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.243 reloading

cornbachercornbacher Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
edited March 2002 in General Discussion
I have a remington model seven in .243 win and I am having a heck of a time finding a good load.I have been using 85 grain bullets, both sierra and nosler, with IMR 4350 with mixed luck. This powder by far has given me the best groups at 100 yds but will leave me 4-6 inches low at 200. Federal premiums with the sierra 85gr hpbt work very well but there is no way to duplicate that round when handloading. I have tried several loads of 4350 and several loads with IMR 4895 but the 4895 only gives me 2- 3in groups. I am wondering if anyone possibly has a pet load that works well with the 85 gr nosler partition in the short barreled Model 7?Pretty specific but I'm at a loss.
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Comments

  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    cornbaker:4350 is good fuel for the .243. I'd go so far as to say it's the best powder for it.Are you saying your point of impact changes up to 6 inches between 100 and 200 yards? Something bad wrong here. Only time I've ever seen that was when a feller shot a 22/250 in a 250Sav.For encouragement, you can duplicate and usually better factory ammunition.Sorry, I'm at a loss.Clouder..
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  • b00merb00mer Member Posts: 975 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I use 39 grains of varget under a 85 grain seirra soft point and get 1/2" at 100yrds and 1" at 250, thats groups of 5 shots. I am shooting a styer SBS 243 with 24" barrel
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  • cornbachercornbacher Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I can't believe it myself. When I told the people at the gun store what was happening they looked at me like I was a complete idiot. I'm no expert but I have been reloading for several years with several caliber and never had a problem like this. I usually set it 1.5 in high at 100 yds and The bullet is dropping 4-6 in by 200 yds. This has been consistent for over 100 rounds. The factory federals are dead on at 200 yds with the 1.5 in raise at 100. The only difference I can see is the the 4350 should give around 2900 fps whereas the federals are suppose to kick out at 3200 fps. I'm not sure if the short 20" barrel will make a difference with the slower burning 4350. That's why I tried the 4895 but the groups sucked.Like I said, if I wouldn't be stumped I wouldn't be asking.Thanks for the info. All input is appreciated.
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  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    How many grains of powder are you pouring? Sounds like a super slow load. Only thing I can think of. Physically, that bullet at 2900 can't drop like that, so some factor has to change to make it so. Distance or speed.Clouder..
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    try 39grs and work up by 1/10 gr. 4350How are you spacing your OAL. Are you sticking to factory specs? did you measure the loaded federal round and start with that OAL?what is your barrel length? The manual (nosler) was written after testing with a 24" lilja barrel. I bet you are around 20" on the mod 7. 4" is all the difference, you might try a faster burning powder for a barrel that short. just a thought.
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  • cornbachercornbacher Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I can't remember right now exactly how long my oal is but I know the bullet is just about up against the rifling (as long as I can get them and close the bolt). I also crimp with a LEE factory crimp die. All of the good groups came from 39.5 or 40 grs of 4350. I tried the max loads of the nosler data (41.5?grs - I don't have my manual handy) but the groups started getting bigger. I know every rifle is different but I was just wondering if anyone had good luck loads because I don't have the money to go a whole pound of 6-7 powders so I can load 9-12 shells from each pound. Also, a new question. How would I go about trying to duplicate the federal rounds? I know they use their own brand or blend of powder. My handloads have always worked great or at least been satisfactory andI've never had this problem before so I really don't know where to start to try to match that load.
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    you aren't pushing the rounds too far into the rifling are you? they don't have scars if you eject them do they? I like to be .010 or so away. I would again suggest experimentation with a faster burn powder due to the barrel length. Only other thing I could come up with would be experimentation with bullet weight. 1:10 twist is about mid range for the 243, it should group a number of weigth well. Maybe try the balistic tips.
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  • daddodaddo Member Posts: 3,408
    edited November -1
    I had the same problem with my .243 mossberg- this is what I did.-- 1st- I have yet to find a good load for the 80 grain,however, I have found the perfect load for the 100 grain. I was using 4350 and couldn't get my groups better than 3 inches at 100 yds. I switched to 4320 and at 33.5 grns (100 grn bullet) I am now getting 3/4" at 100 yds.The 4350 shot high and right and was irregular.The 4320 shoots dead on and never varies. I'm presently working on a 80 grn bullet load with the 4320, but only have it to 1.5" at 100 yds. I also found- I must use the same brass,primer and bullet (sierra) in all loads. Try to maintain barrel temp. Don't load a round and let it sit as it will warm up and effect groups. Good Luck!
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  • whiteclouderwhiteclouder Member Posts: 10,574 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Read his post fella's, his problem is not grouping, it's bullet drop.This guy is an experienced reloader.Clouder..
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  • JustCJustC Member Posts: 16,056 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Taking into account that he has stated the load is up to current capacities, then the only other thing other than equipment or recipe is load density. Is the powder contaminated? has it lost it's properties due to poor storage conditions?Borrow enough to load the same recipe from someone else. test your three next to the three you load with the other persons identical powder. Do they group the same?
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  • cowdoccowdoc Member Posts: 5,847 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    i think that justc maybe has somthing is the powder old out of condition and you not getting the vel that you think you are.how cold was it when you were shooting ive had trouble with imr powder when veryvery cold,one time i was feeding cows and had a coyote at just little over 100yds away the temps were -25 below 0 my .270 was inthe pickup as were the shells that i grabbed the shells and gun (these were also probably about 25below 0 temps) and took in the tractor pulled down on the coyote and shot the gun sounded like a pop gun and bullet hit the ground 25 ft short of the coyote. i have switched to hodgdon extreme powders since then. doc
    I dont give my guns without somebody getting hurt!
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  • cornbachercornbacher Member Posts: 32 ✭✭
    edited November -1
    I don't think it's the powder. I use the same powder in my .270 from the same cans and it's fine (tack driving in fact). I don't know guys. Maybe there is some strange gravitational force that surround my rifle. I guess that explains the headaches (ha!). I'll keep trying or maybe just say to heck with it and use the Federals that work.Thanks for the advice
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  • D.S.COLED.S.COLE Member Posts: 611 ✭✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    I do a lot of reloading for customers.The favorite load around here ,for the 243 is the Sierra 85 gr BTHP and 39 grs. of IMR 4064. This is the max.chge in the Lyman book. It gives the highest velocity shown in the tables for this bullet.Your model 7 has an 18in bbl. the velocity shown in the load books is with a 24 in bbl.usually. You will lose about 200 fps with the shorter bbl. Velocity makes flat trajectories ,that is why you have more bullet drop. the only thing you can do with the model 7 is zero it higher than normal at 100 yds.DSC
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  • songdogsongdog Member Posts: 355 ✭✭✭
    edited November -1
    Id not even knw if this is possible,but this is what I was thinking could be the problem. IF the bullet was seated to deep into the casing It wouyld cause the pressure to surround the bottom half of the bullet before the bullet even left the casing. This would allow some if not alot of the pressure that should be behind the bullet escape the barrel before the bullet has left the barrel.In essence, The space between your bullet and your rifling could be enough to let the gas from the powder to encircle the bullet not giving the bullet the max speed and effeciency.Just a shot in the dark.songdog
    Be bold in what you stand for, careful in what you fall for.
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