favorite 243 loads

[Bugman]

Confirming 41grns of AR2209 with a Hornady 87grn V-max................my choice in a Weatherby Vanguard.

[bigpete]

What recoil with the whelen ?

[GQshayne]

Confirming 41grns of AR2209 with a Hornady 87grn V-max................my choice in a Weatherby Vanguard.

That is a very light load you have there, so I expect will be well below max in your rifle. Is it particularly accurate???

[bigrich]

Confirming 41grns of AR2209 with a Hornady 87grn V-max................my choice in a Weatherby Vanguard.

That is a very light load you have there, so I expect will be well below max in your rifle. Is it particularly accurate???

that is a light load

[Daz243]

I use 43.5gr of ar2209 for the 87 v-max and 42gr of ar2209 for the 85 Sierra hpbt.

[bigrich]

I use 43.5gr of ar2209 for the 87 v-max and 42gr of ar2209 for the 85 Sierra hpbt.

thanks for the info daz, and the rest of youse i went through some handloads on the weekend. it was a bit windy , not great conditions for load comparisons. ar2208 had okay results, suprisingly RE22 turned out some great groups . i'll post the details and pics in a day or two. hopefully i'll lay my hands on some ar2209 to try soon to

[Bugman]

Confirming 41grns of AR2209 with a Hornady 87grn V-max................my choice in a Weatherby Vanguard.

That is a very light load you have there, so I expect will be well below max in your rifle. Is it particularly accurate???

Yes it is a light load however I found that it maintains excellent accuracy. Have a look at "me three...goats nil" post.
I found that this load is perfect for my rifle. I have tried a number of combinations at my local range up to 200m and this one proved to be the better.
Me thinks I will stick to it.

[GQshayne]

I have never gone that low, only 42gn. But if it works then that is what counts.

My rifles did not show much variation in accuracy when load testing, so I try to stay at a point where velocity does not go too low.

[bigrich]

Well fellas, here’s some results from some 243 load testing I did last Saturday. It was a bit windy, not optimum conditions. The 2208 was so-so, I was surprised at the RE22 results. 87 gn vmax was used in all loads, COL was 2.650”

[Stix]

Confirming 41grns of AR2209 with a Hornady 87grn V-max................my choice in a Weatherby Vanguard.

That is a very light load you have there, so I expect will be well below max in your rifle. Is it particularly accurate???

Yes it is a light load however I found that it maintains excellent accuracy. Have a look at "me three...goats nil" post.
I found that this load is perfect for my rifle. I have tried a number of combinations at my local range up to 200m and this one proved to be the better.
Me thinks I will stick to it.

Id once heard a bloke claim his load is 36 of 08 shoot'n cheap 70's...

It does ground creatures that once walked...cant say ther is anything emphatic about the results, but then some people are in it for the notoriety of 'tale telling within the click' rather than animal welfare & marksmanship...

[Stix]

Well fellas, here’s some results from some 243 load testing I did last Saturday. It was a bit windy, not optimum conditions. The 2208 was so-so, I was surprised at the RE22 results. 87 gn vmax was used in all loads, COL was 2.650”

BR..."some results"...
Mate thats one target...(a good target mind you... )

Im really keen to see what you produced in the order it was produced--not just the best--there is nothing wrong with real life results if they're not great...

Ill be loading & shooting for a 243 one day & keen to see how you progress from a brand new barrel mate...

And im sure there are a lot of guys looking that would get value out of a write up for the entire saga of finding the sweet spot...

[bigrich]

Well fellas, here’s some results from some 243 load testing I did last Saturday. It was a bit windy, not optimum conditions. The 2208 was so-so, I was surprised at the RE22 results. 87 gn vmax was used in all loads, COL was 2.650”

BR..."some results"...
Mate thats one target...(a good target mind you... )

Im really keen to see what you produced in the order it was produced--not just the best--there is nothing wrong with real life results if they're not great...

Ill be loading & shooting for a 243 one day & keen to see how you progress from a brand new barrel mate...

And im sure there are a lot of guys looking that would get value out of a write up for the entire saga of finding the sweet spot...

that was the best load so far stix, i didn't want to bore anyone with a blow by blow account. just the highlights ......
i don't seem to be having much luck with the sierra hpbt 85 gn projectiles yet the COL measures 2.625 in my barrel . i've tried 2.602 loads and they sprayed a bit . on the old barrel with the same measured COL these were more accurate than the hornady . i'm not expecting target rifle results, but i want to set this up as a portable rifle that can shoot out to 300 with a degree of accuracy . i'm not intending to use this rifle for deer or pigs ,more roos, goats on down in terms of game weight . bit more reach than my 222 . the 87 vmax will do the job,( i know someone who's taken deer with them ) but the sierra is a more flexable projectile reportedly. i'll try 10 thou off the lands and 30 thou as well and see how i go . i've a sneaking suspicion the accuracy may improve with another hundred or so rounds on the barrel as well.

[bigrich]

Well, I tested another batch of loads, using ar2209 and RE22 . The RE22 put the second bullet just about through the first hole, the third going slightly out to the right. Those first two shots are the most important in a hunting rifle for me . The 2209 group is using 43.5 gn, I’m going to creep up to 44gn and see if there’s more in it. Aside from playing with COL , I’ve just about got my 87vmax load sorted. Sierra 85 HPBT would be my preferred all round projectile, but they seem fussy to get to shoot well. Has anyone tried 90gb Nosler BT’s in 243 at all ? Thanks to all who offered advice, that’s why I like being a part of this forum

[bigrich]

bloody phones ! no i wasn't standing on my head when i shot them you guys get the general idea

[Flyer]

44.5gr of 2209 with the 87gr V-max. Here are two 4-shot groups. Chronoed at 3277fps (average) out of a 22.5" barrel. This was my favourite load for the Sako.

Vmax.jpg (785.42 KiB) Viewed 2953 times

Vmax2.jpg (793.18 KiB) Viewed 2953 times

[GojiraSteve]

thanks for the reply daz , i thought the sierra COL issue might be a isolated case related to my rifle , obviously not . great projectile though

Got the same issue with a brand new Franchi Horizon. Never seen it before. Maybe its a .243 thing? Maybe manufacturers leaving some meat in the throat to extend barrel life?