I got out of the reloading world several years ago and do to nobody having the shells I need, I decised to start loading again. I have my 243 win in a Rem 700. I am starting from scratch so I got some Nosler 55 grain and some H380 powder. I don't remember why I picked the 380 powder but I did a lot of comparing before I dicided on a powder. Anyway, Hodgdon recommends 51 grains with the Nosler 55 grain bullet. I was going to use that as my base and do the norm and load different weights and see whats the best. When I put the 51g of the 380 in the brass it was almost to the top of the brass. Now I remember from my last reloading experience that when you start compressing powder, you might start running into problems. Now my questions are. Is this a good combination for the 243 and what is the minimum weight I should start out with on the h380 powder. And what about the compressing powder. Is a little bit ok just not too much.

What is everyones favorite 243 formula?

My favorite varmint load was 46 gr. of IMR-4350 and a 75 gr. Sierra flat base hollowpoint. I never used it for anything but varmints so, I don't have any other loads. Try this site; http://stevespages.com/243_2_75.html

H380's not a bad choice, it's a ball powder so it will flow through a powder measure easily. I would start at about 48 grains and work up in 1/2 grain steps checking for pressure signs along the way. Compressing powder is not bad, some loads shoot better that way. You might find that you get acceptable results at less than 51 grains though, so give it a try.

Bl-C(2) will give you a little more velocity at a max load of 47 grains and it's a flat flake powder that also meters well. Since it's a smaller load you probably won't have to compress it.

Varget is another good powder to try and a max load of 45 grains will give you similar velocities to H380.

quote:

Bl-C(2) will give you a little more velocity at a max load of 47 grains and it's a flat flake powder that also meters well.

?????
BL-C2 is, as Hodgdon calls it, a "spherical" powder, otherwise known as "ball" powder. The "BL" stands for "ball" and older reloaders refer to it by its full name, "Ball C Lot Number 2".

By the way, I've tried it with 55 grain Noslers in a .243 and didn't care for the results.

Is there anywhere that you can buy sample packs or sizes of powder. I want to try all these different powder but I don't want to buy a full can and not use but a little.

hntin,

Hodgdon's has what you are looking for; powders packaged in smaller containers without having to purchased 1 lb.

Sounds like varmint loads with that powder & bullet combo.

Have Fun working up your loads - carefully....

quote:

Originally posted by Stonecreek:

quote:

Bl-C(2) will give you a little more velocity at a max load of 47 grains and it's a flat flake powder that also meters well.

?????
BL-C2 is, as Hodgdon calls it, a "spherical" powder, otherwise known as "ball" powder. The "BL" stands for "ball" and older reloaders refer to it by its full name, "Ball C Lot Number 2".

By the way, I've tried it with 55 grain Noslers in a .243 and didn't care for the results.

oops, you're right, Ball C it is. I've used it in 243 with the 58 grain Hornady pretty succesfully.

I no longer own a 243, but when I did, it was a remington "varmint special" and it liked the 75 grain Sierra's, (flat base and BTHP's) ahead of IMR 4320 and cci BR primers. half inch groups were the norm.

I would try 55gr bullets and H380 but start at 46gr as recommended by Hodgdon(and others) by backing off 10% and working up one grain at a time to 51gr max.There is liable to be a sweet spot there.Safer too.

I like the 70gr NBT,44gr H414,WLRM primer.2.700"OAL.I started at 42.3gr H414 and worked up with those magnum primers for positive ignition.Shoots good in hot or cold weather.And well below 46gr max load when I hit a sweet spot.

Don`t know how fast it is going but it marks well at 100yds off a bench and not bad at 200yds off sticks.

But try the 55gr....you might like it.

Thanks a lot everyone. I will load some up and try and go thru them this weekend. I am also testing out my 357 with some 125 loads and h110 powder. I am going for the long range with that one also.

I will let you all know what I come up with.

I discovered via a Rem 243 ADL that H 380 and 50 grains of it with a 55 grain, 58 or 60 grain bullet, is one heck of an accurate combo...

That rifle was shooting factory loads with 3 to 5 inch groups at 100 yds, and still does...

But with H 380 and any of the three bullets above, they are one hole at 100 yds, when I do my part... so you can gather what that rifles diet is...

I would not be concerned about the 50 grains of H 380 filling the case.... if you do go to the 65 grain V Max tho, 50 grains of H 380 is too hot...

I also recommend large rifle primers, even tho sources try to talk you into magnum primers when using H 380...

cheers
seafire

Well according to Hodgdon it is one of the hotter loads. But you know I've had problems getting the advertised velocity out of H380. There are a couple of other powders on Hodgdon that make more sense to me and burn cleaner.

LOOK!

I`m interested in your results hntin247.Please do post.The .243 is awesome.

Well the results on the 55 noslers with H380 were pretty good. I loaded up 46, 47, 48, 49, and 50 g loads. I was shooting 100 yards in not perfect conditions. There was about a 10 to 15 mph direct cross wind. Between the five loads I never had one group more than 1.5 inches. And the more powder, the tighter the groups got. The 49 had a three shot group of may 5/8. I only had two of the 50's and they were about the same. Most of the play in the patterns were the windage. So I am definately going to load more 49s and 50s and wait till a real calm day and try again.

I had some left over Federal 80sp that I usually shoot and they grouped the worst out of all that I shot.

Hodgdon says that I can load up to 51g of that powder. But when I tried it, it almost filled the whole casing. I really didn't want to compress the powder that much. Am I right on that or should I be ok to try it?

Thanks
Matt

49gr sounds promising.

quote:

Originally posted by hntin247:
Hodgdon says that I can load up to 51g of that powder. But when I tried it, it almost filled the whole casing. I really didn't want to compress the powder that much. Am I right on that or should I be ok to try it?

Thanks
Matt

Try s long filler tube on your funnel or tickle the powder and let it spin down the funnel into the case. That will compact the powder a little and give you more room with less compression.

I do both but some of the loads in my 375 H&H still wind up with me compressing 1/2" of powder with the long 300 grain bullets. They work fine.

H4350, IMR4350, and AA3100 gave me best results, Varget wasn't bad.