87 GR Berger VLDS, and H1000

[jmoney]

Hi there, I have an older VGX Vangaurd in 243, and I am pretty confident that it has a 1-10 twist.

Due to this I am restricted down to the 87 gr according to Berger, for their hunting VLDs. I got some load data from them, but it didn't have anything for the H1000 powder, and neither does the hogdon reloading site. I was wondering if anyone had worked up a good hunting load for their 243 using the 87 Gr in this powder, or if there is a good reason I should not be using it.

[outofayr]

That's a little slow for lighter bullets in the 243 (and maybe even the heavier ones). You'll probably want to look at one of the 4350s or faster with the lighter bullets.

Have fun,
Brian

[jmoney]

IMR 4350 was one of the ones in the load data, if you guys had to pick 4 powders to load up this round with, what would the other three be?

[outofayr]

H414 (aka Win 760), IMR 4320, RL17 should all get the job done.

[jmoney]

thanks I think I have most of those so once my bullets get in I can whip up a nice load up for each of those powders and see what this old winchester likes!

[johnnyk]

jmoney, Here is the load data I acquired while testing them;

11/20/10, 12:00PM, 73Deg, Partly cloudy, winds ESE 3-5mph, 48% RH, 30.32 BP
Rifle used for all testing was Winchester M70 SA HVB, .243 Win.
Load: 87gn Berger VLD Hunting (G1 = .412, G7 = .211), RL17 & CCI BR2
222OAL: 2.2435”

41.5gn 2 shots (foulers) Velocity: 3185/3234
41.5gn 3249/3216/3238 (3234) ES: 32.81, SD: 16.79 Accuracy: .5625”
42.0gn 3284/3278/3268 (3276) ES: 15.96, SD: 08.06 Accuracy: .3625”
42.5gn 3304/3262/3309 (3292) ES: 46.39, SD: 25.80 Accuracy: .5745”

2:40PM, Cleaned barrel. Shot one 42.5gn for fouler.
42.5gn 3300/3276/3267 (3281) ES: 32.95, SD: 17.05 Accuracy: .3685”
43.0gn 3310/3330/3317 (3319) ES: 19.12, SD: 10.14 Accuracy: .4420”
43.5gn 3370/3372/3369 (3371) ES: 03.76, SD: 01.41 Accuracy: .8905”

1/16/11, Sunny, 61 Deg, 38% RH, 30.04 BP, winds 7mph
IMR4831, BR2 – shot for accuracy, did not chrono.

43.5gn - .8210”
44.0gn - .7515”
44.5gn – 1.1050”

This powder and primer has been a known good load (.250” OR <) with several makes of
other bullets in this weight range (85-90gn).


1/22/11, 12:08PM, Partly sunny, 40 Deg, 43% RH, winds NNW 10-13mph
H4350/Rem 9.5

44.0gn 3314/3334/3312 (3320) ES: 21.90, SD: 12.16 Accuracy: .5865”
44.5gn 3353/3362/3342 (3352) ES: 19.50, SD: 10.00 Accuracy: .5885”
45.0gn 3401/3377/3398 (3392) ES: 23.73, SD: 13.07 Accuracy: 1.1465”
45.5gn 3418/3423/3414 (3418) ES: 08.69, SD: 04.47 Accuracy: .9455”
46.0gn ERR1 due to target/chrono misalignment Accuracy: .6030”

2:30PM Cleaned barrel.
RL22/BR2

46.5gn 3294/3327/3389 (3337) ES: 95.04, SD: 48.22 Accuracy: .1550” (best group)
47.0gn 3310/3261/3304 (3292) ES: 48.17, SD: 26.72 Accuracy: .4930”
47.5gn 3292/3273/3302 (3289) No ES or SD Accuracy: .5460”
48.0gn 3304/3313/3306 (3308) ES: 09.04, SD: 04.69 Accuracy: .6995”
48.5gn 3363/3369/3410 (3381) ES: 47.39, SD: 25.57 Accuracy: .7170”

1/29/11, 12:00PM, Partly sunny, 62 Deg, 49% RM, winds WSW 5-10mph, 30.14 BP
H4895/BR2

36.0gn 3099/3092/3087 (3093) ES: 12.65, SD: 06.00, Accuracy: .4795”
36.5gn 3175/3142/3171 (3163) ES: 32.98, SD: 18.00, Accuracy: .7840”
37.0gn 3188/3163/3224 (3191) Chrono acting up , Accuracy: .6905”
37.5gn 3234/3261/ERR2 (3248) ES: 27.02, SD: 19.10, Accuracy: .6195”
38.0gn ERR2/3266/3296 (3281) ES: 30.24, SD: 21.21, Accuracy: .5150”

10 bullets loaded with 42.5gn of RL17/BR2 primers. Of these, established 300yd zero/w 3,
used 2 to shoot 500yd gong for testing wind.
Last 5 shot for group at 500yds. Group measured 2.25” wide,
2 5/8” high.

Quiet lengthy but I enjoyed myself. Hope something here helps. JohnnyK.

[jmoney]

Thanks for that information, I jotted it all down. Hopefully I will get the powders in and this stuff loaded up by next weekend so I can get out there and start playing around with it. I'm interested to see the difference in hunting with VLDs instead of the box ammo I have been using in this 243