Finally, a .243 Winchester for me & ...

[357Maximum]

I would be very interested in load data from you .243 reloaders.
I have a bunch of bullets, but I want to start with 80gr sierra BTHP.

I will be loading for the Ruger 77 Hawkeye Tactical. (a present to myself for getting old.)

[Adam Helmer]

357Maximum,

When it comes to safe load development, there are no shortcuts. I would beware of internet data that is without footnotes. May I suggest you buy the current Lyman Handloading Handbook and be guided accordingly. Second best is to buy a Second reloading Manual and compare all load data. Be safe and informed.

Adam

[357Maximum]

Originally Posted by Adam Helmer

357Maximum,

When it comes to safe load development, there are no shortcuts. I would beware of internet data that is without footnotes. May I suggest you buy the current Lyman Handloading Handbook and be guided accordingly. Second best is to buy a Second reloading Manual and compare all load data. Be safe and informed.

Adam

I have 2 Lymans, Speer, Sierra, Nosler, Lee, as well as all of the caliber specific Loadbooks publications.
I do value the insight of experienced reloaders, but I always do my verification homework. I appreciate your good advice. All reloaders should verify and verify with proven published data as you have stated.

[Catfish]

All of the powder manufacture have data on the web. Pick a load that will fill thr case to around 90% or alittle more and try it. The only way to know what is the best powder for your gun is to try all of them. But if you start with a powder that pretty well fills the case you should have no trouble finding a load that will do what you need done.

[Ridge Runner]

always had great results with IMR 4350
RR

[skeet]

I used that exact bullet quite a bit. My load was a bit below max..according to the books but i used H-414 mainly cause i had a bunch of it(still do) Load was Win case Win LR primer 43 gr of H414 and the 80 gr Sierra BTSP..about 3300 but it shot good out of my Rem 700 and a Ruger I had. Haven't shot it in the Kimber yet but I hope it does good in it too. I have a 100 or so loaded. I also loaded the same load with the 85 gr Nosler partition but that may be a bit near max. Not in my rifles..but it's close

[PJgunner]

I like 39.7 gr. of W-760 and the 85 gr. Sierra Game King hollow point bullet. very accurate and primers are nice and round, no signs of pressure at all. Groups run in the upper .50's from my M70 Winchester. Never did Chrony them but the latest Sierra manual shows 40.0 gr. as the start load for 2900 FPS from a 22" barrel and the max is 42.0 gr. for 3000 FPS. The load does a numbe ron coypotes without them looking like they swallowed a sick of dynamite that blew. I had a decent deer load many years ago with the 100 gr. Hornady SP bullet but all my loading notes were lost when I moved from Nevada to Arizona. Always wondered is the movers helped themselves. Kind of hard trying to replace 25 years worth of loading data.
Paul B.

[Adam Helmer]

.357,

Merry Christmas.

Thanks for your kind reply. Since you did not begin by saying you had many reloading manuals, my "boiler plate" caution is to get manuals and CHECK. I am glad to see you have that base covered.

I have several .243s and have done much load testing. For my rifles, I found H414 to be the best propellant with 100 grain bullets. That is all I load for chucks to coyotes to deer. I have a Ruger M77, a Mauser Mark X and a Remington 700 BDL. My accuracy load of H414 used to be 2 grains under maximum and is now one grain over in the latest Lyman manual; thus I will not post the load data here.

Adam

[George Foster]

I have always liked IMR4831 and RL19 for the 243.

[muskrat30]

For light bullets in the 243 I use H-4895. For bullets in the 80-85 grn range I use Reloader 15. For 95-100 grain bullets I use H-4350. There are a ton of combo's that are viable, that's just what works for me.

[Jack]

In the 243, I lean towards H-414 with 80 grain bullets, Reloder 19 with 87's, and 4350 or 4831 for the 100's. Those are the powders that my rifle likes- whether yours does, only testing will tell.

[Larryjk]

If you have decided on Sierra bullets, why don't you get a Sierra manual? The data will be specific to that bullet and you should have excellent results.

[PJgunner]

For those that do not know, W-760 and H-414 are just different lots of the same powder.
Paul B.

[skeet]

The reasons I use H-414 is because it was cheaper than WW-760 and there seemed to be more data for it in the past. Winchester was kinda stingy with their load recipes