243 win and hammers, what's your recipe?

[QQQQQ]

I did load development for my boy's first rifle about 3 years ago, a Ruger American compact .243 win. we broke the barrel in with 2 boxes of factory Hornady custom lite 87 grn. sst. They shot great with very little recoil. We moved to the 80 grn HH and started with RL-16. We loaded up from 42 grn. in 1/2 grain increments to 46 grns. 44.5, 45, and 45.5 all shot a very nice tight little cluster. 45 and 45.5 had the exact same velocity over the chrony so we stuck with 45 grains. My boy has hit steel targets out to 500 yards and was shooting at about .75 moa at that distance. Pretty impressive for a 12 year old and a very light compact rifle. He took his first 2 Blacktail bucks that year with that load both at about 120 to 140 yards and they were DRT!! I would take Steve's advise and start At 40 grns as every rifle is different. Rem Brass, Rem 9 1/2 primer, coal 2.675, and a velocity of 3197. Hope this helps and best of luck. Jason

Appreciate that! I think I am going to go with the 80gn HH. 70gn just seems so light for mule deer. Would you suggest using a LRM primer vs LR? Why is that (asking because I truly don't know, not suggesting it's wrong)? I have CCI and federal primers in both LR and LRM. What would you suggest I use?

 

[7Rum Slayer]

I never tried a magnum primer with that load, the standard LR primer would be my choice. I love federal primers so I would start there. I have found in some other mid capacity cartridges that magnum primers sometimes over pressure quicker, just an observation I've noticed loading Hammers. I think you will enjoy both the performance and the ease of loading Hammer bullets. cheers, Jason

 

[QQQQQ]

I never tried a magnum primer with that load, the standard LR primer would be my choice. I love federal primers so I would start there. I have found in some other mid capacity cartridges that magnum primers sometimes over pressure quicker, just an observation I've noticed loading Hammers. I think you will enjoy both the performance and the ease of loading Hammer bullets. cheers, Jason

My bad, I thought Rem 9 1/2 were magnums.

 

[SSgt G Cody]

MY GRANDSON AND I HAVE MATCHING REM VARMINT SPECIAL .243's, AND ARE SHOOTING 70gn HAMMER HUNTERS, USING 43gn H414, WIN LRM PRIMERS, AND BOTH ARE SHOOTING 200 yd GROUPS AT UNDER 1/2in. AND 3360fps! WE PLAN ON USING THIS FOR DEER THIS FALL.

 

[QQQQQ]

Update for those who care, I finally got around to shooting H4350 with 80gn HH out of my kids compact Ruger American 243. I started at 41gn and went to 46.5 gn in .5 gn increments. I initially loaded 41-45 gn but never saw pressure signs so I loaded 45-46.5. From the first group set I figured 46.5 should get me around the 3300fps and stopped there. I shot the 45gn twice to ensure the readings from the second set would be credible with the readings from the first set.

I did not notice a heavy bolt lift on any of these. The 46.5 may have almost lifted a little heavier than the others but not by much. I could not see a difference from the 41gn primer to the 46.5 primer, no flattening or heavy crater. In the pictures the 41gn is on the left and 46.5 is on the right. PLEASE if I am missing any over pressure indicator, point it out to me.

So I believe I will continue with a load at 44.8 and a load at 46.2 and see what groups look like.

 

[GLTaylor]

Please post your final results when finished. Thanks!
GL

 

[QQQQQ]

Please post your final results when finished. Thanks!
GL

Will do, it will be a little bit until I am able to shoot again though

 

[338weatherby]

I am trying Varget out. I loaded up a ladder to try tomorrow.
starting at 40.0gr with 70gr HH, CCI 200's at 2.700 COAL crimped. Once fired Hornady brass.
Going to 40.5 then up .3gr to 42.9grs. This will be a load for my daughter's Savage 11XP compact (20"). I've got 4 weeks until our Antelope hunt.

 

[Gstew1930]

Following

 

[GLTaylor]

@338weatherby,
Please share your results as well with all particulars. The 243 is very popular!

 

[338weatherby]

@338weatherby,
Please share your results as well with all particulars. The 243 is very popular!

Will do!

 

[co_nucleus]

On the 46.2 grain loads, right case, can just see the arc indentation from the ejector hole ('R' of NOSLER). Understanding that Lapua brass is more sturdy than run of the mill mfr brass, pressure looks up to me (my opinion).

Measure case head diameter expansion between 42.9 and 46.2. See if the hotter load is showing expansion.

 

[338weatherby]

Here is what I got. I will check case head expansion later. One thing to note, none of these loads had heavy bolt lift or any real difference in pressure signs? From 40.0 to 42.9 they all appear to have somewhat flattening on the primers? I couldn't get a photo of the target due to the range being very busy. The last 5 (41.7-42.9) were about .75" at 100.

Savage 11XP 20" barrel 1-10 twist
Hornady once fired brass 2.700" COAL 70gn HH crimped, CCI 200's Varget 70 degree temp
40.0 - 3337
40.5 - 3433
40.8 - 3474
41.1 - 3485
41.4 - 3506
41.7 - 3568
42.0 - 3556
42.3 - 3585
42.6 - 3616 slight crater
42.9 - 3626 slight crater

Look at the pics and the primers. The cases are in order 42.9-40.0 left to right. Thinking the 41.7 or 42.0 may be ones to go with.

 

[co_nucleus]

Agree with 41.7 to 42.0. That could be a stable node in the loads. Waiting to see how one groups.