Powder choice for 243 Win with 87gr bullets ?

Varget has always produced very good loads for me in 243. bro has Remington sps and win 760 was best for his rifle. both rifles group under 1/2 inch.
 
I've shot both IMR3031 an H4350. The rifles I've dealt with in 243 and 308 liked one or the other, and sometimes both depending on the bullet weight.
 
+1 on H4350.
Wishin y'all a great new year with much reloading success!
 
I have tested and shot my .243 a lot with 87gr VMAXs. The best powders I've used so far are IMR 4350 and IMR 4451. I prefer the IMR 4451 because it's temp stable. I shoot 44.3gr of 4451 for an average of 3370fps from a 26" barrel. Groups are very good, around 1/2" with a factory 700 Remington. I would start at 42.0gr and work up. My load is hot but doesn't show ejector marks.

I have also tested IMR 4831 and it was too slow. I started getting pressure around 45.0gr and velocity was 3300fps. Anything faster than IMR 4350 I don't recommend. Max efficiency and performance will be achieved with any powder in the 4350 burn rate. RL16 and H4350 are both excellent powders, but i have not tested them in a .243 with 87s yet. For 95+ grain bullets I would use anything in the 4831 to H1000 burn rate range.
 
I tested H414, H4350, Varget, H4831, and something else I don't remember. I was crunched for time and I was picking a middle of the range load for all the powders. H4831 was about the slowest at 2880fps 21 or 20 inch Tikki T3 light. But the H4831 I could cover with a dime for 3 shots at 100 yards. I had the wife making goo shots on a 6 inch plate at 600 yards. it took her about 2 weeks of practice or 4 outings but she took her deer with this load and the 87 grn berger at about 270 yards. Bullet stuck in the outer part of the off side shoulder almost to the skin.
 
I have been using IMR4831 for a few years with a 90 grain bullet. I have been getting .5" to .7" five shot groups @ 100 yards. I don't think that's bad for a lever action Browning. After I tried that load, I quit looking for another.
 
I was wondering what powders and weight change you guys are using for 87gr bullets in the 243 my rifle is a Tikka T3 . I have IMR 4451 IMR 4166 H4350 H4831

thanks in advance and happy new year!

I'm currently loading 40gr of AR2209 (H4350) behind a 95gr Nosler BT Hunting, which is fairly mild in my Tikka T3x lite. (NOTE - I'm using necked down 308 Lapua cases, not sure how this would compare to standard 243 brass.) 3 shot groups at 100 yds are .5 - 1", with good results on pigs, roos, and foxes.

Happy New Year!
 
Warning! This thread is more than 5 years ago old.
It's likely that no further discussion is required, in which case we recommend starting a new thread. If however you feel your response is required you can still do so.
Top