.243 great cal, looking for great loads!

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.243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Bennybigbores » 10 Sep 2014, 9:15 pm

Give me your best shot, literally, looking for successful loads for my .243 using adi powder. Here's one of my best its a hot one but damn accurate. Speer varmint hollow points, 75gr. Pushed by 44gr of AR2209, neck sized once fired brass. 5 holes making one at 100m about 18mm group :shock:
Howa axiom varmint .243
C.Gustav 6.5x55 (sporterised)
Savage mkII T.hole varmint 17hmr
Chiappa lever action 12g
Baikal S.Shot .308
Mossberg plinkster .22
Norinco lever .22
E.T.C
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Apollo » 10 Sep 2014, 10:38 pm

You might give using a faster powder a try with the 75gr mid weight bullets, like AR2208 and if you get it right you'll find 5 holes at least 1/2 what you are doing now, if you really get it right they will be even tighter. Play with seating depth too after you find the tightest group.

Use the ADI Data and work up.
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Lorgar » 12 Sep 2014, 9:54 am

Hornady 87 gr V-MAX with 43.5gr of AR2209.

I was getting cloverleaf groups at 100m with my Ruger and that load.
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Turkle » 12 Sep 2014, 9:55 am

What rifle do you have, Benny?
Tikka T3 Super Varmint - .22-250 Rem
Marlin XS7 - 7mm-08
Winchester 1902 - .22
Burris Eliminator / Weaver Super Slam
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Bennybigbores » 12 Sep 2014, 4:57 pm

Yeh Turkle, I've got blued Howa varmint barrel, modified axiom stock ten shot mag kit, muzzle brake and 1.5lb trigger mod. Happy with it so far, still not grouping like the savage 17hmr. I see you have a Burris eliminator what they like out of my price range at present but was looking to fit one to my rem 7600 police, would u recommend?
Howa axiom varmint .243
C.Gustav 6.5x55 (sporterised)
Savage mkII T.hole varmint 17hmr
Chiappa lever action 12g
Baikal S.Shot .308
Mossberg plinkster .22
Norinco lever .22
E.T.C
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by ghunther » 14 Sep 2014, 4:54 pm

Bennybigbores wrote:Happy with it so far, still not grouping like the savage 17hmr.


Is there subsonic ammo for the HMR for better accuracy or all super?
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Hucka » 14 Sep 2014, 5:03 pm

Nah, the point of the HMR is the velocity.

All about 2,400fps give or take depending on what you're shooting.

You don't make a light bullet magnum cartridge to shoot it slow ;)
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by ghunther » 14 Sep 2014, 5:04 pm

Figured as much, just wondering if they did match ammo for it or anything.
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Bennybigbores » 22 Oct 2014, 11:53 am

Just blowing the dust off an old post about to start working up 90+gr projectile loads any load data from other successful loaders be great to base mine around. Thanks
Howa axiom varmint .243
C.Gustav 6.5x55 (sporterised)
Savage mkII T.hole varmint 17hmr
Chiappa lever action 12g
Baikal S.Shot .308
Mossberg plinkster .22
Norinco lever .22
E.T.C
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by RoginaJack » 22 Oct 2014, 8:37 pm

Here's a group I shot on Monday at Belmont using 2208 powder, 75gr H.P. and out of a Tikka T3 Lite .243Win at 100 yds.

shoot.01.jpg
shoot.01.jpg (588.6 KiB) Viewed 5843 times


i'm happy with it except pulled the 5th shot a bit.
Boom, Boom! Tikka, Tikka, Boom! Shoot first, video later.
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by Bennybigbores » 22 Oct 2014, 8:52 pm

That's a nice group I get same out of my howa with load i listed above. Ar2209 44gr pushing and Speer varmint 75gr hollow point, what weight of 2208 and breed of bullet you using
Howa axiom varmint .243
C.Gustav 6.5x55 (sporterised)
Savage mkII T.hole varmint 17hmr
Chiappa lever action 12g
Baikal S.Shot .308
Mossberg plinkster .22
Norinco lever .22
E.T.C
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by lole » 23 Oct 2014, 10:33 am

Still hanging on to a 2c coin for photos? :D
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by mausermate » 23 Oct 2014, 7:24 pm

Lorgar wrote:Hornady 87 gr V-MAX with 43.5gr of AR2209.

I was getting cloverleaf groups at 100m with my Ruger and that load.


Agree! that is a great load. Can I just say "BE CAREFUL".
I have used 43.5 gr of 2209 for years with an 85 gr Sierra HP in a Sako AV.
I recently screwed in the 3rd barrel on that rifle. It is my Roo cull gun on my farm. I am now cracking 1 in 4 case necks with this new barrel and Primers are pretty flat.
When I double checked the manuals I find Nick Harveys 5th Edition (the one I probably developed my load from) indicates 46 gr as the top load. His 9th Edition shows 43.5 as the top load. Hornady rates H4350 (ADI 2209) as a top load of 43.4 and ADI themselves give a top load of 43gr. Therefore, 43.5 is right up there and you should "APPROACH WITH CAUTION"

Further, and it goes without saying to some, don't put a Barnes in with that load. I got real trouble with an 85gr TSX in my sons Howa 243.
Now that's been said, who's coming for a shot?
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by RoginaJack » 23 Oct 2014, 9:10 pm

Hi Bennybigbores - I'm using new Winchester brass, 75gr. H.P.Speer Varmnit projectiles and 2208 powder. I'm a bit reluctant to give out weight just in case it's not safe in other rifles. No big secret stuff but just cautious.

Yep, Lole, it's the best bush screwdriver I've got and can't afford a two dollar coin for photos these days..

Cheers,
Boom, Boom! Tikka, Tikka, Boom! Shoot first, video later.
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Re: .243 great cal, looking for great loads!

Post by RDobber » 24 Oct 2014, 1:14 pm

Don't forget messaging system if you wanna discuss stuff that's pushing the envelope a bit, without giving the greenhorns bad ideas ;)
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