243w with RL17

[Salchi Papa]

So I’ve been running my Savage 243w with Sierra PH 100gr and 41.0gr of H4350 pushing them right at or slightly under 3k. Great accuracy and mild recoil. I’ve had 10 rounds loaded for some time now with 90gr accubonds with RL17 @42.0 and put them over the chrono today at 3230fps avg. I had good accuracy but need to check seating depth they hit 1.5” high and had about a 1.25” group for 5 rounds shooting 100yds. My question is does the speed seem high/excessive? I had slightly flat primers but nothing too bad and no other signs other than speed seeming high unless I’m wrong. Book max is 41.0gr should I be backing it down some?

 

[ReloadKy]

I use R17 in my 243. I have never gotten close to those speeds though. If I get 3000 with a 95/100 gr bullet in my 243 I am happy. 3230 fps seems a bit high to me.

 

[Salchi Papa]

No measurement but this is 5 shots at 100yds not sure why I’m trying g anything else but you know how it goes

 

[TexasLife]

Seems like 19 would be better for 100gr+.

 

[Salchi Papa]

I don’t have 19 and I doubt I’ll find it anytime soon. I have 16, 17, 22 imr and H 4350 and 4831 imr7828 and 7828ssc lots of w760

 

[Bruce Mc]

I have a quick load work up on the 90gr AccuBond that shows 44.8grs of Re 17 giving 3205 fps from a 22" barrel. I don't recall which member worked it up for me.

 

[TexasLife]

I don’t have 19 and I doubt I’ll find it anytime soon. I have 16, 17, 22 imr and H 4350 and 4831 imr7828 and 7828ssc lots of w760

19 has been out along with 7, 10, ar-comp, 15, 15.5 and 16. midsouth had 25 for a short time. without having little to none of 17 left in my stock, vv550 was my replacement. vv560 might have to replace my low stock of 19.

 

[desertcj]

You should forget about developing anything RL for the time being unless you already know what you’re doing. H4350 is very good in .243 for 90 gr bullets… heavier and I’d lean to IMR 7828sc and H1000 personally but H4831 is good as well and there’s others in that range that I haven’t tried.

 

[wvbuckbuster]

H or IMR 4350 has been used in the 243 for years along with 4831. Used both with good results. That group looks good by the way. Dan.

 

[Salchi Papa]

I actually pulled the accubonds and dumped the powder RL17. Loaded back up my H4350 with Sierras about an hour ago

 

[PJGunner]

To be honest I haven't shot ot loaded for the .243 for a very long time. I don't even remembe what powder I used with the 100 gr. Hornady SP. Onde reason is I gave the one I had away to the son of a friend. He was one of the kids I took ook out an their first deer hunt. He fell in love with the rifle so when I moved from Nevada to Arizona I just gave him the rifle with his dad's permission.
When I acquired another .243, I tried some 85 gr. Game King HPs with some W760 and I didn't like the results. Tried changing the scope with a proven one but no joy there. I probably should try the 100 gr. Hornadys one of these days before deciding what to do with that rifle.
One the powder situation two factors that I know of are what's causing the problem. Possibly the most serious is world wide, China is supplying at least 45% or more of the nitrocellulose used in making smokless power. Currently, I've heard that they're selling basically only to Russia but only limited or none at all to NATO countries supporting Ukraine. The US is part of NATO. What nitrocellulose made here is going to the government. Alliant has stated they're not selling powders to us peons as they have government contrats to fulfull. Where have I heard that before? Like when the government was buying up all that ammo a few years back.
You can add Russia to the mix as they just passed some kind of law (?) that says if Russia is in a war with a non-nuclear state, she will not use nukes. However, if a nuclear power state gives aid and support to the non nuke state, Russia will consider that coungry to also be at war with them and use nukes. Folks, NATO is helping the Ukraine and the United States is part of NATO.
MY bottle of RL15 says Made in Sweden and my bottle of RL17 made in Switzerland.
DuPont used to make nitrocellulose as did Hercules. IMR powders are IIRC are now made in Canada and Alliant bought out Hercules gun powder manufacturing.
Think about that the next time you buy powder and none is available. I posted that because I still get prople asking me what happened to the powder supply.
Paul B.