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tech spec man Rookie Member
Joined: Feb 11, 2007 Posts: 7
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:31 pm Post subject: .243 questions |
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I am new to reloading and I have many questions.
My background and things to keep in mind for these questions:
I purchased a .243 to do everything from varmint hunting to deer.
I live in the west were there is lots of open ground for all types of hunting. I am a fan of high velocities and flat trajectories and got into reloading so that I could save an arm and a leg and to produce ammo that is better than the factory.
1) I reloaded a batch of Nosler 55gr BT with 45.1gr of Varget and I am getting a very large, and noticable through scope, muzzel flash. Is this normal for Varget? I am thinking about switching to H4895 for this bullet to get rid of this flash. I have a 24" barrel.
2 part a) My main question is on the topic of deer hunting. Since I will have chances of taking deer all the way to the .243's max range, I want to use a bullet with a high BC. The Speer Spitzer BTSP 100gr and Sierra's 100gr SBT gameking. These bullets have a .430 BC. As for powder, I am undecided between H414, H4350, IMR 4350. I am leaning towards H414 because it has higher velocites over a larger range of bullets. What powder should I use for this hunting load? Hold onto your anwer until you've read part b.
2 part b) In my research for the best deer load, I discovered that Speer's 85gr Spitzer BTSP (BC of .404) backed by 45gr of H414 @3306 fps has the same energy as Speer's 100gr of the same bullet backed by 40gr of H414 @2963 fps. Since the 85gr has a flatter trajectory, should I use this bullet for deer rather than the 100gr?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
P.S. What sort of primers would be best for this deer load?
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4rum Member
Joined: Jan 06, 2007 Posts: 211
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 6:59 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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I always had very good results with the Sierra 100 grain spitzer boat tail. I loaded this bullet, WW-760 powder, Fed. brass and Fed. 210 primers. I took several white tails as various yardages with this bullet. I was very satisfied. I think you will like your .243. Best of luck... an' whack a biggun'
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fireball 3 Super Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2007 Posts: 393 Location: northern calif
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Posted: Sun Feb 11, 2007 8:08 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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Dawgdad Super Member
Joined: Feb 08, 2006 Posts: 1065 Location: On the Prairie
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:39 am Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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I really like H414 but I have found that best accuracy is usually a bit under the max load. I sacrifice a bit of speed for precision.
_________________ Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms should be a convenience store, not a government agency... |
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wy111 Member
Joined: Jun 02, 2005 Posts: 114 Location: N. Yorkshire, U.K. ( Pomgolia)
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 8:13 am Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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I use a .243 with a 24" barrel, a CZ550 American, all the time for fox and roe deer in the UK.
At the moment, I use, for deer 100gn Speer BTSP with 42gns of H4350 at 2876fps, although Hodgdon recommend only 40gns as Max. and 70gn Speer TNT with 45.5gns of H414 at 3334fps for foxes.
For your 55gn Nosler BT, Hodgdon recommend 45gns and Nosler 45.5gns of Varget as Max so maybe this may the reason for the muzzel blast.
I am just working up a load for Nosler 70gn BT and it looks to be between 41.2 and 41.8gns of Varget with a velocity of around 3550fps. I am waiting to try some more loads with .3gn increments as 41.5 seemed to be the better grouping between 41 and 42gns but I did notice that if any of the trial loads were around 3550fps, they were nearly in the same grouping.
Have you chronographed any of your loads?
Dave
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tech spec man Rookie Member
Joined: Feb 11, 2007 Posts: 7
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 6:35 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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I don't have a chrono but I am concidering purcahsing a chrony F-1 so that I can calculate ballistics. Should I take the plung? How are you suppose to use it to aid in reloading?
Thanks for the help, but what about
small bullet higher velocity vs. large bullet slower velocity; both have the same energy?
If they have the same energy, by conservation of energy, they should have the same impact on the animal. Any thoughts?
When they say "work up a load" does that mean that you can go higher than the powerd manufacture's max load? How much margin for error is there if you do go higher?
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DallanC Site Admin
Joined: Jan 18, 2005 Posts: 3572 Location: Utah
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 7:03 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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tech spec man wrote: |
I don't have a chrono but I am concidering purcahsing a chrony F-1 so that I can calculate ballistics. Should I take the plung? How are you suppose to use it to aid in reloading? |
Without a cronograph you have truely no idea how fast your bullets are traveling. Knowing your velocity is important in calculating your ballistics as well as an indicator of loads reaching dangerous levels.
Quote:: |
Thanks for the help, but what about
small bullet higher velocity vs. large bullet slower velocity; both have the same energy? If they have the same energy, by conservation of energy, they should have the same impact on the animal. Any thoughts? |
This is true, however you also have momentum. A lighter bullet looses energy faster than a heavier bullet so lighter is not always better when shooting big game. Also a heavier bullet has more mass and is therefore is affected less by wind and air drag.
Example. A Very fast light bullet will loose velocity much quicker than a heavy bullet... so at longer ranges, a heaver bullet will actually have less drop than the lighter one because it lost less velocity.
It comes down to what you are wanting to shoot. Big game animals need heavier bullets that retain energy more for penetration, than bullets designed for shooting small game animals.
Quote:: |
When they say "work up a load" does that mean that you can go higher than the powerd manufacture's max load? How much margin for error is there if you do go higher? |
Every rifle is different, every chamber is different, every barrel is different. The depth of where the riflings start, tolerances etc etc all vary. Some rifles shoot very fast, others shoot slower. The main thing to look for is signs of excess pressure.. to "work up" a load is to start at the minimum recommended load and increase or "work up" in small increments of powder until you begin to see signs of excess pressure.
-DallanC
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Handloader Super Member
Joined: Aug 22, 2005 Posts: 1032 Location: Phoenix, Arizona
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Posted: Mon Feb 12, 2007 10:01 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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Regarding powder choice, H4350 is less temperature sensitive than its IMR counterpart. It is one of Hodgdon's extreme series, all of which share a temperature insesitivity. It is a versatile powder that serves well in many hunting cartridges.
If you prefer the higher velocity and the flatter trajectory of a lighter bullet but plan to use it on deer sized game, consider the Barnes TSX in 85gr. For my grandsons, this bullet in 243 has performed superbly on deer and antelope and, in all cases, has resulted in complete penetration. All kills were under 250 yards. If you wish to stay with conventional bullets, heavier weights will be better.
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Vince Site Admin
Joined: May 25, 2005 Posts: 15715 Location: Brisbane AUSTRALIA
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SwampFox Super Member
Joined: Jul 15, 2005 Posts: 1040 Location: Destin, Florida
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Posted: Tue Feb 13, 2007 9:23 am Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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You might try the reloading data base, it has a few loads listed. The 243 is famous for its accuracy and wide selection of bullet weights and types.
Ed
PS: Good luck and welcome.
_________________ The inherent vice of capitalism is the unequal sharing of the blessings. The inherent blessing of socialism is the equal sharing of misery.
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d_hoffman Super Member
Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 696 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 12:37 am Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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I'm interested in the Hornady 105gr A-Max molly dipped and how well it performs. The B.C. on that bullet is .500. If anyone has tried it let me know.
_________________ The best form of gun control...aim straight!!! |
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fireball 3 Super Member
Joined: Jan 28, 2007 Posts: 393 Location: northern calif
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squirrelbait Member
Joined: Sep 23, 2005 Posts: 220 Location: Nottingham, NH
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Posted: Sun Feb 25, 2007 4:29 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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Seeing how I just got back from the range I feel I need to add my 2cents.
I have found most bullets I've tried are very accurate.....<1 inch at 100yds.
MY daughter dropped her first deer year and a half ago with a Sierra bullet. Small buck angling away at 160yds. Bullet went in just behind last rib, thru boiler room but didn't exit. It was there 100gr. Lost over half its weight.
Been playing with varmit and deer loads. I don't have a crono but the range I go to has 100, 200, and 300 yds. I use the bullet drop over the ranges and Dallans program to approximate the velocity. I think it works pretty good. I just shot 4- 3 shot groups all less than .75 in with Hornady 58gr. and Speer 90gr. I have been using 414 in the past but have switched to H-4598 for temp. stability. I have gone back to H-4350 for the 90 gr. bullets. I love the cartridge. It gives be the accuracy and confidence I need in the field. Generally I get the best accuracy just at max load or just below max.
Good luck, it's a great caliber. I can shoot bullets from 4000 f/s on down.
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d_hoffman Super Member
Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 696 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:14 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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squirrelbait wrote: |
Seeing how I just got back from the range I feel I need to add my 2cents.
I have found most bullets I've tried are very accurate.....<1 inch at 100yds.
MY daughter dropped her first deer year and a half ago with a Sierra bullet. Small buck angling away at 160yds. Bullet went in just behind last rib, thru boiler room but didn't exit. It was there 100gr. Lost over half its weight.
Been playing with varmit and deer loads. I don't have a crono but the range I go to has 100, 200, and 300 yds. I use the bullet drop over the ranges and Dallans program to approximate the velocity. I think it works pretty good. I just shot 4- 3 shot groups all less than .75 in with Hornady 58gr. and Speer 90gr. I have been using 414 in the past but have switched to H-4598 for temp. stability. I have gone back to H-4350 for the 90 gr. bullets. I love the cartridge. It gives be the accuracy and confidence I need in the field. Generally I get the best accuracy just at max load or just below max.
Good luck, it's a great caliber. I can shoot bullets from 4000 f/s on down. |
So, what are you shooting them out of? What's the barrel length? Rate of twist?
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d_hoffman Super Member
Joined: Feb 13, 2007 Posts: 696 Location: Chillicothe, Ohio
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Posted: Thu Mar 01, 2007 11:58 pm Post subject: Re: .243 questions |
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tech spec man wrote: |
I am new to reloading and I have many questions.
My background and things to keep in mind for these questions:
I purchased a .243 to do everything from varmint hunting to deer.
I live in the west were there is lots of open ground for all types of hunting. I am a fan of high velocities and flat trajectories and got into reloading so that I could save an arm and a leg and to produce ammo that is better than the factory.
1) I reloaded a batch of Nosler 55gr BT with 45.1gr of Varget and I am getting a very large, and noticable through scope, muzzel flash. Is this normal for Varget? I am thinking about switching to H4895 for this bullet to get rid of this flash. I have a 24" barrel.
2 part a) My main question is on the topic of deer hunting. Since I will have chances of taking deer all the way to the .243's max range, I want to use a bullet with a high BC. The Speer Spitzer BTSP 100gr and Sierra's 100gr SBT gameking. These bullets have a .430 BC. As for powder, I am undecided between H414, H4350, IMR 4350. I am leaning towards H414 because it has higher velocites over a larger range of bullets. What powder should I use for this hunting load? Hold onto your anwer until you've read part b.
2 part b) In my research for the best deer load, I discovered that Speer's 85gr Spitzer BTSP (BC of .404) backed by 45gr of H414 @3306 fps has the same energy as Speer's 100gr of the same bullet backed by 40gr of H414 @2963 fps. Since the 85gr has a flatter trajectory, should I use this bullet for deer rather than the 100gr?
Your advice would be greatly appreciated.
Thanks
P.S. What sort of primers would be best for this deer load? |
I would suggest you try a Hornady, 105gr A-Max Molly with a B.C. of .500 and see if you can work up a load to around 2900 - 2950 fps. Or, you could just buy a box of Hornady Light Mag. 100gr BTSP's
.243 Win., 100 gr. BTSP 8546
Velocity (fps) / Energy (ft-lbs)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
3100/2133 2861/1817 2634/1541 2419/1299 2213/1087 2018/904
Trajectory (inches)
Muzzle 100 yd 200 yd 300 yd 400 yd 500 yd
-1.50 1.40 0.00 -6.40 -18.80 -38.20
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