.243 Win Load Data a rifle question

[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.