Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 243 accuracy problems

I have a savage model 11 in 243. I can’t seem to get good accuracy out of her. Just tried imr 4350 and imr4895. My projectile is 95g nosler partition. I wish to use it on deer. I’m loading to recommended oal 2.68”. Is the problem the weight of bullet?
I shot the 4350 (worked up to 42grs safely )yesterday and came up with maybe 4” group at 200. I expected tighter groups with such an inherently accurate round.
Any help is appreciated.

(Accuracy is certainly within minute of deer at 100yds, I just feel like something is off at 200)

In my 700's they shot good with IMR4350 and the 95 Nosler's. I am shooting some 95 SST's in one of them this year and using 6.5 Staball powder, and it really shoots well with that combo. I'd try another powder if you can.

You think the twist rates are similar? (I don’t know the twist in the 11)

I’ve gotten good accuracy with 41gr or so of I4350 and 100gr NPs in several rifles. I’d try getting closer to the lands if possible. Their OAL isn’t necessarily what yours should be.

Also, do your testing at 100. At 200 wind and other factors are likely to have an outsized effect on the results. After you get good groups at 100, then test out yonder.

That bullet isn’t too long for standard twist .243s at all.

100 grain cup and core bullets with IMR 3031 work well in my 243s.

1:9.25

Google says 9.25 twist.

You can measure it with a tape measure and a tight patch on a cleaning rod.

I run 1:8 twists in 6mm bores for anything over 85 grains, though we have a factory 700 with 1:9.25 that's shoots 100 gr Sierra GK very well.

Could be a scope/parallax issue as well. What do your 100 yard groups look like? Be honest. I'm talking 5 shot groups to confirm accuracy/precision of your load. Your rifle should easily be stabilizing a 95gr partition. The rifle may not like the powder/bullet combo. I'd also find where the lands are and back off by .020". This is outlined in most load manuals.

Also, consult a Nosler load manual or use Nosler's online load data. It's free, so you have no excuse not to use it. Powders I'd be looking at are RL17, H1000, H4831, RL19 and RL25.

You also don't say if this is a 3 shot or 5 shot group at 200 yards. Generally when I work up a load, I'll shoot 5 shots because that tells you much more than a 3 shot group does. After you have a good load worked up, then shoot your 3 shot triangles at distance. I do that a lot of times to get a good read on the wind.

Something to check on your savage is how the action feels in the stock too. Does it rock or move side to side without the action screws in? If it does, it should be glass bedded. Is your barrel freefloated? Or is there a lot of tension on one side, like I've seen on some savages? Savages can be shooting machines, but if there is a mechanical deficiency, it's going to be a dog. It's not always about the load.


Great post pappy.

Unless you always shoot at 200 yds, shoot at 50 yds.......Darrel Wick

The model 11 is a 1:10. I had one. The rifle without any alterations should shoot 1 inch at 100 yards if you do your part.

38 grains of IMR 4064 with a 85 grain bullet. I got a half inch group with this load, without altering the rifle, but not consistently. Free floating the barrel was done, but I never bedded it. Wouldn't hurt to check over the rifle too.

Action is well tightened. Barrel fully floated. Quality Nikon Monarch scope.
I really needed to know if the twist was wrong for the bullet weight.
I’ll try another powder and see how that works.

Thanks for everyone’s help.

Been reloading for 30 years, but very simply. I find a load and stick with it. Not a perfectionist either. Not looking for bugholes, just 2.5” at least at 200. My 308 handloaded will shoot an inch at 200. My 375, 2 inches at 200.

I forget the load but it used IIRC 4895. Bullet was the 100 gr. Hornady spire point flat base. I think the brass was Winchester as that's about all my .243 brass is in my stash. Provided I could a steady shooting position that load was coyote deadly a little past 300 yards. Don't have a clue on the powder charge but several kids that used the rifle back then easily killed deer with the cartridge. I moved from Nevada to Arizona back in 1979 and several cartons with loading stuff and all my notebooks somehow disappeared from the face of the earth from the mover's truck on the way down.
PJ

Not the partition but 41.5grs of imr4350 and a 95gr ballistic tip is awesomely accurate from my three 243's.



Where did you get 2.68" oal? Is that from the book or have you measured from your rifle and seated the bullet back X amount of thousandths?




I've also not fooled with Partitions much but my .260 Remington will not shoot the 125gr Nosler Partition under 2" at 100yds. It's the only bullet I've found that it will not shoot, so I don't shoot them. How does it do with other bullets?

Ruger M77 MK II UL, 1.9 twist. Savage AXIS II, 1.9.25 twist.

FC brass 175.5gr, 43.5gr H-4831sc, CCI 200, 95gr NBT. COL 2.650 from Hodgdon load data with a 95 NPT.

20 inch Ruger, 2827fps, < 1".

22" Savage AXIS, 2885fps, 1" plus or minus a bit.

Never tried to tweak the load for either rifle.

The load and the OAL of 2.68” come from Nosler Load Data from the Nosler website.

Powder and bullet choice are OK, mess around with the seating depth-in both directions- a bit. I think you'll be surprised .

I have a Savage 110 in 243 Win, sporter weight, that I have played with quite a bit. I have not shot the 95gr Nosler but did do quite a bit of work with the 95gr Sierra. I had my best luck with 40.5gr H4350, CCI 200 primer, Lapua brass, OAL 2.835". This load would should right at 1.00" at 100 yards pretty consistently and stay inside 2" at 200 yards.

Powders I have used with good accuracy in this 243 are H380, H4350 and IMR4064. Mostly with 85gr Sierra BTHP and 90gr Berger.

Yeah, I’d be using my rifle and working off data from it. I never even look at their lengths. I’m going to see where I touch the lands at and work off that. Most of my best loads are .050-.075” off the lands.

"Surprisingly" a POS Salvage,undoubtedly wearing Dog Schit mounts,rings and glass,doesn't set BR records with NPT's,which are easily amongst the fhuqking schittiest of the ilk. Hint.

It sure THE fhuqk isn't "Twist Rate". Hint. LAUGHING!

Simply kiss,find pressure and rock on. Hint.

Fhuqking LAUGHING!...............

Have you checked mechanical items? Stock screws, scope mounts, base screws, etc.?