favorite 243 loads

[bigrich]

hey fellas, i'm looking for opinions on projectiles and powders for the mighty 243. i'm looking at using and setting this rifle up for distance work . goats, foxes , grey grasshoppers ( under permit ) dogs etc, are what i'm gunna set this up for, so the hornady 87 vmax and sierra 85 hpbt are my prefered projectiles as a very flat trajectory is acheivable . i'm working up fresh loads on a new 22" barrel in a push feed model 70 . early work with ar2208 seems pretty good , but i'm curious as to what others are using. i have some RE22 to try as well . anyway , give me your opinions and favorite loads

[bigpete]

First run it through a 308 expander, then a 358 expander,and seat a 200gn pill on top. Viola ! Best 243 load ever ! Lol

[bigrich]

First run it through a 308 expander, then a 358 expander,and seat a 200gn pill on top. Viola ! Best 243 load ever ! Lol

as soon as i saw you replied pete i thought this would be your response . i went off the 358 win idea , my 1903 "kraut kannon"
m98 in 8x57 with 20" barrel will do me . it'll launch a 200 gn projectile with better downrange energy than 358win , bit more reach which can be handy where i hunt . if i step up to 358 cal i'll probably build up a whelen

[bigpete]

Got one of them too lol

[bigrich]

Got one of them too lol

ya makin' me jealous pete

[bigpete]

Ok,enough thread derailing

[bigrich]

Ok,enough thread derailing

yes , back to 243 handloads and powders , i forgot to add the barrel twist is 1-10

[SCJ429]

She is going to spit out some flames with a 22 inch barrel. I have used 87 grain Vmax on foxes and goats and they are pretty emphatic. I am a few grains over the book max.

[Daz243]

Have you tried AR2209. I find it a nice powder for both the 87 v-max and the 85 hpbt. Good and accurate.

[bigrich]

Have you tried AR2209. I find it a nice powder for both the 87 v-max and the 85 hpbt. Good and accurate.

i haven't tried it yet , some folks reckon 2209 works great , i've been looking for more feedback before i go out and buy some. i've thought it could be a good thing as i subscribe to trying to have 85 - 90% powder fill in cases for more consistancy in terms of speed and accuracy . you got any more info on your loads and group sizes daz ?

[bigrich]

She is going to spit out some flames with a 22 inch barrel. I have used 87 grain Vmax on foxes and goats and they are pretty emphatic. I am a few grains over the book max.

36 gn of 2208 will get me .5" @ 100 , i haven't done any real load development yet, the barrels had about 20 soft loads and 12 reloads through it just to settle the barrel. i like the idea of a slower powder to look after the barrel throat , and i've found in the past different powders can make all the difference sometimes . if it does spit flames i'll have to get some marshmallows

[duncan61]

I load 80gn PSP on 36gn 2208 and use them in my 22 inch Howa no big flames and they are very good

[Blr243]

I also use 2208 and 87 gn v max but I’m the laziest person in the world when it comes to load development so when u do find something that works I might have to grab it of u and try it for myself

[AZZA'S HJ47]

She is going to spit out some flames with a 22 inch barrel. I have used 87 grain Vmax on foxes and goats and they are pretty emphatic. I am a few grains over the book max.

36 gn of 2208 will get me .5" @ 100 , i haven't done any real load development yet, the barrels had about 20 soft loads and 12 reloads through it just to settle the barrel. i like the idea of a slower powder to look after the barrel throat , and i've found in the past different powders can make all the difference sometimes . if it does spit flames i'll have to get some marshmallows

Have had great success with 2208 and have also found that the 2209 powder works a little better for me with the 87g vmax. I do use a pungent load of 2208 for my 58g vmax screamers and yes there's about a 12inch flame behind it. I dont shoot them often but these rounds have yielded some of the most graphically spectacular varmint kills ive had to date.

[bigrich]

Thanks for the replies fellas, lotta love for the 243 out there ( except for bigpete ) keep those loads and opinions coming.
One projectile that gives great accuracy is the Sierra 85 gn HPBT. I’ve yet to measure the COL of the new barrel, but on the old one the COL was 50 thou shorter than what Sierra list in their load data ! True ! I have the Hornady case and measuring tool, and have used it on other calibers many times. This projectile is a flat shooting good all rounder supposedly, not as explosive as the vmax ,and gave better accuracy than the Hornady on the old barrel .once i’m Finished with the vmax I’ll switch to the Sierra and see how they fly .

[sungazer]

I started out with 2206H as I use a lot of it and it does work well in the 243, Then I switched to 2209 as it fills the case much better. I don't think there has been any accuracy increase but certainly no decrease either.

I like to use the 100grn Pro Hunters or the 100grn Game Kings they both fly very well and I have taken some large game with those very successfully. The 90 grn Berger Target bullets are very accurate and can also be used hunting these may be what I switch to in the end. I have a few other bullets in the lighter weights sitting on the reloading bench that I dont think I have tried as yet.

[Daz243]

I have found that the 2209 gave me less than 1moa on both the 87vmaxs and the 85 hpbt Sierra.
Also as mentioned as well, I found the 85 hpbt the COL for my rifle (a Tikka T3) was also something similar to the 50 thou less then loading manuals as well.

[bigrich]

I have found that the 2209 gave me less than 1moa on both the 87vmaxs and the 85 hpbt Sierra.
Also as mentioned as well, I found the 85 hpbt the COL for my rifle (a Tikka T3) was also something similar to the 50 thou less then loading manuals as well.

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

[Daz243]

Foxes find it hard to stop.....

[GQshayne]

I have two loads for the .243, both mild loads of AR2209. I have BLR with a short barrel and have not noticed any issue with the loads compared to normal barrel length. Nick Harvey uses AR2209 for all bullet weights.

90Gn Speer Hot Cor with 43gn of 2209 works well. I have used 45gn with no problems in my Tikka.
70Gn Nosler Ballistic Tip with 46Gn 2209.

[flutch]

I find that my 300win makes a good substitute for a 243

[bigrich]

I find that my 300win makes a good substitute for a 243

yeah, bit of a waste of powder for a roo, goat or cat and such. i suppose if ya strap a rabbit to the projectile you could probably launch it into space

[flutch]

I find that my 300win makes a good substitute for a 243

yeah, bit of a waste of powder for a roo, goat or cat and such. i suppose if ya strap a rabbit to the projectile you could probably launch it into space

GOOD IDEA!!

yeah I use it for whatever every now and then, cos yunno, if I used the appropriate round all the time the 223 and 12 gauge would probably be all I used haha...

[bigrich]

I find that my 300win makes a good substitute for a 243

yeah, bit of a waste of powder for a roo, goat or cat and such. i suppose if ya strap a rabbit to the projectile you could probably launch it into space

GOOD IDEA!!

yeah I use it for whatever every now and then, cos yunno, if I used the appropriate round all the time the 223 and 12 gauge would probably be all I used haha...

yup i get it . my 6.5x55 and 222 are probably all i need but 22lr is cheap to plink and my 8x57 carbine with stout handloads is just fun

[duncan61]

I belt 100gn Sierra game kings out my 7mm RemMag at 3300fps and it feels good to head shoot roos and rabbits.Pictures to come

[bigrich]

I belt 100gn Sierra game kings out my 7mm RemMag at 3300fps and it feels good to head shoot roos and rabbits.Pictures to come

Yeah, that would definitely have lots of splat factor. The photo must look like a meat pie and sauce dropped on the ground from a great height
But I can get 3300fps out of a 243 or 22-250 and use a lot less powder and less recoil to get the job done. I get that some fellas are just being super humane by using way more gun than is required but the post is about 243 loads for “varmits” and light medium game at distance. Back on topic, I’ve loaded up some RE22 last night, very full cases, I will be approaching this with caution. Uncle Nick lists a maximum of 48.5 gn, I’ve stepped up in half grains from the starting load of 46 gn to 47.5 .I’ve had VERY good loads and info from Nick’s book , but his maximum loads are the real deal. Their not “lawyer” loads .

[SCJ429]

I belt 100gn Sierra game kings out my 7mm RemMag at 3300fps and it feels good to head shoot roos and rabbits.Pictures to come

You might be surprised how quickly a 243 can move a 105 grain projectile, mine can get over 3300 fps using less than 50 grains of powder. The little 243 is a powerhouse and the projectiles have fantastic BC to leave a 7mm or 30 cal shooting lighter pills in the dust.

[bigrich]

I belt 100gn Sierra game kings out my 7mm RemMag at 3300fps and it feels good to head shoot roos and rabbits.Pictures to come

You might be surprised how quickly a 243 can move a 105 grain projectile, mine can get over 3300 fps using less than 50 grains of powder. The little 243 is a powerhouse and the projectiles have fantastic BC to leave a 7mm or 30 cal shooting lighter pills in the dust.

For all the reasons above I’ve decided to give the 243 a go . I like calibers for their efficiency and practicality , which is why i also have 222, 6.5x55 and the 8x57 , which is the closest thing to American writer O’Connor’s ideal brush buster. It’s sort of a middle ground between 358win and 35 Whelen, better down range energy than the win , without the heavier rifle and recoil of the Whelen. JMHO

[RoginaJack]

300Wm for rabbits...PPPFFff! what are you shooting, the little chocolate ones from Aldi?

Up here I use the 375 H&H with 300gr. Woodleigh slugs. Get em in the veggie garden and one shot and I've got a warmed shredded rabbit over a freshly tossed garden salad with mayo dressing.

[bigrich]

300Wm for rabbits...PPPFFff! what are you shooting, the little chocolate ones from Aldi?

Up here I use the 375 H&H with 300gr. Woodleigh slugs. Get em in the veggie garden and one shot and I've got a warmed shredded rabbit over a freshly tossed garden salad with mayo dressing.