Powder for .243 70 & 95 grain bullets

[Dick Fox]

I'm new at reloading.

What IMR powder would you recommend for .243 70 & 95 grain Ballistic Tip bullets? I'm shooting them in my new Thompson Center Encore w/ a 15" barrel.

Should I use a faster burning powder, considering the shorter barrel?

Dick

 

[JD338]

Try this load for your 243 Winchester.
70 gr BT
IMR4895 39.5 grs
Federal GM210M primer

This was a "club" load, 6-7 guys used this load and everyone shot well under MOA.

JD338

 

[Blammer]

I was going to suggest IMR 4350, IMR 3031 or IMR 4895.

All three have served me well.

 

[Val]

I'm getting very good accuracy in my 243 with 70 grain BTs using 41 grains of IMR 4064. I'm getting a muzzle velocity of 3256 fps (chronograhed).

 

[2ndtimer]

Welcome to the forum, Dick. If I was restricted to IMR powder in the .243 Win, I would try IMR-4350 first, should be especially good with the 95 gr Ballistic Tip, and IMR-4064 second, which should work well with the 70 gr Ballistic Tip. Of course, you can load the 70 gr with 4350 and probably get good accuracy and velocity, but the 95 gr probably won't be able to match the results of 4350 with 4064. In my experience the 4064 worked better with lighter bullets.
I am currently loading both tjhe 70 gr and 95 gr Ballistic Tips with Accurate Data 86 powder (similar to Accurate 3100 or IMR-4831) and have turned up some pretty impressive velocites and accuracy. My favorite with the 70 gr BT chronoed over 3400 fps and about 4.7 gr less powder pushes the 95 gr BT at an average over 3050. These are measured about 12 feet from the 22" barrel of a new Stevens 200. I like the Data 86 because, ordered in bulk from powder valley, I get 2 8 lb kegs delivered for about $150 which works out to less than $10 per pound. I also use it in my 6.5x55 and .270 WSM.

 

[Blammer]

I concur with trying IMR 4350 first.