Another .243 on the way...

With a 5ft/115lb wife and two daughters that aren't likely to get much bigger than that, I decided I may as well get a small rifle in .243 for them to use. Nothing fancy, chose a Mossberg Patriot youth with the 20" barrel. Found some Winchester brass to run through it and I want to use the 80 grain TTSX if I can get them to shoot. I have 90 grain E-tips also and picked up a box of Hornady 87 grain HPBT just for shooting/practice. I've seen a lot of data showing that IMR 7828ssc is the stuff to use in a .243. H4350 seems good too. I got some Superformance to try as well, but I really haven't seen much data on it.

To sum it up, I'm thinking 80 grain bullet -Superformance or H4350. 87 grain and 90 grain bullets- I think Superformance, IMR 7828ssc and H4350 are all worth a shot. 90 grain E-tips are the lightest Ive shot through my .243 and loads are compressed with 7828ssc due to the .100" jump to the lands. I think 7828ssc loads would be about the same load density or less with a cup/core 87 grain. Thoughts? I'm trying to go with the lighter weight bullets to keep the speed up out of the short barrel and also, we have to hunt with copper bullets so speed is good.

45.5grs IMR-4350 is right @ 3200fps from mine with the 80 TTSX with very small and very consistent groups. I just seated mine to the center of the top groove and kept adding powder.

I tried 85 Partitions and could not get them to what I wanted so from the advice of many here, I tried the 95 Btip and was able to get great groups.

They are a fun round to play with.

Have a Savage model 11 youth with 20" barrel that shoots very well.

85gr TSX
44.5 grains IMR4831
Fed 210 Primer
OAL 2.645

Magneto Speed checked Sunday morning at 50 degrees and went like this, waiting 15 minutes between shots to get cold barrel readings.

3,233fps
3,228fps
3,234fps

Barnes just updated 243 load data this week also!
http://www.barnesbullets.com/files/2014 ... V3BRM5.pdf

Good choices.
IMR4350 is another great powder in the 243 Win.

JD338

That Barnes data had Superformance with the 80 grain TTSX. One of the main recipes I was looking for. Thanks! I'll work on that one, but first I need to come up with a good practice load with the 87 grain HPBTs. I have a couple boxes of factory Federal stuff just to get it broke in.

Mine shoots the Sierra 85 gr gameking HPBT's really well. That's another affordable practice bullet that many report great results on both deer, antelope and coyote. I hope to use them this winter. I'm using IMR4064 in mine, though I'm sure other powders would work well too. Mine also shoots the BT's well.

desertcj":30ctpgik said:

Thanks! I'll work on that one, but first I need to come up with a good practice load with the 87 grain HPBTs. I have a couple boxes of factory Federal stuff just to get it broke in.

Click to expand...

40grs 4350

HeathSexton":2ukibbhu said:

desertcj":2ukibbhu said:

Thanks! I'll work on that one, but first I need to come up with a good practice load with the 87 grain HPBTs. I have a couple boxes of factory Federal stuff just to get it broke in.

Click to expand...

40grs 4350

Click to expand...

That seems pretty light? Like a minimum load?

Yep

Good place to start!

I have found that in the 80-85 grain bullet weights just shoot all the IMR4831, RL19 or Superformance, oh well or Hunter you can get in the case and not "crunch" it seating bullet. The .243 is a pressure hog. If you here it "shake" put powder in it. LOL

If you go the 4350 way 42 grains is gonna be close. Like above said start at 40 grains and load up to 3,200fps.

Seriously any 80-85 grains bullet should run 3,200fps, if you get there with 42 to 46 grains of powder you be just right as goldi locks said.

I'm hoping for 3300-3400fps with the 80 grain TTSX. Superformance or RL17 look like the players in that game.

I just completed a load for a gentleman using the 80 grain TTSX charged with H4350. The accuracy was 0.6 inches at 100 yards and a velocity of 3497 +/- 20 fps. I felt particularly good about this load as it was to be shot in a TC Encore. The owner was happy with that load.

DrMike":38y9314b said:

I just completed a load for a gentleman using the 80 grain TTSX charged with H4350. The accuracy was 0.6 inches at 100 yards and a velocity of 3497 +/- 20 fps. I felt particularly good about this load as it was to be shot in a TC Encore. The owner was happy with that load.

Click to expand...

That's a zapper of a load right there!

DrMike":ejrs7cnu said:

I just completed a load for a gentleman using the 80 grain TTSX charged with H4350. The accuracy was 0.6 inches at 100 yards and a velocity of 3497 +/- 20 fps. I felt particularly good about this load as it was to be shot in a TC Encore. The owner was happy with that load.

Click to expand...

Wow. What was the barrel length? How much powder? I didn't think you could get that kind of velocity with H4350.

I may just check it out in my grandson's .243, Scotty. I wasn't displeased with it.

The charge was 44.5 grains of H4350. OAL was adjusted to 0.100 inches off the lands.

Interesting. Barnes older data for 80 TTSX shows 45.5 grains of H4350 but only 3400 out of a 24" barrel.

Show time! It's a cute little thing....next to my 10-22 for comparison.

And yes, the scope is junk. Thinking either a Weaver K4 or K6 and some DNZ hunt master rings/bases. Headspace is tighter than my Savage 12. Not sure if that's good, bad or indifferent, but I'm sure it won't quite take the same powder charges as my other .243. Mossberg is 2.215" bolt face to lands.