need some load advice for 243 85 gr sierra gk's

[tn243]

I have been loading 80gr nosler bt bullets with h380 with great results out of my factory savage model 10. Im now looking to load up the 85gr gameking but I am having a hard time deciding which powder to choose. I have on hand imr 4064,4198,4895 hogdon h4895, h322, h335, bl-c (2) any help would be appreciated as I am new to the reloading game.

 

[Ghost7]

I have had good luck with 4350 and varget behind the Sierra 85 gr hpbt.

 

[tn243]

Varget is the one powder I forgot to list that I have. How much varget are you loading Ghost7?

 

[Jud96]

I use 44.0grs of IMR 4350 with an 87gr V-MAX and this load drives tacks and goes 3250fps in a 26" barrel. All of your powders are too fast to effectively use the 85s.

 

[tn243]

Yeah I inherited all that powder besides the h380 and he loaded 22-250 and 223 most of the time so I figured it would be too fast.

 

[Ghost7]

Tn243, I get the best accuracy with 34.8 gr. I don't have a chronograph yet but according to published data I should be breaking the 3000 fps threshold, not to shabby. At 100 yds I'm getting 1/3" to 1/2" moa. I'm very pleased. Still new to reloading I am still experimenting with other powders though. Sierra has a 1-800 number that you can use to talk to some very knowledgable fellas who have forgotten more about this stuff than you and I will ever know. This is a great resource and they are happy to help...real down to earth. Give them a call.

 

[desertcj]

Try to find some 4350, IMR or Hodgdon. RL17 and Superformance are probably worth looking into as well.

 

[tn243]

Much thanks for all of the input, been studying up on load data and found the 4350 in a lot of people's top powders for the 243 I was also curious to know of anyone's experience with 4831 in the 85 gr range. I am going to buy a couple of lbs of powder to work up some loads with 4350 is definitely going on the list I will look into the 17 and Superformance. Any other suggestions for the shopping list would be much appreciated.

 

[desertcj]

4831 is too slow for 85 gr. You should find what you're looking for between 4350, RL17 and Superformance. H4350 can be hard to find because it's so popular....fyi

 

[tn243]

Sounds like I have my 3 to go buy. imr and hogdon 4350 are easy to come by around me. Is one better than the other? I know hogdon lists it's 4350 as an extreme powder being less temp sensitive.

 

[desertcj]

Better is subjective. I prefer H4350 for what it's worth.

 

[tn243]

I gotcha, well thanks for all the help guys looks like I've got some loading to do before the weekend. hopefully it dries up so I can get some range time in saturday

 

[RT2506]

Don't leave Accurate 4350 out of the picture. It works just a good as either IMR or H. In my experience with what I load AA and IMR end up being the same load most of the time.

 

[wbm]

For years, one of my all-time best loads has been the 85gr Sierra HPBT over 43.5gr of H4831. Has been a very accurate load in Remington, Ruger and Savage rifles in 243. Killed a lot of deer in Arizona with this combination.