Interesting that most of you folks favor a faster powder than 4350 for the lighter weight bullets. I was in the Lyman manual yesterday looking for a load for the 58gr Vmax bullet and their most accurate load was with 45gr of imr 4350 so I loaded up a few. I guess I should also try a couple different powders for my range test. FS

Fasteel: The orginal request I made, was based on the fact I just couldn't get this rifle to group well. Lots of these recommendations, my shooting buddies are also using, ie. IMR4350. My frustrsation grew as I was not having any success. When a couple of the guys mentioned IMR3031, I thought that might do the trick, but same as most of the other powders I had tried. The only one left in my cabinet which I hadn't used was Varget, so I thought why not? For wwhat ever reason my 243 likes this particular combination. I really buy into the addage that every rifle is one unto it self, as I have gone thru this before. On the other hand, I have used the recommended loads by whom ever, and they have performed as advertised. Goes to show I guess, practicle shooting experience trumps written text most every time.

Jerry

Yes Jerry I'm sure you are correct. I wll give this load a try as I have already filled the cases and slid a bullet on top.
Still pretty wintery up here, might get some range time towards the end of the week. FS

Fasteel: I am an Arizona desert rat!! I hate to think of what the LOW teperatures may be up in Edmonton right now.

Jerry

Its only minus 17 celcius right now with a balmy high of - 3 for tomorrow. Lovely for some range activity. Some 25-06, some 250 Sav. little HTR 308, maybe some 243. FS

I've always had good luck with IMR-4350/H-4350 in the 243. Since we going to have some warmer weather next week I'm going to try R-17 80gr to 100gr bullets.

If I only had the option of a single powder for 243 Win IMR-4895 would be it. YMMV

quote:

Originally posted by tom holland:
I've always had good luck with IMR-4350/H-4350 in the 243. Since we going to have some warmer weather next week I'm going to try R-17 80gr to 100gr bullets.

I've had 1/4" results with RL17 with 105 A-Max's and
70gr SMK's. Not so good with others including 70gr
SBK's.......perplexing.

quote:

Originally posted by DannoBoone:

quote:

Originally posted by tom holland:
I've always had good luck with IMR-4350/H-4350 in the 243. Since we going to have some warmer weather next week I'm going to try R-17 80gr to 100gr bullets.

I've had 1/4" results with RL17 with 105 A-Max's and
70gr SMK's. Not so good with others including 70gr
SBK's.......perplexing.

Well I was going to try R-17 in the 243 but decided to try it in the 243AI. I got some pretty nice groups 100yd with 80,85 and 100gr bullets today. I try them out to 200/300yd next then chronograph see how that goes.

I think I am snake bit on the IMR4350, cause in three different 243's, I couldn't get them to group with that particular powder. One liked IMR 4064, and the other didn't like aything, I sent it down the road, LOL, and now this one with Varget????? Now I may be nit pickin, but I believe a 243 ought to shoot 3 into .75 or less.

Jerry

Although not a stick powder, my 243 likes 46.5 grains of Ramshot Hunter, which is giving me just under 3400 fps using an 80 grain TTSX and a consistent 0.6 MOA group.