Thread: Best 243 load

Thanks beatfoot. Might do that. 87gn and 2209 as a base load, then experiment from there

.*barefoot.*

Agree, stick to the basic 85/87 and 2209.

You are bound to want to experiment later. I use N550 and Hybrid 100v powders now and get a good step up in velocity. But it may not be worth the mucking around for you.

95 Bergers and 2209 @3040fps is awesome in my rifle.

I run 85gn txs ahead of 40gn 2206h 3000fps 16 inch barrel though like the txs kill well

Originally Posted by Barefoot

The easy recipe that works for most people is 43-44gn AR2209 with a sierra 85gn or the 87gn Hornady on top. They will be doing around the 3000fps.
Most people get a reliable load in that sort of combination. Then you can try different combos later -95gn targex, different powders like w760 or R17.

Sirra 85gr HP it is magical but we use 2213SC.My son slayed 11 stags during the roar with it.

Originally Posted by Barefoot

The easy recipe that works for most people is 43-44gn AR2209 with a sierra 85gn or the 87gn Hornady on top. They will be doing around the 3000fps.
Most people get a reliable load in that sort of combination. Then you can try different combos later -95gn targex, different powders like w760 or R17.

I'm shooting 95gn Targex's with a couple of different powder combo's under them .... the best seems to be 47gn AR2225 with the projectile seated 10thou off the lands .

They kill well and are also very accurate .
@elcaro has just bought himself a 243 (and is currently lurking on here) .. maybe worthwhile for him to read this thread .....

Originally Posted by Tahr

it may not be worth the mucking around for you.

Wash your mouth out @Tahr . It's ALWAYS worth a bit of mucking around

T

i use 43.5 gr of 2209, and a 95 gr hornady sst. my sako shoots 5 shots into a 10c peice at 200y, and my parker hale shoots just an inch and a half at 200y. still lovely to shoot my mrs enjoys hunting with it aswell.

36.5gr IMR4064 with 90gr Scirocco,s works nice

might as well add my 10cents worth.
here's a couple that work for me. on the left is a 87gr hornady sp , low tech bullet but one that kills great at normal hunting ranges.for some reason it shoots real good too.under it is a lapua case ,fed210 primer and 44gr of 2209.
if you have a 24" 1-10 barrel expect around 3150+ fps. h414 @ 44grs gives you 3300+ but the SD gets a bit high, but that wont bother you if your shooting under 350 yards.this load may be to hot for some rifles.
100gr sierra pro hunter is another old school bullet that shoots real good as well.
winchester brass works just fine as well if your on a budget.the lapua doesnt shoot any better, the primer pockets stay tighter a couple of firings longer.imr4064 and 2209 are the go to powders.dont touch re17. it delivers the xtra velocity
but im yet to see it shoot accurately in anything and the throat erosion is unacceptable.

on the right is what you make if you've got plenty of time to kill.
its a .308 lapua palma case, small primer ,small flash hole, put through several steps of bushings to get it down to a size good for inside neck reaming , then outside neck turned.
fed 205m, 46.7gr of h1000 / 2217. topped off with a HBN coated berger 105gr hybrid. delivers 3000fps with single digit SD's in a 26" 1-8 barrel
2209 works good as well but slow burning 2217 will extends barrel life 400-500 rounds.2217 burns cooler witch helps if your doing 20 shot strings in f-class type events.
n560 delivers as well but tends to burn alot more sooty.

Visiting my LGS today and they showed me a picture of a 243 Howa that a customer had bought and hand loaded some rounds for, he couldn't get the bolt to close or remove a chambered live round so took it to the local gun smith, he managed to close the bolt and fired the round, which blew the bolt handle and much of the RHS of the action to pieces.
turns out the guy had never reloaded before and just filled the case up and seated the projectile on top, luckily the gunsmith wasn't injured

Originally Posted by specweapon

Visiting my LGS today and they showed me a picture of a 243 Howa that a customer had bought and hand loaded some rounds for, he couldn't get the bolt to close or remove a chambered live round so took it to the local gun smith, he managed to close the bolt and fired the round, which blew the bolt handle and much of the RHS of the action to pieces.
turns out the guy had never reloaded before and just filled the case up and seated the projectile on top, luckily the gunsmith wasn't injured

well, its not much of a gunsmith, that would be that foolish. A hand load, that wouldn't chamber, lots red flags,
As for the owner, sum people just shouldn't be allowed to play with fire, fuel or powder?

shot this 30 mins ago , kimber 243 using factory 95 grn fusion at just over 200m , I really rate the fusions always hold together.

Originally Posted by von tempsky fan

shot this 30 mins ago , kimber 243 using factory 95 grn fusion at just over 200m , I really rate the fusions always hold together.
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Nice. Ive often wondered if you can purchase the fusion bullets as components?

Originally Posted by Tahr

Nice. Ive often wondered if you can purchase the fusion bullets as components?

Iv looked for them as a component but it seems they are only available in factory ammo. Fusion ammo is cheap enough anyway and as it shoots 1/2 inch groups in the kimber I'm not planning on using anything else in it.