Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Best powder for the 243 Win?

I've been using H414, what's better.

I like powders that meter very smoothly.

Spot

I've used R19, R22, H4350, and IMR4350 with 100's...all with acceptable accuracy/velocity. Never used 414 so can't really say. What's wrong w/ H414?

Brett

I've also used IMR 4831 with 100gr bullets and was happy with the results. Lately, I'm mostly using H414 too.

FWIW, I have a 243 that is very cantankerous. I knew it had good potential because it put Blue Box Federals into very small groups, but of course I wanted to use my handloads. Tried all the usual combinations without success. On a whim, tried some IMR4320 that was on the shelf, with some old 100gr Nosler Solid Base bullets that I'm hoarding. Bingo, instant small groups!


PS 4320 is small grained and meters very well...

Like others I've used a variety of powders, including H414, in the 243 but prefer H4350 because it's what's on the bench in greatest abundance and I'm not a big fan of ball powders... OTOH, if you're looking for good metering H414 won't be beat by H4350.

Ramshot Hunter would meter very well and be an excellent 243 powder, but I find the stuff TOO fine (which seems nearly impossible, but for me is the case).

I've used everything from IMR, Alliant and Hodgdon, with burn rates from SR 4759 to 4831/ RL 22...

In a good 243 barrel, I have never had one that didn't perform very well, with the exception of H 4895 which was very finicky..

I have one Rem 243, that is an accuracy disaster... but it likes SR 4759 a lot and also, likes loads that rocket the bullet about 10% OVER max load...

Spot what weight bullets you thinking?

Dober

Varget is great for 85 gr bullets and under, H4831 or 4350 is perfect for heavier stuff.But H414 meters better than any of it, although Varget isn't bad at all.

I really like Ramshot Hunter in my Stevens with 80-87 grain bullets.

MO

Sorry

85 - 100 grain bullets

Varget and IMR-4064 for the 85 grainers and IMR-4350 or H4350 for the 100 grain bullets. One powder to do it all? IMR-4350 would be pretty good for both bullet weights. There are plenty of good choices, but those have worked well for me for a longtime. Some of the new powders like Hybred 100V and RE-17 might be interesting to fiddle around with too.

85's-100's then I'd be for taking a serious run at H4831sc

Dober

I've got a good deal of Varget, and H414 on hand... also some 4831.. but not SC.

I need to try 4831sc to see if I like it better.

Thanks,
spot

IMR 4350.......

If I had the H414 on hand then I guess I'd be all over that one.

Dober

I've tried them all and nothing beats IMR4831 for everything ......Ben

imr4895

For 100s I found that MRP was best, closely followed by H4831.

I liked IMR4350 and IMR4831 alot in my .243. I have never metered any load, so I can't help in that arena.

Good Luck!

FH

H4350 for 100 grain Hornady.
IMR4064 for 58 grain Vmax and 87 grain Hornady sp.
I have the most of those two powders, and they work for most anything.

And I'll be the problem child with two 8 lb. jugs of H380 on the shelf. In my M788 .243 this slings 55 gr. at 4000 fps and 100 gr. Partitions at just over 3000 fps, but with sub-MOA accuracy. I've tried the rest, H380 is the best metering with good velocity and accuracy for me. All the others mentioned will work well, but I've NEVER used a powder that meters better than H380.
Selmer

For 100gr bullets, I've used:

H-450
H-4831 (both regular and SC version)
IMR-4350
H-4350

All gave excellent results

For 70gr and 80gr bullets I've only used Ramshot Big Game, again with excellent results. I load 85gr Sierra BTHPs for my buddy's son using H-4895 and get around 1" groups for three shots at 100 yards and mild recoil.

All that said, for 85-100gr bullets I'd use either IMR or Hodgdon 4350 and never look back.

I get great accuracy with Varget and 75-gr V-Maxs - 1/2-inch groups from my Tikka T-3 Lite. I have some H-414, though, and I'll try it if it looks like the velocity might beat the Varget load. It's hard to beat the accuracy I'm getting, though.

I've never come across another powder that was as much like little marbles as H380. I have had some very good luck with it as well. (My best luck was with 150 grain Speers in the 06.) It also the powder that I have seen the greatest range among different load data as well as the most dramatic change in load data from a single source over time. Best, John

IMR 4350 has always impressed me in the 243.

MY experience/use: 85-100gr, IMR 4350 always. Good argument for 4831, RL22, 7828 in longer bbls for 100s, higher speeds if you want them.

60gr, H414 VERY accurate + fast.
70gr Varget VERY accurate + fast.

Federal brass is GREAT, WW should be about as good. Lapua best.

Southtexas, +1, 4320 meters great, often overlooked powder, my GO TO for 338/06 loads in former rifle. Should be perfect for 85-87s and very good also in 100s.

First, I'd ask what the barrel length is. There's quite a bit of difference between loading for an 18.5 inch vs a 26 inch barrel. That said, I'd go with a quicker powder with a short barrel, and a slower powder if one has a 24-26 in unit. 1Minute

Bullets from about 87 Gr up you really need to take a good look at would your believe IMR 7828.

Not really. John Barsness has tested this idea and found that for a given cartridge the powders that perform best in long rifle barrels also do best in carbine length barrels.

Reloading data supplied by Hodgdon runs counter to this idea as well. I have one of their annual manuals in which there is data for several cartridges in the rifle section with typical barrel lengths and the pistol section with abbreviated 15" barrels. These include the 243, 7mm08, 308 and 30-06. The data includes a wide variety of powders. When this question came up before I looked into it and found that the same two or three powders that do best in a cartridge with a 24" barrel are the ones doing best in a 15" barrel.

Just curious, but what is one's definition of "best"???

If I remember correctly H414 and W760 are close to one and the same, yet didnt see anyone list 760, I know 414 burns a bit on the dirty side, I picked up an NEF Handirifle in .243 with the heavy barrel/synthetic stock and the darm thing is a tackdriver with 85 Sierra HPT"s's under imr4350, best 100 bucks I spent on a rifle, ya just never know

My short barreled Rem 600 groups MOA with IMR 4320, but opens a bit with IMR 4350. It does like 85 grain Sierra slugs though, and has done well on mule deer out to a hair over 400 yds. It throws some spectacular muzzle flash too if one fires it after sunset with the 4350.

The wife has pretty well taken it away from me as her designated pronghorn unit. That being, I'm working up a 240 Weatherby so I can have my own 24.