243 powder ? Which one from my inventory?

[pannell1100]

IMR 4064 works best in 243 win.

 

[Deputy819]

Another vote for H4350 here. My load is 41.2gr H4350 with a 90gr Berger Target BT, Lapua brass and Federal 210M's. Shoots into 1/4 minute at 200 yards and has done so the last 4 times I've shot for groups at that distance. Velocity average 3126 fps.

 

[Clem Bronkoski]

I always loaded my .243 with IMR450 but if I were to load one today it would be with H4350 or IMR4064. Either of these 3 are good for a lot of cartridges.

 

[Lionel Boyd Johnson]

Starting to load for 243. These are my powder choices. Where would you suggest that I start? These are all I have in inventory right now

4831sc
RL17
H1000
Rl26
H4350

Over 25 years of reloading the .243 Winchester, I've had great results using H4350 with bullets from around 75 grains up to 105 grains. -Ed

 

[Rocketeer77]

the 90 gr accubond RL26 will give the best velocity out of what you have in stock , next would be RL17 . RL26 gives a good case fill % too , about 103% about 3230FPS .
RL17 gives a case fill of about 93% , (I like more ), and about 3170FPS .

IMR7828ssc would be a good choice too , if you can find it .

100 grain sierra's , RL26 is going to give top velocity , about 3100FPs , about 100% case fill .
H1000 is a little high case fill 111.2% and gives about 3000 FPS .

IMR7828ssc is a good choice , again if you can find it .



the 243 with the 100 gr bullets likes slow powder . I used IMR7828 before the ssc version was available . made good velocity , but the high case fill made it hard to work with . if I were you , I'd start with RL26 for either bullet . I like velocity .

RL26 seems very slow for the small volume bore of most hunting .243 rifles. RL17 to RL26 is a big jump, for good velocity with heavier projectiles I have had some success with Superperformance, H4831SC. That burn rate seems about right. Projectiles used were 95gr SST, 100gr partition & 85gr InterBond all used for hunting only. Most animals taken under 250 metres

 

[Rflshootr]

H4350 & Federal primers if you have them.

 

[Oldtime Shooter13]

IMR4350 or H4350, IMR4064 and if you can find IMR4320 has always been my go to powder for the lighter pills.

 

[cm1021]

I'm getting 3085 using 95 gr Sierra TGK with 42.5 gr of RL 17 in my wife's 22 in Model 70.

it's a killer on mule deer and antelope.

95gr? I've only seen them in 90 and 100 gr.

 

[Jwp2578]

I've had outstanding luck with the 105-110s. And H1000. My go to load for my 243win is 46gr H1000 and 108eldm. Have killed countless hogs coyotes and prairie dogs with that load.

 

[BigDon]

I used h1000 in my 243 once. Only time ive ever had a reloading incident.

Are you going to tell us the story - or just be a tease?

 

[Oldtime Shooter13]

Over 25 years of reloading the .243 Winchester, I've had great results using H4350 with bullets from around 75 grains up to 105 grains. -Ed

Agree, H4350 is a great powder. I use it in almost everything I load for from 6CM to 30-06. That's why you can't buy it?

 

[jimbires]

RL26 seems very slow for the small volume bore of most hunting .243 rifles. RL17 to RL26 is a big jump, for good velocity with heavier projectiles I have had some success with Superperformance, H4831SC. That burn rate seems about right. Projectiles used were 95gr SST, 100gr partition & 85gr InterBond all used for hunting only. Most animals taken under 250 metres

whatever works for you . it will be hard to beat RL26 for velocity . the 243 with heavy bullets likes slow powders . I run RL26 and RL17 in a 260 with good results .

 

[okie man]

Are you going to tell us the story - or just be a tease?

So it was early in my reloading years. I had done the start low, work up thing on several calibers. Each time I ended up with a near max load with great accuracy and no pressure signs. So along come a nice model 7 in 243. I'm going through the Hornady manual and I see a load for 95 grain sst and h1000. i had both on the shelf so I think, every time I work a load up, i safely reach max charge no problem with good accuracy. So I proceeded stuffing a max charge in 10 cases and seat bullets.
I took the gun and several others with me to the range. Break out the 243 and let one go. Recoil was pretty good for a 243 but it's a light rifle with a 18" barrel. Hit right in the center of target. went too open the bolt and it was pretty hard. Finally pop it open and the primer falls out. I was like screw that, I'm not shooting anymore. My buddy grabs it and says it must be a fluke, sends one down range. Almost hit the same hole but had too tap the bolt open with a chunk of 2x4. Case was ruined, gun survived. I pulled the rest of the bullets and started over with IMR4831 and followed the basic rules of reloading.
Wish I had a chronograph because I bet the 2 shots were fast. Too this day I do not take short cuts or random loads found on the internet . My foolish friend was not so wise. He later exploded 2 -270 rifles, blew his truck window out, lost a thumb and ripped a Leupold scope in two with the same batch of reloads.

 

[YZ-80]

Another vote for H4350 here. My load is 41.2gr H4350 with a 90gr Berger Target BT, Lapua brass and Federal 210M's. Shoots into 1/4 minute at 200 yards and has done so the last 4 times I've shot for groups at that distance. Velocity average 3126 fps.
View attachment 293811

Doesn't surprise me. Nice group. I'm not sure if anybody has mentioned it but RL-22 works great too. I had a beautiful mid-70s BT-78 Browning in .243 (which, like a doomass I sold) that shot 95 grain Noslers into groups like yours with a similar charge of RL-22.