I have extremely little experience reloading this cartridge. I've got a 700 BDL, 22" bbl and I want to find a medium load (85-87gr) that will handle predators, antelope, and deer. I've gathered different bullets to experiment with, but don't have a clue as to which powder "matches" the medium weights. I'm looking for sane, accurate loads for these bullets:

85 gr Sierra HPBT (predator/antelope/deer)
87 gr Hornady V-Max (predator, maybe antelope)

Powders I have available are: IMR3031, Varget, IMR4350, H4350, IMR4831, and RL22. I reason that Varget and IMR3031 would work well with lighter loads (80gr or less), and the 4350s thru RL22 would work well with heavy loads (95gr or more), but what about 85-87gr loads? Winchester brass and Federal 210s round out available components.

TIA,

BH1

Blackhawk1,
The .243Win. was the first cartridge I started loading and that was over 40 year ago. One thing to remember is every one is as different as the person pulling the trigger.
The ones I've worked with have all seemed to like IMR4350 and H4831, and primers make a differance.
Usually I have loaded 100gr. bullets for deer and antelope, and any coyote that stuck it's nose out during season dropped in he's tracks.
The pure varmint loads I worked up revolved around Hornady 75gr.HP and Sierra 60gr.HP at near max.
The pet load I would always try was the Sierra 60gr.HP with 40gr. of IMR4895 if they didn't show me something with that load I usually traded them.
Today I only shoot 100gr. Nosler Partitions in my .243Win. when it comes to deer. I've seen to many cripples with the lighter bullets. I will never shoot a boat tail at another head of game either. I've had to many of them come apart. The Sierra boat tail was the one I had trouble with.
Watch your case lengths the .243 like to stretch them. I neck size only and get a little longer case life. Also I've never had one preform the way Winchester said it would and still keep the pressure where it belonged.

I've had a love affair with this horrible little cartridge for longer than I care to remember. I hope you have half the fun I've had with it through the years.

Just the way I do things,,,,,,,,

[ 10-11-2003, 03:58: Message edited by: Ma Bell ]

You might want to try either of these loads and the 85 grain Sierra HPBT- 48.5/H4831SC or 46.5/IMR4831. I used the H4831SC load for more years then I care to think about for both varmints and deer with excellent results. I just started loading the IMR load this past year and it appears to be giving me about the same velocity and maybe just a little bit better accuracy. Not sure about this load yet, I'm still experimenting with it. BEN243

My preference for the ones I load for seem to like H 4895 with 75 to 90 grain bullets, IMR 4895 with 75 to 105 grains, IMR 4064 ( ditto), Rl 15 ( ditto).
H 380 for the 55/60 grain bullets, H 414/ W 760 with the 75 thru 105 grain bullets.

Midrange powders download easier than the 4350/4831 powders for me.

RL 7 is useful for a light load with any bullet.

Lyman's 47th manual has some good info.

I like 3031, but I have not seemed to be able to own a 243 that liked it as well as the others powders. I reload for 6 of them. ( Must like 6mm huh?)

Hey Sea, I was wondering about the 243 with 100 grain bullets... why is there limited data for Varget? My Speer manual stops Varget at 90 grain FB's, yet gives me data for 7mm08 Varget loads out past 120 grain bullets.

We have the same 308 case here, just necked down accordingly. I tried some Varget loads that shot 1/2 inch out of the 7mm08 and "assumed" it should work as well in the 243.

Anyway, suspecting otherwise, I'm loading 100 grain bullets for deer sized game, wanting to keep the CUP's in check, yet still would like sub MOA. I have IMR 4350, IMR 4320, IMR 4064 and of course my new favorite, Varget on hand... since you loaded for six, which way to go first?

Jolly,

With a 100 grain bullet, My rifles seem to really like IMR 4895, It gives me the most consistency. Velocity is in the 2900 fps MV range.

4064 would be the closest of the powders that you use.

Just took a few moments to look in my 27th Edition Hodgdon manual for ya.

For Varget:
95 grain bullet: 33 grains ( 2870 fps/ 45,000 CUP)... 35 grains ( 2996 fps/50,200 CUP)

100 grainers: 31 grains ( 2674 fps/ 42,700 CUP) .... 37.7 grains ( 2838 fps/ 50,400 CUP)

Load data for Varget and H 4895 are usually so close, that I consider them interchangeable, unless some is pushing overloads. ( Actually I think they are the same powder, and are just selling it under two different names, instead of canning an old standby *(H 4895) to come out with a new replacement powder, Varget.) Just MHO.

Thanks sea... I'll put some together and shoot them today.

One quick ?... I used to get notified via email when someone replied to a thread or post I visited, but now, I don't. I looked in my user profile to see if there was an area to enable same, but couldn't find it. Can you tell me where that feature is? Thanks in advance.

I used VVN160 out of my 243 with the 90gr ballistic tip. IMR 4831 is about 0.5gr slower at these charge weights and so is likely to be excellent.

Well, I just got back and the results are a mixed bag...

Test rounds with IMR 4064 showed the most promise out of the Parker Hale, in at .773. Cuts two and then nudges the other out of the cluster. Did that 3 times... dunno why, just does.

I was tight on Varget so I didn't load any with it yet. I did load a few with IMR 4320, read that someplace, but it didn't like that at all.

I played around with brass, (Rem and Win), with each powder, and marked the best groups with the Winchesters.

I have some 4350 and will be gathering up some 4895 soon. I just wish I had more time off from work and this rain would stop long enough to shoot them in.

I use 40gr of Varget, Hornady cases, Winchester primers and 87gr BTHP Hornadys. Deadly accurate, used on antalope this year and hope to use on coyotes and pd's. I am hitting milk jugs out to 500 yards.