 yards or MUST hit the shoulder AND be limited to 250 yards based on velocity that the bullet needs to work properly.

Long story short is that I'll stick to bowhunting or use my 45-70 for a few years until that sour taste is gone.

[Motorjosh]

I load 85 Sierra game kings over 39 grains of h380. Shootin 3000fps out of my savage and love the way they shoot. Have only killed coyotes so far but everyone is dead right when the bullet hits.

[huntnphool]

My brother shoots lights out with his M77, he use 100gr partitions with H4350

[jasnt]

Well, I'm not a reloading guru, but here's my experience this year.  I used 41 grains of 4831 with a 100 grain Interlock in a Ruger American compact .243. That's an 18" barrel.  I put a shot on a big-bodied mature muley buck this year at 140 yards. I hit him exactly where I would with my bow: just behind the shoulder for a good double lung hit.  I left him overnight as it was close to dark, but I knew my shot was within 1" of where I intended.  I tracked him almost 2 miles with only pencil point drops of blood.  My guess and research has led me to believe the bullet never expanded, and I put a 6mm hole through his lungs.  I've now learned that my combination either needs to be limited to 100 yards or MUST hit the shoulder AND be limited to 250 yards based on velocity that the bullet needs to work properly.

Long story short is that I'll stick to bowhunting or use my 45-70 for a few years until that sour taste is gone.

this is why I shoot bergers for deer. I love the double lung shot and don't like to ruin meat, never had a buck go more than 50 yards. I hate punching shoulders.

[JLS]

I shoot 85 grain Barnes TSX bullets over 43.0 grains of H4350.  I've killed deer, elk, and antelope with this load.

[buckfvr]

We did a load development for the .243 Ruger Precission over on Long Range Hunting and 24 hour Campground.  It was specifically for the 105gr Berger VLD Hunting bullet since the rifle comes with a 7.7 twist.  We tried many powders and primers.  In the end, it came down to IMR 7828ssc and H4831sc.  Both had low es and sd.  We settled on the H4831 with sub 1/2 moa 5 shot groups consistently at 100 yards.  The rifle load combo has also produced 1/2 moa at 800 yards.

I know our test does little for you and the 10 twist barrel, but my 10 twist with 95gr Berger Classic Hunters also very much likes H4831sc. 

I am waiting on a 7.75 twist Benchmark barrel for a new .243 Im putting together, and I will jump right to the IMR 7828 head to head with H4831.  I have no doubt all the work we put in to develop the RPR in .243 will carry over to my 7.75 twist .243 with little to no modification.

[WoodlandShooter]

We did a load development for the .243 Ruger Precission over on Long Range Hunting and 24 hour Campground.  It was specifically for the 105gr Berger VLD Hunting bullet since the rifle comes with a 7.7 twist.  We tried many powders and primers.  In the end, it came down to IMR 7828ssc and H4831sc.  Both had low es and sd.  We settled on the H4831 with sub 1/2 moa 5 shot groups consistently at 100 yards.  The rifle load combo has also produced 1/2 moa at 800 yards.

I know our test does little for you and the 10 twist barrel, but my 10 twist with 95gr Berger Classic Hunters also very much likes H4831sc. 

I am waiting on a 7.75 twist Benchmark barrel for a new .243 Im putting together, and I will jump right to the IMR 7828 head to head with H4831.  I have no doubt all the work we put in to develop the RPR in .243 will carry over to my 7.75 twist .243 with little to no modification.

I had similar results with my RPR in 243WIN. Settled on 43 grains H4831SC pushing a Hornady 105OTM.

[ELKBURGER]

I usually back myself into a corner that way and buy 500+ of the same bullets 

  I have 1100, 190gr 30 cal LRAB.......just sayin

sounds like you are set for life, unless you are a tournament shooter.

[Karl Blanchard]

I usually back myself into a corner that way and buy 500+ of the same bullets 

  I have 1100, 190gr 30 cal LRAB.......just sayin

sounds like you are set for life, unless you are a tournament shooter.

No tournaments for me but I do burn a lot of powder

[theleo]

Well, I'm not a reloading guru, but here's my experience this year.  I used 41 grains of 4831 with a 100 grain Interlock in a Ruger American compact .243. That's an 18" barrel.  I put a shot on a big-bodied mature muley buck this year at 140 yards. I hit him exactly where I would with my bow: just behind the shoulder for a good double lung hit.  I left him overnight as it was close to dark, but I knew my shot was within 1" of where I intended.  I tracked him almost 2 miles with only pencil point drops of blood.  My guess and research has led me to believe the bullet never expanded, and I put a 6mm hole through his lungs.  I've now learned that my combination either needs to be limited to 100 yards or MUST hit the shoulder AND be limited to 250 yards based on velocity that the bullet needs to work properly.

Long story short is that I'll stick to bowhunting or use my 45-70 for a few years until that sour taste is gone.

I've never had that problem with my 243, but the loads are also ones my dad came up with in the 70's. They're moving out their north of 3200 fps and the only thing we've ever recovered has been the occasional shredded copper jacket. I've put about a softball size hole in coyote at 350 yards with that load. 243's are very effective deer rifles with the rite loads.   

[NWShooter]

At .243 Win velocities the Hornady 95gr SST or the 90gr Nosler Accubond will perform well for you. I have shot deer with both and scrutinize bullet performance to the extreme extent.

Upon close inspection of the terminal damage, the jury is still out on which could be said to perform better? All were quick one shot stops with the lungs completely destroyed.

After years of shooting the .243 Winchester for Varmints, some big game here and there and for introducing young hunters to hunting and shooting. I found that Varget is hard to beat for the combo of speed and accuracy. It is also a extremely temperature tolerant powder.

[WoodlandShooter]

DOPEd put the 43 grain load last week.

Trued velocity is ~2950