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A little range time ( with pictures)
jimdeere
Member, Moderator Posts: 26,171 ******
I loaded some .243 Winchester for a Ruger I haven't shot for a while. 38, 39, and 40 grains of H 414 behind 100 gr. Speer Grand Slams.
First, 38 gr. at 167 yards. Not impressed. Im not going to show the targer.
I let the barrel cool and shot 3 round of 39 grain.
Not spectacular, good for deer hunting. If I let the barrel cool between shots, might do a little better.
I'm not even going to shoot the 40 grain.
Comments
Send the scope back to Vortex.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
Can't. It's a Burris.
Jim, is that target set up in the same spot the buck was in a previous photo?
Uh, maybe?
waste a paper target with all them leaves to shoot??????? for shame.....
If you're satisfied, that's good enough. The Speer 100 GS is about as good a 243 bullet as you can get for deer. Good match of expansion and penetration up to 300 yards. That would appear to be approximately the longest range your load is suitable.
If I let the barrel cool between shots, it might tighten up a bit. H414 doesn't come near filling the case. May try to find a better powder.
Plenty good for hunting though. Those three shots fit in a 1-1/2" circle.
In this order:
H-4350
H-4831
RL-15
RL-17
IMR equivalent for the 1st 2 is fine. VV N160 works good too.
Ever try some 3031??? I get good groups with this powder.
Thanks, Sam.
Oakie, I have some 3031. Might try it to see how it fills out the case.
Nice patch. So jealous but you need a gate and a buggy.
3031 is good stuff but its temp sensitive so if you are shooting in real hot weather or the sun is beaming down cover the ammo and be prepared to have some flyers.
Gun powder is so expensive today I really haven't used any of the real new SC powders out there but I hear good things. I have so much powder its not worth buying anymore "new" stuff.
I would also suggest getting a chronograph if you don't have one. They are one of the best tools you can have when reloading and trying to get consistent, accurate loads. Even the cheapest chrony is a good machine. The F1 Chrony runs about $100 thats the price of a sleeve of primers in some places. I have become a fan of the Reloader powders and some of the Ramshot powders lately. But I think if I could only have one rifle powder for non-magnum(and I don't have any magnum rifles) it would be IMR 4895 or 4064 either will work in a 243. The 4895 is a little fast for 100gr bullets but 4064 will work with them. H4350 and Winchester 760 were my favorits powders in the 243 and 6mm remington.
Thanks, Sam
I found some Nosler Ballistic Silvertips that I didn't know I had. I loaded 5 rounds each of H4350, 39 and 40 grain.
Three consecutive shots at 165 yards:
(I don't know what made the holes on the left. Shrapnel, maybe.)
I never was a fan of boat tail polymer tip bullets, but this may change my mind.
Excellent shooting.
🇺🇲 "The tree of liberty must be refreshed from time to time with the blood of patriots and tyrants." - Thomas Jefferson 🇺🇲
I’ll have to say, I always had good luck my self using IMR 3031 in my 243 and using sierra 85 gr. HPBT.
What just happened?!?!
Increased the load to 40 grains. Waited 10 minutes between the three shots on the right. Then, two quick shots strayed to the left. Odd that these rounds were practically in the same horizontal plane.
Try some Barnes 85 grain tipped bullets.
One hole groups in my Savage 10.
These were the best 100 meter groups I have ever shot.
I'm shooting of a Caldwell lead sled.