Thread: .243 POWDERS

Have had a look/search through the forum, dont wanna flog a dead horse, but here goes.

Am about to load for BSA 243 1/10 twist with 90gamechanger / 95 targex for Sika up close mostly out to 3hundo If I can get away with it.

I have re17 and 2206h.
Whilst it seems that you can use nearly anything as a powder the optimal performance band seems to be 2208 /IMR 4069 and 2209/IMR4350/N550/RE17.......

Am I correct?

if the 2206 works...I would just run with it and not over think it....the other powders MIGHT be slightly better...if you can find them...2206 is a good powder in .223---7.62x39mm-----.308 its stable and easy to load,does get a bit gritty through powder thrower being such course granuals,but its a good powder,and you have got it.
0-300 you arent going to need to be ultra fast or fussy.

Always use 2209 but have used 2206H with 80-85 Barnes. I never look for ultimate velocity, my hunting ranges are under 200 meters.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Always use 2209 but have used 2206H with 80-85 Barnes. I never look for ultimate velocity, my hunting ranges are under 200 meters.

Yeah I'm not fussed on max vel.

Originally Posted by ANTSMAN

Yeah I'm not fussed on max vel.

Don't let it get complicated, haven't checked chronograph velocities for years, sleep easier, animals still tip over.

Originally Posted by tetawa

Don't let it get complicated, haven't checked chronograph velocities for years, sleep easier, animals still tip over.

Hundee

I use 43gr of RL 17 in @Tahrs old xbolt with sierra 90 and 85 gr bullets. 3100 - 3200 off memory

I used 2208 with the 95 gr targex it went well and shot great but was quite a bit short of a full case....don't have my data here but 30something gr from memory.
So while it worked 2209 2213sc etc is probably more optimal

Originally Posted by veitnamcam

I used 2208 with the 95 gr targex it went well and shot great but was quite a bit short of a full case....don't have my data here but 30something gr from memory.
So while it worked 2209 2213sc etc is probably more optimal

Yeah thats what I had figured mate.

38gr of 2206h with the hornady 85gr interbonds. Doing just over 3100. COAL 2.640.
38 is book max.

44gr of H414 or W760 with a 85-87gr, is the ducks nuts in two 243's i load for. Fine tune the seating depth to suit the barrel of course

Originally Posted by GWH

44gr of H414 or W760 with a 85-87gr, is the ducks nuts in two 243's i load for. Fine tune the seating depth to suit the barrel of course

I use win 760/H414 too. Got good groups and sounded like decent speeds. still have a decent amount of factory ammo so am yet to use it

Originally Posted by Russian 22.

I use win 760/H414 too. Got good groups and sounded like decent speeds. still have a decent amount of factory ammo so am yet to use it

It can shoot seriously good groups, I brought an old rebarreled Rem Mod 7 from a mates estate, he had alot of awesome hunting history with it, i had hunted with him a few times and knew his love for it, and knew he was a good fussy handloader, it came with a few remaining handloads which i tested in it, it shot under a 1 inch group at 300 yards. I didnt know what the powder charge or bullet was, so i pulled one apart (after measuring the coal) and reverse-engineered it, 85gr Sierra HPBT with 44gr of H414, at whatever the coal was (i have it recorded). I loaded some more up and bingo! Its a good powder, you either love or hate ball powder, it doesnt bother me.

H414 / W760 work well for me in my 2x 243's for my 70-87gr projectiles. reloading data shows they are good for a range of weights from 65-95gr.
for heavy bullets in my custom 243 I have used W780 (now obsolete) currently use RL26.

the Hodgdon reloading web site is great. they have a good range of loads from 55gr @ >4000fps up to 115 gr @ 2960fps.
Z

Originally Posted by ZQLewis

H414 / W760 work well for me in my 2x 243's for my 70-87gr projectiles. reloading data shows they are good for a range of weights from 65-95gr.
for heavy bullets in my custom 243 I have used W780 (now obsolete) currently use RL26.

the Hodgdon reloading web site is great. they have a good range of loads from 55gr @ >4000fps up to 115 gr @ 2960fps.
Z

For heavy bullets in 243 (ie 100gr) IMR7828ssc also produces good velocity, even in short barrels