.243 Winchester

TBASTIAN · May 15, 2011

Just purchased a .243 Winchester, in a Browning A-Bolt II Composite Stalker, from Gunbroker this weekend. Looking forward to getting it in and trying out some loads.

I'm hoping to shoot the 100 grain Partition. I'd like to use IMR 4350, IMR 4831, RL 19, or RL 22 - but not having loaded for this caliber before I'm not sure which powders I should be thinking about.

Would welcome any suggestions and pet loads. Thanks.

JD338 · May 15, 2011

I always had great accuracy with IMR 4350 and the heavy 95-100 gr bullets.

JD338

SJB358 · May 15, 2011

I have had great luck with accuracy in the IMR3031 all the way through to IMR7828 loads using the 95gr BT's and 100gr PT's. I would really like to try IMR4350 also, as so many folks have said it is an excellent powder for the 243. Good luck, I am looking forward to your load work as I need to get a good load shooting the 100gr PT's for my son's rifle built before too long. I am hoping for 3K and good accuracy. Should make a great combo. Scotty

Guy Miner · May 15, 2011

Excellent article on loading and using the .243 Win:

http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html

My son and I use a 6mm Remington instead, but not a lot of difference in the field. We've had great success on deer with the 95 gr Nosler Ballistic Tip. The 100 gr Partition works real well too.

Guy

1Shot · May 15, 2011

IMR 4350 is really a good powder for the 243 with 100 gr bullets. I tried the accuracy and hunting loads listed in the 4th edition Sierra manual and they worked great.

Accuracy load: IMR 4350/39.1 grs; 2800 fps
Hunting load: IMR 4350/40.7 grs; 2900 fps

Start load for IMR 4350 with 100 gr bullets 36.0 grs MAX is 42.3 grs.

jmad_81 · May 15, 2011

I had good luck with both 7828, IMR 4350, and H1000. But those were with 95 VLD, 95 BT, 105 A Max, and the 105, and 107 NCC.

TBASTIAN · May 15, 2011

Thanks for the help. Appreciated the link to the article, Guy.

JD338 · May 15, 2011

Looking forward to your range report.

JD338

FOTIS · May 15, 2011

Congtrats. I love H4350 in the 243.

6mm Remington · May 16, 2011

I don't load a 243, but the 6mm Remington is close enough that the same powders should work really well in the 243 also! I really like IMR4350, and H4831SC seemed to work pretty darn good too. My son's rifle is a 6mm and we are using the Hodgdon H100V and it seems to be a great powder. That's not on your list, but might be one worth trying.
David