Thread: AR2208 for .243 ?

a friend has asked me to try reload for his .243 it has 18in barrel and 1/10 twist . he wanting to use 90grn sierra gamekings i think they will be to heavy for twist rate
i have Ar2208 has anyone had much luck using ar2208 . i also have Win 748 but dont think that will work ,
any advise will be appreciated

90gr should be fine in the 1-10.

If you are referring to the 90 grain Gamechanger (aka the confusingly named Tipped Gameking) it seems unlikely that it will stabilise in a 1/10 twist. Some quick searching reveals a whole host of people unable to get it to group in 10" twist barrels despite Sierra initially claiming it was intended to do so on introduction. Funnily enough the abbreviated Google search has 10" mentioned, but the official product page for the bullet now says 9" twist or faster:
https://www.sierrabullets.com/produc...cal-90-gr-tgk/

What is your friend wanting to hunt with this 243? It seems like there may well be much better alternatives to choose from depending on their needs.

Ooops - the question was actually primarily about using AR2208 with a 90 grain bullet in a 243. Yes you can use it and ADI and Hodgdon have data for it. The ADI website seems broken (for me), but use Hodgdon to look it up as it's the same data (ADI AR2208 is Hodgdon Varget in a more expensive package):
https://hodgdonreloading.com/rldc/

You can create a functional load with AR2208, however the data suggests that AR2209 (H4350), Win Staball 6.5 or Win 760 (H414) might be better alternatives for better case fill and better velocity within published maximums.

2208 will work mate. I used to run 87s over 2208 with no issues. Send it

Yep loading 87 gr Hornadys with 2208
Nothing fancy, it just works.

I load 2208 and 90 gn speer hotcore in a howa 1500. Don't know the twist or velocity or ES ...... but they kill deer good.

Sent from my SM-G525F using Tapatalk

I use 2208 with 87 and 90gn pills in my lads .243win. 42 gns from memory but need to check. Might be a bit more.
Stay tuned..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I be curious if you used 42grn. Sierra manual I looked at say 37 max

Originally Posted by Dicko

I use 2208 with 87 and 90gn pills in my lads .243win. 42 gns from memory but need to check. Might be a bit more.
Stay tuned..


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

I’d start with 36g of 2208 first please

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I’d start with 36g of 2208 first please

I have started at 35 gone up to 37.5 will test later today and see how they go .

Originally Posted by 7mmsaum

I’d start with 36g of 2208 first please

Good catch, I’m using 2209!


Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

A while ago I loaded some 87 gr SP Hornady for a friend using 35.5 grs of 2208 , out of his 20 inch barrel we got an average speed of 2756 fps. While it worked and it killed fallow deer ok the 243 is better suited to powders like 2209 , Staball 6.5 , 2213sc, it likes slower burning powders. In the Noslar guide No 9 there is a listing for the 80 gr Spitzer using a Max of 39 grs Varget (2208) for 3300 fps which suggests my load for the 87 gr is a lightish load. As always use caution when working up loads.

Originally Posted by Mooseman

A while ago I loaded some 87 gr SP Hornady for a friend using 35.5 grs of 2208 , out of his 20 inch barrel we got an average speed of 2756 fps. While it worked and it killed fallow deer ok the 243 is better suited to powders like 2209 , Staball 6.5 , 2213sc, it likes slower burning powders. In the Noslar guide No 9 there is a listing for the 80 gr Spitzer using a Max of 39 grs Varget (2208) for 3300 fps which suggests my load for the 87 gr is a lightish load. As always use caution when working up loads.

People dont understand how effective and clean a powder 2213sc is in the 243. Stunning in a Sako heavy barrel 75 using 75gr.

Originally Posted by TeRei

People dont understand how effective and clean a powder 2213sc is in the 243. Stunning in a Sako heavy barrel 75 using 75gr.

Have found 2213sc excellent for 87 gn V-Max and 90 gn ELD-X, for both velocity and accuracy through 22 and 23 inch barrels.