Four grand with the 243 Winchester

[todbartell]

anybody done much loading with the 55 grain bullets in the 243 Winchester??

I've done a bit with the 58 grain Vmax, got up to 3800 fps in my 24" barrel Model 700 with Varget.

Hornady lists their 58 gr factory load @ 3750 fps, which is pretty mild Id think. Federal and Winchester both load 55 grain Ballistic Tips. Winchester @ 3910 fps (lubalox coated Ballistic SilverTip), and Federal @ 3850 fps (naked NBT). BlackHills ammo in the US loads the 55 NBT @ 3800.

Nosler #4 manual lists one load at 4000+ fps, and six that are above 3935 fps. Hornady #5 lists no load with the 58 grain Vmax at 3900 fps or above. Hodgdon.com shows a few loads with the 55 gr NBT over 4000

I got five hundred 55 grain Ballistic Tips and a bunch of Varget & RL15. Im gonna see what the 243 can do


anyways, results w/ chrony info will be much appreciated. stay tuned

 

[Guy Miner]

When Nosler first introduced those little 55 grainers I tried them in my 22" barrel 6mm Remington and had no trouble hitting 3800+ fps. Didn't even try Nosler's max load, I was quite pleased with the velocity. If you've got enough barrel, I don't think you'll have any problem seeing 3900+ or even 4000 fps with those little pills. They are incredibly destructive on varmints too.

I tend to shoot the heavier bullets with my 6mm, but the 55's were a lot of fun. Good luck & looking forward to your chronograph/range reports!

Regards, Guy

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I use to load them up with a full case of H-380 and be on my way. They hit 4050fps out of my moms Ruger 243 w/22" barrel. They shoot pretty good .75" and are quite impressive on varmints to say the least. I also used a max load of IMR-4064 and achieved 4000fps as well. You will be served well out to 500 yards or so, but after that, I prefer a little more bullet weight, like the 70g NBT. It will prety mcuh vaporize rabbits and squirrels, have fun!!!

 

[Jerry 919]

One can really get the .243 sizzling with the 55 grain Nosler Ballistic Tip. I shot it exclusively for two years for coyotes. My son and I shot 138 in two years. Two good loads for winter shooting, temperatures below 40 degrees are:
1. W-W case, Fed. 210 primer, 52.0 H380, 4105 FPS
2. W-W case, Fed. 210 primer, 52.5 H414, 4080 FPS

Our weapons are Ruger 77VT with 6X18 Leupold. It is like shooting a lazer. Coyotes react like they were hit with lightning. I have one confirmed kill at 583 yards.

I got away from the 55 grainers because they were too fragile to handle. To get the 1/4 -1/2" groups bullets had to seated almost on the lands. They are a very short bullet. Barely in the casing that is full with powder. Dropped a freshly load box and over half of the bullets popped off.

Both rounds are amazing fast and accurate. We switched to the 70 grain bullet with 41.5 grains of Varget and get 3670 FPS with 1/2" groups.

As usual exercise caution and approach maximums slowly. What works in our may not in yours.

Tried some of the winter loads in August at 90 degrees and it blew the primers out of the pockets.

Jerry
Bend, Oregon