Tinybob
Member
Hello, I am new to Handloading (been at it for a couple months). I will soon start Handloading for a 243 win. Are there any pointers or advice someone could share with me on this new project? Thank you in advance!
Handloading for Savage 110 in 243
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Full length size fired cases such that their shoulders are set back .002". Bushing dies are among the best
Use stick powder charges thrown or weighed to a 2/10ths grain spread.
Work up loads in one grain increments shooting at least 10 shots (20 is better) per load.
Seat bullets for cartridge length 1/16 inch less than magazine length.
Use stick powder charges thrown or weighed to a 2/10ths grain spread.
Work up loads in one grain increments shooting at least 10 shots (20 is better) per load.
Seat bullets for cartridge length 1/16 inch less than magazine length.
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Tinybob
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I would love for this rifle to shoot 100gr to 107gr bullets. Also I would like use IMR 4831 or a similar powder.
JeffG
Member
That might be a good start. Keep it simple for a while. Perfect one load to the nines. If it's not meeting your expectations, move on to the next formula. Don't be too ready to shoot too hot. My Savage likes a variety of loads at around 85-90% of max. Trim, chamfer and shoot. After a while you might try different primers, powder etc., maybe turning your case necks. Keep it simple for now. Make sure you know how to properly clean your rifle, so accuracy doesn't fall off while you are developing your loads. If you run into snags, c'mon back for advise, there are a lot of great shooters and reloaders here.
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Tinybob
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Any other suggestions on different powders with 100gr Sierra spritzer bullets?
I'd your goal tiniest groups possible? When I load I go for dual purpose & maybe even with a few goals in mind. So I don't usually get the tiniest group but still acceptable in my standards.
So what is your standard?
I always got better groups from stick powder. IMR 4064 to be exact. Varget never did well for me tho. It wasn't the same magic powder for me as everyone else. The problem is that stick powder doesn't meter through my measure well so instead I went to ball.
I like V-MAX bullets. They fly well & work great for my hunting needs so far. I'm planning on starting a new project soon with A-MAX bullets which is a first time using them.
So what is your standard?
I always got better groups from stick powder. IMR 4064 to be exact. Varget never did well for me tho. It wasn't the same magic powder for me as everyone else. The problem is that stick powder doesn't meter through my measure well so instead I went to ball.
I like V-MAX bullets. They fly well & work great for my hunting needs so far. I'm planning on starting a new project soon with A-MAX bullets which is a first time using them.
H1000! It'll push em faster than the 4831s more accurately, I get a good consistency in velocity spread, accuracy node is near Max, but no signs of pressure.
ETA
Nothing wrong with Speer bullets, but my favorite 100 gr bullets are Sierra flat base prohunters, they're TUFF and laser accurate.
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My goal is best accuracy and precision. If your goal is small spreads in charge weights instead of small spreads in bullet holes on target, so be it.
A few of us developed loads for Sierra's new 30 caliber 155-gr. Match bullet. AA2520 ball powder metered to a 1/10th grain spread producing lowest spreads in pressure and velocity, but with worst accuracy. IMR4895 with a 3/10ths grain spread, average velocity andvpressure spreads, produced best half MOA accuracy in a couple dozen match rifles at 600 yards; all with different barrel profiles and small spreads in chamber, bore and groove dimensions. 20 rounds tested in one rifle went into 2.7" at 600 yards; new unprepped cases, .0035" bullet runout loaded on two Dillon 1050 progressives.
A 3/10ths grain max spread in stick powder charge weights dumped from hand cranked measures is what Sierra uses to test their bullets for accuracy. Their best match bullets will shoot around 1/4 MOA at 200 yards one 10-shot group after another. Sierra's least and most accurate ones have to shoot inside 1/2 MOA at 200.
If one cannot get MOA or better through 200 yards with charge weight spreads of 3/10 grain, 'tain't the charge weight spread fault.
While a popular way to pick powder for a bullet is using slowest ones producing highest muzzle velocity, seldom, if at all, is best accuracy and precision attained. A little faster powders will push bullets out 100 fps slower with a more uniform pressure curve. The result is muzzle velocity spread is lower and bullets leave in muzzle axis angles more consistently. If a hundred fps faster bullets is more important than their landing in a half MOA or smaller area, so be it.
A few of us developed loads for Sierra's new 30 caliber 155-gr. Match bullet. AA2520 ball powder metered to a 1/10th grain spread producing lowest spreads in pressure and velocity, but with worst accuracy. IMR4895 with a 3/10ths grain spread, average velocity andvpressure spreads, produced best half MOA accuracy in a couple dozen match rifles at 600 yards; all with different barrel profiles and small spreads in chamber, bore and groove dimensions. 20 rounds tested in one rifle went into 2.7" at 600 yards; new unprepped cases, .0035" bullet runout loaded on two Dillon 1050 progressives.
A 3/10ths grain max spread in stick powder charge weights dumped from hand cranked measures is what Sierra uses to test their bullets for accuracy. Their best match bullets will shoot around 1/4 MOA at 200 yards one 10-shot group after another. Sierra's least and most accurate ones have to shoot inside 1/2 MOA at 200.
If one cannot get MOA or better through 200 yards with charge weight spreads of 3/10 grain, 'tain't the charge weight spread fault.
While a popular way to pick powder for a bullet is using slowest ones producing highest muzzle velocity, seldom, if at all, is best accuracy and precision attained. A little faster powders will push bullets out 100 fps slower with a more uniform pressure curve. The result is muzzle velocity spread is lower and bullets leave in muzzle axis angles more consistently. If a hundred fps faster bullets is more important than their landing in a half MOA or smaller area, so be it.
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ArchAngelCD
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Tinybob
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My goal is dual purpose target and hunting. 100gr Prohunter and a 95gr TMK to start out with. Really don't want to go any lighter than 95gr. 1 moa is great but if I could tighter that would be awesome!
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Tinybob
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Speaking of varget powder, I almost gave up on it when trying to load moa for my savage axis in 308. The 125, 130, and 165gr bullets I tried were just too short and lite to get there.
With standard hunting bullets the Savages 1-9.25 will stabilize anything thats available now.
If your looking at Vlds the heaviest mine worked with, well, were the 95grn bergers.
As horsey said h1000 is a good option. 7828ssc should be as well. Ive used retumbo for 100grn btsp loaded long.
My standard load was either a hornady or sierr 100spitzer over h4350 for about 2800fps from my model 11 22" barrel.
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Tinybob
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Does most everyone ues a slow burning powder, associated with magnum calibers, for 243? Do slow burners work OK in 22" barrels?
Works fine with my 20" barrel, look at hodgdon website, those slow powders are not JUST magnum powders, they work on the heavy for caliber weights real nice.
horsemen61
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Ttrl
The more over bore a cartridge is the slower a powder it will like in relation to other cartridges of the same type. Thats why the .243 uses med/slows to full on slow powders. It's quite overbore lol, and yeah even with shortish barrels the slows are still faster.
Captcurt
Member
Powders rangeing from R-17 thru H1000 work well with 95-105gr bullets. My Rem 700 likes 100 gr Barnes, 100gr Speer and 95gr Nosler Ballistic Silvertips with Imr-4350, IMR-4381 and R-17. Shoots neat little cloverleafs and makes whitetails wilt.
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Tinybob
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Can someone define "match peeped brass"?
I'm not most everyone. I have been using a powder near the burn rate of Blue Dot to push a 65gn bullet. That has been my hunting ammo for 2 or 3 years. I'm going to be switching to a 87gn possibly since that is what the local Walmart started carrying. I can't get the 65gn the anymore. They aren't hair splitters tho. I get 1 moa at 100 yards but +moa(probably about 3") at 200 yards. I wouldn't shoot this load over 200 but it's very effective in its range, quiet, cheap, & no recoil. This load cost me 17 cents a round. The next load I'll have 18 cents in just the bullets.
Do you mean match prepped?
Match prepped means uniformity in all measurable elements of these case properties:
Weight
Volume
Length of neck (mouth to shoulder) and body (shoulder to head and/or belt/rim)
Wall thickness from mouth to head
Mouth shape and square with case axis
Primer pocket depth, diameter and bottom being flat
Flash hole diameter and shape at each end
Head surface square with case axis
Some are more important than others depending on ones thoughts on how much each effects bullet trajectories.
Some can be mechanically uniformed, others physically observed then sorted out based on tolerances.
Weight
Volume
Length of neck (mouth to shoulder) and body (shoulder to head and/or belt/rim)
Wall thickness from mouth to head
Mouth shape and square with case axis
Primer pocket depth, diameter and bottom being flat
Flash hole diameter and shape at each end
Head surface square with case axis
Some are more important than others depending on ones thoughts on how much each effects bullet trajectories.
Some can be mechanically uniformed, others physically observed then sorted out based on tolerances.
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