.243 Nosler 95 BT and IMR4350

[hunt127588]

So I loaded up some Nosler 95 grain Ballistic Tips in a factory Remington 700 24" ADL $297 Wal-Mart special back in January and shot them in 43 degree weather. From the looks of it, the 41.4 gr load looked promising but was hoping for more velocity. My target and velocities are as follow:

40.6 gr 41.0 gr 41.4 gr 41.8 gr 42.2 gr
2824 2843 2864 2923 2932
2730 2774 2874 2826 2907
2817 2857 2882 2889 2930
2857 2873 2867 2862
ES 94 83 18 97 70
AV 2790.3 2832.8 2873.3 2876.3 2907.8
SD 52.4 39.7 7.4 40.7 32.5

I then tested the 41.4 gr load this past weekend as well as the 42.4 gr load. The 42.2 grain looks the most promising but am concerned that velocity is on the ragged edge in 69 degree weather. Bolt lift was not hard but was seeing some slight bolt face swipes. Primers were not flat but were slightly dimpled (as most all Remingtons are). I also did not experience sticky bolt lift. Here is the target which was tested at 200 yards as well as velocities:

OAL: 2.670 2.680 2.690 2.680 2.690
41.4 gr 41.4 gr 41.4 gr 42.4 gr 42.4 gr
2908 2932 2958 3040 3041
2943 2990 2993 3028 3043
2943 2937 2982 3047 3038
2951 ---- 2991 3056 3053
ES 43.0 58.0 35.0 28.0 15.0
AV 2936.3 2953.0 2981.0 3042.8 3043.8
SD 19.2 32.1 16.1 11.8 6.5

It looks like I gained about 80 fps over the 29 degree temperature variance. Would you stay at the 42.4 gr IMR4350 load or back off?

 

[JD338]

IMR4350 was always my go to powder in the 243 Win with 90 and100 gr bullets.
The 90 gr PT with 43.5 grs and 100 gr PT and Speer Hot Core with 41.5 grs IMR4350 gave me
sub MOA in a M70 XTR.
If you are going to be shooting in hot temps and you are seeing pressure signs, I would back it down
a half grain or so.

JD338

 

[baltz526]

My experience has been 4350 gives lower velocity in the 243 than a few other powders, H414/W760 IMR7828. Most of my experience is with H4350 though. 95-100gr will max out at 2900fps + - 50fps. One thing I notice is your inconsistent velocity. Do you have the chronograph set up at a full 15' ?

 

[hunt127588]

Chrono was setup 10' away; ~3 good steps from muzzle. Another thing to note is that the sun was in a different portion of the sky due to chrono'ing in Winter vs. Spring.