I am going to buy some powder to reload some 243`s for my Ruger No.1 I already have some IMR 4064 and thought I would also try some other powders to see if I can get any better resaults.I am happy with the 4064 but you never know how green the grass is on the other side until you get there.

any of the 4350's will cover nearly all the bases. I've usually gotten my best accuracy there with the 6's.

Redial

yotecaller In my 243's I used IMR 4350 with 100gr. Sierra SPZ and the 95gr. Nosler Partition. I used 42gr. these loads shot real good in a No1 and in a Rem mod 7. Start with a recommended load from a loading manual, as This load is over max in some loading books. It did not show any signs of high pressure in my rifles.

NE 450 What kind of groups were you getting out of your No.1 ?

My Rem 700 Varmit loves IMR 3031 and 75gr V-max molys. This load is one that seems to always work in anybodys gun. In mine it'll one-hole if I can do my part.

The IMR 4350 is right on the money for 85 grains and heavier. I like 43.5 grains of IMR 4350 with Sierra's 85 grain HPBT. Start at 40 grains and approach with caution.

Especially for lighter bullets, I find the often overlooked IMR 3031 to be "made for the .243 Winchester." Work up to 40 grains behind a 60 grain bullet, and your rifle should go MOA or better. This is a very mild recoiling load, and a super performer in most .243's I'm familiar with.

That same 40 grain charge (carefully approached) will drive Sierra's 80 grain spitzer to around 3200 fps from a 24" barrel such as your Ruger probably has.

Lastly, begin at 34 grains with the 100 grain bullets, working carefully toward 36.5 grains. Watch for pressure signs, of course.

Data for IMR 3031 is not common for the .243, but if you'll work with that powder a bit, you'll discover it is a rock solid performer in this chambering. This seems to go against the conventional wisdom of load density and slower powders, but nonetheless, the IMR 3031 is certainly one of the better .243 powders in my experience.

Dan

Dave Iams,

Your post appeared while I typed mine. What charge of the 3031 are you using with the 75 grain Hornady bullets?

Thanks,

Dan

yotecaller. I tried many loads in my No1 until I tried 4350 and the two bullets listed. 40, 41, and 42gr. all shot good in this rifle. Some where I probably still have my "books" for the 243's. The No1 shot groups from an honest inch to an inch and a quarter. I used it for deer and turkey, most of my shots were under 200 yards. My wife used it in Wyoming for deer and antelope. She made many shots on antelope around 300yds including one at 350 to 375 on an antelope facing us. This was before the days of electronic range finders, we stepped of the distance. The remington mod 7 was one with the green fiberglass stockd with an 18" bbl. It shot several groups at 300 yards that would be good for most rifles at 100yds with the 42gr. load. My 45/70 No1 shoots even better than the 243, so I have been lucky with the No1. If you try my loads start low and work up. I never did any of the accuracy work people talk about on my No1's. I like small groups as much as the next guy, but what I insist on is a nonmoving zero. Be sure and shoot your No1 at 200 and 300yds on paper. Sometimes some loads do better "size" wise at a longer range after the bullet has time to settle down, or go to sleep as some people say. What size groups does your No1 shoot now?

The best groups I have shot so far are the 87 Gr Hornady with 42 GR of IMR 4064.They were just under an inch at 100 yards.I was just hoping to bring the size down a little.

varget and a 70gr. nosler bt. one hole 5 shot groug with my old 700.

My #1 Light Sporter likes 70gr Ballistic Tip,43.5gr H414,Win LR Magnum primer,seated at 2.675" OAL.H414 is a very clean burning powder in my opinion.Have tried IMR4064 and Varget with pretty good results.But...H414 would be my first choice if I were you.I shot today in wind,off shooting sticks,and easily got a nice little cloverleaf pattern at 100yds.At 200yds can still hit a 3" ShootNSee target pretty easily.As a side note,my #1 will not shoot well with a clean bore...so be it.46gr is max load but I saw no need to go any further than 43.5gr.Devastating on groundhogs with no exit.Have yet to score on coyote(but will) with this combo but am very confident it will more than do the job.They are a very smart animal.

Not many people care for H414,but it shoots well in my Ruger compact that I bought for my son to hunt with.I have no other rifles that seem to prefer this powder,but for some reason this one does.It may be because it only has a 16.5" barrel,who knows.Using 40 grains of H414 with a Barnes 95 grain X bullet,he shot at and killed his first deer Saturday at a distance of 190 yards and the deer fell in it's tracks.And the kicker is,he is only 9 years old!

YOTE CALLER,

My first choice would be the H414 w/ 70 gr Speer TNT Moly @ 3647 chrono'd. Varget is OK but none of my rifles like it, IMR4350 is good as well as RL19 & RL22.

However, I am lucky my Sako Forester w/ a 24" barrel will shoot any powder & bullet combination in one ragged hole , from 70 - 100 gr. All my loads are a bit over max with no pressure signs, but the rifle likes hotter loads.

I have great luck with H414 in 243 Win.,7x30, 7x57, 30-06, 338 Win., 35 Whelen and 375 H & H. no complaints at all.

Just my .02 worth

BD

Green 788: I shoot 37.5gr of IMR 3031 with 75gr Hornady V-max molys and CCIBR2 primers. With a 3"high @100yds, it's deadly @300+. Killed 3 coyotes last year one morning here in Ohio closest one was 375yds.It's not a barn-burner load but a solid accurate combo.

IMR-4320 is excellent with all bullet weights in my .243.

My absolute best groups were attained with old Hercules R-11. No longer available. BUT, I found that IMR 4320 did just as well with the 70-85 grain bullets.

My stainless heavy barrelled varmint Ruger M77 really likes 41.0 grains of IMR4895 driving a 70 grain Nosler ballistic tip with CCI 200 primers. My rifle seems to like the lighter bullets and shoots this load into less than .5 MOA

IMR4350. My Rem788 carbine loves it with the 75gr Vmax.

Here`s my .243

A lot of good powders already mentioned one that hasn't IMR-4831.

for paper punching i use 40 gr. 4895 and 70 gr tnts for hunting i use 47.5 gr 7828 and nosler 95 gr bts both of these loads shoot very well for me the hunting load shoots at 3175 out of my ruger light wieght with a 18 1/2 in barrel