243 win Superformance and 90 grain ELD-X

Hi team, doing a bit of homework whole I'm waiting for bullets and dies for my freshly barrel swapped 243.

I see Hornady have data for the 95 grain SST and 100 grain interlocks with superformance so I'll start there I think, minimum of 39.7 and max of 44.4.

I'm thinking I'll load a ladder starting at 40 going up in 0.5 grain increments to about 46 grains and see when pressure starts showing up.

Anyone tried this combo recently in the 243? It's my first time experimenting with the caliber, is there anything I should look out for that I wouldn't have seen in 7mm08, 308, 270 or 7mm rem mag?

Superformance data seems to line up with Barnes data for same/similar weights :thumbsup:

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In my Rem with a 24 inch barrel with the 95 gr Noslar BT I get 2962 fps average with 44.2 grs of SF

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Originally Posted by Mooseman

In my Rem with a 24 inch barrel with the 95 gr Noslar BT I get 2962 fps average with 44.2 grs of SF

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Blimey! I'd be annoyed if I was that slow in my 20" - give it more go juice!

Yeh I haven't tried to get more speed may be one day. I mostly use 2209 for about the same speed. My rifle might be one of those slow models who knows.

The 90 grain ELD-X turned up this morning, man they are tiny compared to the 7mm 162 ELD-X

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Looking forward to checking max overall length and getting some loaded up.

I use 46.8gr superformance under the 85gr Barnes and get 3290fps from a 18.5" barrel so wouldn't be surprised if you get the 90s moving along pretty quick using superformance

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I use 46.8gr superformance under the 85gr Barnes and get 3290fps from a 18.5" barrel so wouldn't be surprised if you get the 90s moving along pretty quick using superformance

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That's what I'm hoping, I loaded up a ladder this morning to 46 grains, still quite a bit of empty case.

Seated them to 2.730 which will give 30 thou of jump to the lands. Mine is 20 inches long so should help a bit, not sure if it'll stay that length yet :P

I load Hodgdon superprofrmance in a mates .243 using Hornady 100grn interlock.
Ill look up the load I'm using as his is a 20" tikka.

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Originally Posted by 25/08IMP

I load Hodgdon superprofrmance in a mates .243 using Hornady 100grn interlock.
Ill look up the load I'm using as his is a 20" tikka.

Sent from my CPH2145 using Tapatalk

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Thamks @25/08IMP

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Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

Thamks @25/08IMP

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Getting a 95 Berger along at 3050 in front of 48gns RE22, running IMR4320 for everything lighter: 40gn gets me 3200 with an 87 bthp. Not Superformance, but just saying.

Hey that's good to know @257weatherby

Starline brass turned up today so I'll be checking that over and loading up a ladder, haven't shot the ones I loaded in Winchester brass so I'll pull them and load the Starline instead. I've heard really good things about the Starline brass so I'm hopeful. Measuring necks and shoulders with a head space comparator look promising.

So finally got out and shot them, just a ladder looking for pressure signs but I got all the way to 46 grains of superformance and the primers look just as flat as they did on the light loads, I think I'm seeing a very light swipe mark towards the higher end.

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Also tried a couple with 2217 at 45 46 47 and 48 grains. No pressure sign on the case head here either.

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And to top it off, I'm pretty sure they're stabilising!

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The first couple of shots went straight over the board and into the bank behind the target as I was aiming at the left dot so after figuring out where they were going (shot #3) I made an adjustment right and then down. After a couple more shots I couldn't see where they going (in the bull) so adjusted down 3moa using the same point if aim and put two more right next to each other. Bear in mind this was a ladder test, so all different charge weights. I think I might be into a good combo here.

I'll load up some more tonight and wait for the rain to stop then shoot some groups. No idea on speeds at the moment, way to cloudy and dark for the chroni this afternoon.

I've uploaded the same photo twice, once the right way around and then sideways for some reason :XD:

Looks like its going great so far. Your primers are looking about right where i personally pull the handbreak. For me, beyond this you get the dreaded ejector button mark and frankly more recoil that just makes things harder. 2950 would be my absolute ceiling i reckon

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Originally Posted by T.FOYE

Looks like its going great so far. Your primers are looking about right where i personally pull the handbreak. For me, beyond this you get the dreaded ejector button mark and frankly more recoil that just makes things harder. 2950 would be my absolute ceiling i reckon

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Yeah the primers all look pretty flat to me, only at 43 grains had nice rounded one. I would hope speeds are much higher than 2950, hopefully the sun will be out next time.

So the rain stopped briefly this afternoon so I got out and shot a couple of groups on a Milo tin.

Promising signs at 45 grains, 45.5 had a small ejector mark on all three cases this time so I stopped there.

Still no speeds, too cloudy and my range paddock was more mud than grass:P

I had a spectator who told me there was a pretty good muzzle flash on the 45.5 grain load as well so possibly wasting a bit of powder there as well.

Next I'll load up 10 each at 45 and 44.5 and try them at longer range to estimate and validate speeds.

So I had a re think and loaded some hotter rounds to see how far I could go. Went up from 45.5 to 46 and 46.5. Definite heavier bolt lift at 46.5 but all good at 46.

It was a cloudy day so the chronograph was reading lower than I believe it should.

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I also had some 95 grain nosler BTs loaded up with IMR 4064 that shot very close in speed but about an inch group. After these I realized my suppressor had come loose so probably the reason why they grouped so badly so I'll try them again next time.

do clouds make chronis produce slower numbers?

on a sunny day will it be different?

Cloudy days are supposed to be better due to more diffuse light.

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Originally Posted by Cigar

Cloudy days are supposed to be better due to more diffuse light.

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basically its either going to read right or not pick up the bullet tho right? not give Higher or lower numbers due to more or less light?

Im still learning with mine and at times it confuses the shit out of me

There is a reason chronographs come with diffusers. Cloudy days means at least some of the light is coming from directly above. Bright sunlight on clear days causes dark shadows, and is often coming from an angle, both of which can give inaccurate readings.
All my really weird readings have happened on cloudless sunny days, the worst was my 243 doing something like 24,000fps!

Yeah I often get lower but consistent readings on days with full cloud cover and I get especially strange readings on days that are patchy cloud days if that makes sense. Goes from sunny as and then a big cloud roles over and gives weird readings.

I've had readings of 4000 ish fps from mine for my 7mm08. I've also had consistent readings for my 308 that ended up being about 200 fps slower than when I validated at 400 yards, chroni said 2950 so I out that into strelok with the right bc for 125 sst, shot two rounds that ended up high, adjusted the speed in strelok to 3150 and bingo.

Late afternoon sun will give crazy readings as well.

Yeh to much sun is not good as is low light in the evening, my nephew got reading upwards of 3200 fps with 200 gr ELDX in his 300 WSM which we figured was wrong, that was in the low light of dusk, when we further tested the load we ended with 2950 fps and validated it out to 400 yards, Chrono's can be tricky things at times.

chuck the chronicgraph away...you have got your load...45.5 looks good n tight...or the 46..... by all means check it at range IF you intend to shoot out at range...its an EBRG ..how far do you intend to be shooting out to??? 0-300 wont need precise figures to be able to humainly dispatch ol redskin...

Im just a little confused as to WHY you went higher if were already hitting pressure signs......

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Originally Posted by Micky Duck

Im just a little confused as to WHY you went higher if were already hitting pressure signs......

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I thought I saw and ejector mark on one of the lower charge weight rounds but I went over them again and couldn't find any. The primers all look reasonably flat but all still had round edges. I also did a drop test at 200 yards and the drop was indicating lower speed than I wanted so I went back and loaded some hotter to see how far I could go, maybe not in my best interest but I wanted to know :ORLY:

46.5 was my first experience of heavier than normal bolt lift for all 3 rounds of the test batch. I'm of the thinking to go back to 45.5 or even 45 because they all shot well.

As far as shooting long goes, I'm yet to validate and practice at longer than 200 yards with this set up so will make the call then but I know it's not a hammer of Thor, more of a pin point rifle. I can't see me going much past 200 if conditions are poor but if they're perfect then there may be some room for extending that

Be careful selecting a load near the top of that range (46gr and up), if you wet those loads and fire them I guarantee you will lock the gun up or blow primers.

I’ve seen a lot of people do that at matches when it’s wet, ammo is wet and they chose a load that’s a bit hot on a sunny day.

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Originally Posted by 300_BLK

Be careful selecting a load near the top of that range (46gr and up), if you wet those loads and fire them I guarantee you will lock the gun up or blow primers.

I’ve seen a lot of people do that at matches when it’s wet, ammo is wet and they chose a load that’s a bit hot on a sunny day.

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Also noting Superformance has a reputation for being temp sensitive.

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Originally Posted by rimubay

Also noting Superformance has a reputation for being temp sensitive.

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+1 Superformance loads are probably better worked up in summer if you want to dable around that top end enjector swipe at these temps could be blowing primers out in summer

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Originally Posted by Kelton

+1 Superformance loads are probably better worked up in summer if you want to dable around that top end enjector swipe at these temps could be blowing primers out in summer

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I use superformance. All load development rounds I put in my truck with climate control on 30 degrees and leave them in there for at least an hour before taking them out and firing one by one. The chrony data is not a hell of a lot different between the warmed up rounds and shooting them on a cold night/morning, around 40fps which makes bugger all difference out to 243 ranges anyhow

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Originally Posted by Ryan_Songhurst

I use superformance. All load development rounds I put in my truck with climate control on 30 degrees and leave them in there for at least an hour before taking them out and firing one by one. The chrony data is not a hell of a lot different between the warmed up rounds and shooting them on a cold night/morning, around 40fps which makes bugger all difference out to 243 ranges anyhow

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I believe the problems come with heat when your at the top end iv not used it in 243 with 90s so I don’t no if 46gns is hot just going off the pressure signs the op has already mentioned so my comments are uneducated with this particular combo few people on this forum have had it blow the primers in 08 based cases though with loads worked up hot in winter come summer time fair few frights I know that much I wasn’t the only one .

Good idea warming the cases while doing the load development I’m guessing your loads not so hot gaining some velocity without a huge pressure spike mine were over 100fps and came with primers spat out the back/pierced . That’s what you get though when your young and think everything has to go warp speed :on fire:

If you are using the term “warp speed” you probably ain’t young!

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Originally Posted by Cigar

If you are using the term “warp speed” you probably ain’t young!

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Not anymore mate we’re going back some moons

My barrel was pretty warm but the time I got to the 46.5 rounds, does that count? :P

Yes temperature stability and being close to the line is on my radar, it's one of the reasons why I wanted to keep pushing up the charge weights to see where it was, otherwise I might be next to the line and not even know it.

The last thing I want is a locked up rifle

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Originally Posted by Rated M for Magnum

My barrel was pretty warm but the time I got to the 46.5 rounds, does that count? :P

Yes temperature stability and being close to the line is on my radar, it's one of the reasons why I wanted to keep pushing up the charge weights to see where it was, otherwise I might be next to the line and not even know it.

The last thing I want is a locked up rifle

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Here lies the issue though max now will not be max summer so 46.5 might be ok in winter and 44 might blow primers in summer again not real world figures just watch it Ryan’s load work up using warm cases is a brilliant idea you’ll need not worry using that method most rifles can hack a couple of primer blow backs :thumbsup:

On a side note I’m keen to see how you find those 90grainers when the start hitting flesh keep us posted mate

So I used @ryansonghurst trick today, had the ammo on the floor by the A/C vent and had them nice and toasty by the time I got the range. Plus it was actually a pretty warm winter day here in the Manawatu.

I've dropped back to 45 grains of Superformance and shot this group first up. 1st shot is low and then 3 more into one hole at 100 yards. I'd say I'm done now even though speed is a bit on the low side, just shy of 3000 fps.

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Then I had some 95 grain nosler ballistic tips with IMR 4064. These did something similar, I shot this group before setting up the chroni.

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I was pretty excited after that so I tried the next charge of IMR 4064 and I chronied these and they were up at 3100, 3108 and 3108. Es of 8! Unreal, sorted.

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I didn't think IMR 4064 would be this good in the 243 but there you go.

Hopefully get these onto some animals in the near future

Also I forgot to ad I reduced my cartridge overall length by 30 thou with the ELD-X so they're now jumping 60 thou.