.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.