What powder would work for a 243 cal. - with a 14" barrel ... I think I would need a fast burning one .... I shoot .... 55, 70, 95 grain bullets ???
Anyone out there with experience in such a load ?

I'm not concerned about velocity ....... but blow out ... which can "tip the bullet" according to Hornady .... and affect accuracy. Slow burners will be burning as the bullet exits ... Ideally all powder will be burned just as the bullet exits the barrel ? ........

This should help you

Handgun Hunter

I don't know where this started, but the "fast powder for a pistol-length barrel" is the biggest crock of garbage currently circulating. And I am not surprised Hornady gave you that "info." (If you peruse the 5th edition of the Hornady manuals, you'll find more mistakes -- not just typos but gross errors -- than I care to even mention.)

But back to the subject at hand: After years of shooting pistols along with many rifles in the same calibers, I can tell you that the powder which works best in the longer barrels will generally perform the best in the shorter tubes as well.

By the way, for the bullet weights you mentioned, anything from H4895 to app. Re-19 in burning rate will perform quite well.

Ditto what bobby said. I have used rifle data for specialty handguns since 1988. For instance I use H-4831 with a 140 grain bullet in my 284 Win XP. This load gets good velocity and accuracy.

Ernie

I have a large fire ball along with percussion waves coming out the muzzle of my Striker ... even with factor ammo, 100 grain bullet .... so I guess this condition still exists in a longer barrel .... but it is dissipated in the additional inches of the barrel and continues to propel the bullet .... so that by the time the bullet exits the charge has dissipated in the barrel ?

Thanks again ..... I'm trying to cut down on the BLAST if possible ..... but if it is a necessary condition so be it ........ I can ENJOY the fire works as long as I know that ballistically speaking the load is correct .......

I had similar effects when shooting my 10 inch .30-30 contender with Ball-C(2) powder handloads. The fireball was truly spectacular even in full daylight. While the load was accurate and a favorite in my rifle, I elected to use IMR3031 and the fireworks were much subdued. I did give up a bit of velocity but it was much more enjoyable for me to shoot. I would certainly try some of the powders that have quicker buring rates than the typical .243 loads. A quick scan of my older Lee manual shows several loads for H322, H335, IMR3031, IMR4064 and others that may reduce the flash.

Thanks .... I went on HODGDON's website and asked ... they sent a complete load list for the .243 along with a recommendation to use the faster powders. Great site, quick reply.


Hodgdon Powder Company
Cartridge Load Recipe Report - 1/5/2004 243 Winchester
Load Type: Pistol

Comments: Here is the pistol data. I would stay with the faster powders. They are listed slowest to fastest in each bullet weight.
Thanks, Phil Hodgdon

Cartridge Information
Case: Winchester Barrel Length: 15"
Twist: 1:10" Trim Length: 2.035"
Primer: WINCHESTER LR

243 Winchester
Cartridge Load Data Starting Loads

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------
Maximum Loads

--------------------------------------------------------------------------------

Bullet Weight (Gr.) Powder Bullet Diam. C.O.L. Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure Grs. Vel. (ft/s) Pressure
55 GR. NOS BT H414 .243" 2.650" 45.0 3001 37,400 CUP 50.0 3361 51,600 CUP
55 GR. NOS BT H380 .243" 2.650" 46.0 3156 40,600 CUP 51.0 3406 48,700 CUP
55 GR. NOS BT Varget .243" 2.650" 41.0 3124 42,600 CUP 45.0 3329 50,000 CUP
55 GR. NOS BT BL-C(2) .243" 2.650" 43.0 3184 42,600 CUP 47.0 3498 49,400 CUP
55 GR. NOS BT H4895 .243" 2.650" 40.0 3223 35,100 CUP 44.5 3515 49,300 CUP
55 GR. NOS BT Benchmark .243" 2.650" 39.0 3288 42,600 CUP 41.5 3387 50,100 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX H414 .243" 2.600" 46.0 3121 43,600 CUP 49.0 3359 49,100 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX H380 .243" 2.600" 46.0 3331 47,500 CUP 49.5 3483 51,000 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX Varget .243" 2.600" 41.0 3198 44,800 CUP 44.0 3329 49,800 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX H335 .243" 2.600" 39.5 3179 47,800 CUP 41.5 3363 50,600 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX H4895 .243" 2.600" 40.0 3210 43,300 CUP 43.0 3353 59,900 CUP
58 GR. HDY V-MAX Benchmark .243" 2.600" 35.0 2989 41,800 CUP 37.5 3177 50,400 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP H414 .243" 2.600" 43.0 2904 38,600 CUP 47.5 3219 49,600 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP H380 .243" 2.600" 43.0 2995 38,900 CUP 48.0 3249 47,400 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP Varget .243" 2.600" 40.0 3035 45,400 CUP 42.7 3188 50,400 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP H335 .243" 2.600" 35.0 3127 41,400 CUP 39.0 3289 50,300 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP H4895 .243" 2.600" 38.0 3177 40,500 CUP 42.0 3264 50,500 CUP
60 GR. SIE HP Benchmark .243" 2.600" 38.5 3296 47,000 CUP 41.2 3435 50,700 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX H414 .243" 2.600" 45.0 3054 41,400 CUP 48.0 3259 49,400 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX H380 .243" 2.600" 42.0 2947 45,200 CUP 45.0 3127 50,000 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX Varget .243" 2.600" 38.0 2707 43,100 CUP 41.0 3045 49,600 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX BL-C(2) .243" 2.600" 39.0 2978 47,300 CUP 42.0 3187 49,500 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX H4895 .243" 2.600" 38.0 3055 44,500 CUP 41.0 3220 49,200 CUP
65 GR. HDY V-MAX Benchmark .243" 2.600" 37.0 3090 44,300 CUP 40.0 3255 50,600 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP H414 .243" 2.625" 42.0 2840 41,600 CUP 46.0 3083 49,800 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP H380 .243" 2.625" 42.0 2933 42,900 CUP 46.0 3154 48,900 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP Varget .243" 2.625" 38.0 2921 45,500 CUP 40.5 3061 50,100 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP BL-C(2) .243" 2.625" 35.0 2913 47,900 CUP 39.0 3007 50,400 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP H4895 .243" 2.625" 36.0 2912 42,700 CUP 39.5 3167 49,200 CUP
70 GR. SPR HP Benchmark .243" 2.625" 36.5 3080 45,100 CUP 39.3 3196 50,300 CUP
75 GR. HDY HP H414 .243" 2.640" 42.0 2863 41,100 CUP 46.0 3096 50,100 CUP
75 GR. HDY HP H380 .243" 2.640" 40.0 2774 42,700 CUP 44.5 3045 48,600 CUP
75 GR. HDY HP Varget .243" 2.640" 36.0 2737 45,000 CUP 38.5 2899 50,500 CUP
75 GR. HDY HP BL-C(2) .243" 2.640" 34.0 2863 45,100 CUP 37.5 2969 49,200 CUP
75 GR. HDY HP H4895 .243" 2.640" 34.0 2741 40,900 CUP 38.0 3018 49,400 CUP
80 GR. SIE BTSP H414 .243" 2.635" 42.0 3026 46,300 CUP 45.0 2861 50,100 CUP
80 GR. SIE BTSP H380 .243" 2.635" 38.0 2657 44,700 CUP 41.2 2877 50,300 CUP
80 GR. SIE BTSP Varget .243" 2.635" 36.0 2714 45,400 CUP 38.5 2854 50,500 CUP
80 GR. SIE BTSP BL-C(2) .243" 2.635" 35.0 2806 47,100 CUP 38.5 2943 50,600 CUP
80 GR. SIE BTSP H4895 .243" 2.635" 35.0 2786 45,800 CUP 38.0 2988 50,100 CUP
85 GR. BAR XBTC H4350 .243" 2.560" 42.0 2637 39,700 CUP 45.5C 2850 49,600 CUP
85 GR. BAR XBTC H414 .243" 2.560" 42.0 2706 41,400 CUP 45.0 2939 50,200 CUP
85 GR. BAR XBTC H380 .243" 2.560" 40.0 2654 43,400 CUP 43.0 2784 48,800 CUP
85 GR. BAR XBTC Varget .243" 2.560" 35.0 2621 44,200 CUP 38.0 2811 50,400 CUP
85 GR. BAR XBTC H4895 .243" 2.560" 35.0 2797 45,100 CUP 38.0 2952 49,900 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP H4831 .243" 2.625" 45.0 2638 43,700 CUP 48.0C 2793 50,800 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP H4350 .243" 2.625" 42.0 2729 44,400 CUP 44.5 2850 50,600 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP H414 .243" 2.625" 41.0 2731 43,600 CUP 43.5 2886 49,600 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP H380 .243" 2.625" 38.0 2598 43,100 CUP 40.5 2756 49,500 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP Varget .243" 2.625" 34.0 2548 44,800 CUP 36.5 2670 50,400 CUP
90 GR. SPR SP H4895 .243" 2.625" 34.0 2654 44,900 CUP 36.5 2819 50,800 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H1000 .243" 2.650" 45.0 2434 44,900 CUP 48.0C 2603 50,000 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H4831 .243" 2.650" 42.0 2459 47,000 CUP 44.5C 2589 50,700 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H4350 .243" 2.650" 39.0 2524 45,800 CUP 42.0 2688 50,500 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H414 .243" 2.650" 39.0 2568 43,800 CUP 42.0 2781 50,700 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H380 .243" 2.650" 36.0 2433 43,000 CUP 38.0 2569 49,100 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART Varget .243" 2.650" 33.0 2485 45,000 CUP 35.0 2600 50,200 CUP
95 GR. NOS PART H4895 .243" 2.650" 33.0 2592 45,000 CUP 35.0 2740 50,700 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H1000 .243" 2.650" 44.0 2419 45,700 CUP 47.0C 2571 49,800 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H4831 .243" 2.650" 39.0 2276 44,400 CUP 42.0 2438 50,100 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H4350 .243" 2.650" 37.0 2434 45,100 CUP 40.0 2582 51,000 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H414 .243" 2.650" 37.0 2487 44,500 CUP 40.0 2667 50,600 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H380 .243" 2.650" 34.0 2317 43,600 CUP 36.0 2439 50,100 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP Varget .243" 2.650" 31.0 2311 42,700 CUP 33.7 2465 50,400 CUP
100 GR. SPR BTSP H4895 .243" 2.650" 31.0 2400 44,900 CUP 33.0 2521 50,100 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H1000 .243" 2.760" 43.0 2330 45,400 CUP 46.0C 2517 50,200 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H4831 .243" 2.760" 38.0 2227 43,900 CUP 41.0 2375 50,200 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H4350 .243" 2.760" 35.0 2267 44,300 CUP 37.5 2443 49,500 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H414 .243" 2.760" 36.0 2389 43,700 CUP 39.0 2559 50,100 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H380 .243" 2.760" 33.0 2261 43,700 CUP 35.0 2378 49,800 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX Varget .243" 2.760" 31.0 2297 45,600 CUP 33.0 2411 50,800 CUP
105 GR. HDY A-MAX H4895 .243" 2.760" 30.5 2390 44,900 CUP 32.5 2503 50,100 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H1000 .243" 2.850" 43.0 2345 44,700 CUP 46.0C 2513 50,100 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H4831 .243" 2.850" 38.0 2215 43,700 CUP 41.0 2360 50,100 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H4350 .243" 2.850" 35.0 2266 43,100 CUP 37.5 2424 50,200 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H414 .243" 2.850" 35.0 2353 43,400 CUP 38.0 2528 49,500 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H380 .243" 2.850" 33.0 2245 44,400 CUP 34.8 2361 50,100 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP Varget .243" 2.850" 31.0 2272 45,300 CUP 33.0 2385 50,400 CUP
107 GR. SIE BTHP H4895 .243" 2.850" 30.5 2348 45,900 CUP 32.5 2472 49,900 CUP

Pag-
This is about right on with what we had told you. But I ahve to clairify something you mentioned: Hodgdon's did not advise you to use "fast" powders. They advised you to stick with the fastest of the powders listed, which is a huge difference. None of the powders listed are considered "fast."

Thanks again ..... which Hodgdon powders are considered "fast?"

I went to Accurate Powders website and received this response. Great Site !!

John,

Faster powder will limit the muzzle effects.

However no powder really has complete burn and especially when a rifle caliber is utilized in a handgun/short barrel.

We suggest that you experiment with our 2015 2230 for the lighter i.e. 55gr and 70grain bullets.

However the heavier 100grain bullet will require a slower powder such as our 4064 or 2700.





I am attaching the published information.

The same loads apply for all barrel lengths.

You can expect a reduction of approximately -15%.



This same information is also available on our website www.accuratepowder.com

Note: It will be a .pdf file -- (Adobe-Acrobat) If you do not have it yet, you can download Acrobat Reader 7 or later version (Available Free), from the website www.adobe.com to view it

NB!!!! Always start at the minimum or �START� charge and gradually (2% increments) work up towards the �Maximum load�.

Johan Loubser
Ballistic Lab manager
Accurate Powders
Mc Ewen TN
.243 WINCHESTER
Introduced by Winchester
in 1955 for the
Model 70 bolt action and
Model 88 lever action
rifles, the .243 Winchester
is simply a necked-down
.308 Winchester and is the
result of a successful effort
to develop a dual purpose
cartridge for both varmint and deer-sized game.
Unlike the .308, the .243 can be a difficult cartridge to load with �faster� propellants. The
best choice for all-around use in the .243 is either Accurate 4350 or 3100.
The SAAMI Maximum Average Pressure for the .243 Winchester is 52,000 C.U.P.
.243 WINCHESTER
Gun HS PRECISION Max Length 2.045 "
Barrel Length 24 " Trim Length 2.025 "
Primer CCI 200 OAL Max 2.710 "
Case WW OAL Min 2.540 "
START LOADS MAXIMUM LOADS Cartridge
Bullet Powder Grains Vel. Powder Grains Vel. C.U.P. Length Comment
NOS 55 BT 2015 35.1 3283 2015 39.0 3731 48,600 2.605"
2230 37.3 3350 2230 41.5 3807 47,200
2460 38.7 3406 2460 43.0 3871 48,000
2520 39.1 3418 2520 43.5 3885 48,500
2700 43.6 3364 2700 48.5 3823 50,100
4350 42.7 3094 4350 47.5 3516 42,700 Compressed
3100 42.7 2792 3100 47.5 3173 34,100 Compressed
SRA 60 HP 2015 34.2 3244 2015 38.0 3686 50,600 2.580 "
2230 38.0 3478 2230 40.0 3700 50,800
2460 38.0 3466 2460 40.0 3687 50,500
2495 36.0 3232 2495 40.0 3673 51,500
2520 38.0 3376 2520 40.0 3591 49,900
4064 38.7 3241 4064 43.0 3684 49,300
2700 41.9 3225 2700 46.5 3665 50,800
4350 43.2 3196 4350 48.0 3632 48,300
3100 43.2 2915 3100 48.0 3313 43,400
206
START LOADS MAXIMUM LOADS Cartridge
Bullet Powder Grains Vel. Powder Grains Vel. C.U.P. Length Comment
HDY 70 SX 2015 32.9 2988 2015 36.5 3395 46,800 2.650 "
2230 36.6 3224 2230 38.5 3430 50,200
2460 37.1 3234 2460 39.0 3440 50,400
2495 35.1 3070 2495 39.0 3489 49,900
2520 37.1 3163 2520 39.0 3365 48,200
4064 37.8 3061 4064 42.0 3479 48,400
2700 40.5 3078 2700 45.0 3498 50,100
4350 43.2 3107 4350 48.0 3531 47,600 Compressed
3100 43.2 2830 3100 48.0 3216 42,200 Compressed
SPR 80 SP 5744 22.5 2285 5744 25.0 2597 36,500 2.700"
2015 30.2 2746 2015 33.5 3121 48,200
2495 32.4 2842 2495 36.0 3230 50,900
2520 32.3 2830 2520 34.0 3011 47,800
4064 33.3 2810 4064 37.0 3194 50,400
2700 39.9 3039 2700 42.0 3233 50,400
4350 39.6 2918 4350 44.0 3316 47,900
3100 42.3 2878 3100 47.0 3271 49,000 Compressed
SRA 85 HPBT 2495 31.5 2703 2495 35.0 3072 48,700 2.660 "
4064 34.2 2763 4064 38.0 3140 49,000
2700 39.0 2952 2700 41.0 3140 49,200
4350 39.6 2899 4350 44.0 3294 49,800
3100 41.4 2756 3100 46.0 3132 46,800
NOS 95 SP 2495 29.7 2535 2495 33.0 2881 51,400 2.700 "
4064 30.6 2499 4064 34.0 2840 49,900
2700 37.1 2740 2700 39.0 2915 49,700
4350 36.0 2680 4350 40.0 3046 50,700
3100 39.6 2649 3100 44.0 3010 49,300
SPR 100 SBT 2495 27.0 2335 2495 30.0 2653 50,300 2.700 "
4064 27.9 2326 4064 31.0 2644 50,000
2700 34.2 2588 2700 36.0 2753 48,300
4350 35.1 2623 4350 39.0 2981 51,800
3100 38.7 2610 3100 43.0 2966 51,900
.243 WINCHESTER (continued)
Caliber 243Winchester Case length Min: 2.025
Barrel: H&S precision 24" Max: 2.045
Case: Winchester Cartridge length Min: 2.540
Primer: CCI200 Max: 2.710
Bullet Bullet Powder Start Start Start Maximum Maximum Maximum
Make Weight Type Load Velocity Pressure Load Velocity Pressure AOL
Type Grains grains Fps kPsi Grains Fps kPsi inches
Speer SPFB Spitzer 80 Magpro 48.3 3168 45.6 53.7* 3510 60.6 2.700
Speer SPBT 100 Magpro 42.8 2838 47.6 47.5 3107 59.8 2.675
* Maximum load is compressed with the light 80grain bullet
WARNING!! ALWAYS BEGIN LOADING AT THE RECOMMENDED MINIMUM OR "START" LOAD