Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Powder for .243 & 100gr. Partitions

I'd be interested hearing more, as various sources of handloading data don't show 7828 getting more than about 50 fps more velocity than the 4350's.

How has temperature resistance been in your rifles? One of the reasons a lot of handloaders like H4350 is velocities are very consistent over a wide range of temperatures.

Accuracy is good in other rifles. Like my 270

Good to hear from you JB. What you said in your first sentence is true . IMR 7828 was brought out in late 80's and I started using it with load data from the 1989 IMR manual. They listed 47.0 grs with 100 gr Ptd SPCL 47900cup at 3050 fps in a 22" bbl. A compressed charge. That load shot very well out of my 700 BDL with 100 gr SPCL's and 100gr Horn SP's. My Shooting Chrony showed an avg of 3113fps. The fired primers still had a rounded edge but got a little flatter with RP brass, the WW and Fed brass handled that just fine. A few years later I did a little trading with a guy and ended up with 4 boxes of 100 gr NPT's the older semi-spritzer style. Thinking I might need to back off on the charge going to the NPT I checked the #3 edn of the Nosler loading manual (current then) they had a 47.5 gr MAX charge listed at 3250 fps so mine ended up at 47.4 at only a 3100 fps velocity. hard to compare apples to oranges but their test gun had a 24" bbl, I was handicapped by a stock 22"er .Groups ran 1 1/8" to 1 3/8" 5 shots on a fairly regular basis, as I never try to shoot much over 325 yds with the 6x scope I was using I was good to go for the deer and antelope hunting I use it for. That original data showed me with the 7828 burn rate and pressure shown it would be pretty hard to get enough in the case to get overloaded. The same bullet with IMR 4350 was running 52000 cup at less velocity just about the same as IMR4831. My 7828 loads gave me more than the 50 fps you mentioned safely and with the accuracy desired. Fluke ? I don't know but Nosler #3 listed even more than IMR did with a bullet normally thought to increase pressure. By Nosler #4 they had gone to a full spitzer profile on the 100 gr NPT and backed off to 45.5 grs listing a 24" barrel again. I still use the older lots of powder I have on the shelf so I think the older data is still pertinent and refer to it when using it. For what it's worth about all loading data on the 243 Win took a dump about the same time the worn throat/ pressure increase deal which I'm sure you know more about than I do.
Most of my 243 use has been on antelope as I see it near perfect for that job. When the season rolls on in SD the temp extremes are from low 80's on the high end to a very rare one dipping to the 30's,very seldom hunting antelope below freezing, so I haven't worried about it much. I do like and use H4350,and other Hodgon's powder's all the time.
Hope you and the wife a great and productive fall hunting season. Magnum_Man

Magnum Man,

Thanks for all the info. Yeah, I wouldn't worry about the temperature deal for typical pronghorn hunting, in fact I use some relatively temp-sensitive powders when after prairie goats myself. Last year Eileen got hers on a morning around 20 degrees, but that was exceptional�and the range was only 150 yards anyway. (She and I each have two tags this year, so will be after them pretty hard.)

Have you tried the short-cut version of 7828? I've been using it in various rounds for the past couple-three years and it seems to work exactly the same, but a little more will fit under bullets in some cartridges--and the .243 with 100-grain bullets would be one.

Good hunting,

JB ,I have used the SC version of Hodgon's 4831 and it was ok, so at your advice I'll sure try the 7828 SC. No antelope tags in SD this year for me, first time in 34 straight years, I had a tag last year and just too many folks a head of me with a preference point for darn few antelope tags I guess. Last years buck was nice and taken with my M77Mk 2 in 280 Rem with 140gr Nosler Solid Base bullet and H4350(Extreme) at 265 yds. I am sure it will do deer just as well .We are lucky to have the choice in powders and bullets today that we have ,short supply and all. Good luck on those lopes. Magnum Man

Last night I loaded up some 100gr. Partitions and some 100 gr. Sierra Pro Hunter blems; 4 rounds of each at 38.5, 39.5, 40.5, and 41.5 grains of IMR 4350.

The largest 4-shot group with the NPs was 1 5/16 at 38.5gr.; the smallest was 11/16 at 40.5, with 3 through one hole. The top load group was 1 1/16.

The PH groups ran from 7/8 at 38.5 gr. to 1 7/16 at 40.5, with the top load of 41.5 gr. running an even inch. For some reason, the PHs grouped an inch and a half higher than the Noslers. For the 40.5 grain group, I was holding on the lower edge of the bull, which may account for the larger spread (or not).

For now, it looks like I'll be going with the Partitions over 41 grains more or less. I can' t see flogging a 50 year old barrel to death over 1/4" or 50 fps, especially when I tend to shoot deer at 25-50 yards.

When I was done with the deer loads, 3 rounds loaded with the PHs over 15 gr. of Trail Boss made an almost perfect 1 1/8" triangle- 6 inches low and 2 inches to the right of the aiming point. Estimated velocity of that is about 1600fps. Ought to be fun after deer season.

For the other Berm Killers out there, I regret to report that the only bullet I was able to recover was from one of the Trail Boss loads, which had a slightly bent nose and was flat along one side, so I guess the berm won.

Thanks for all the input.

I've long been a fan of H-4350, it just seems to give great accuracy in any round where it's an appropriate speed powder. So since I had a jug of it on the shelf when I got my first .243, it was a natural choice. I ended up getting rid of that .243, and then got my son a .243 for his first rifle, both rifles are rem 700's.

For bullets 85 gr and heavier I could dial in moa or better groups with little effort and have tried at least a 1/2 dozen different bullets from various cup-core 100-105's, the 87 V max, 85 partition and 95 tsx.

I'm sure there might be a powder that will be slightly more accurate, or slightly faster, but I like to keep my load work simple, and IMHO H-4350 simply works in the .243.

Back from the dead for this thread ......

I don't see much if any love for using WW760 or H414 in the 243. Anyone use it at all?

Of those powders, I’d go with IMR 4350.
I’ve had really good luck lately with IMR 7977.

I used to use both (same powder) in 243 plus 7x57 and 7mm08. I've switched to H4350 in the 243. Varget works well with 85 grainers. I think Powder Valley has 760 in stock now. H414 was discontinued.

H-4350, IMR-4350, Accurate 4350, 760, H-414....

Never tried any ball powders in .243. I had the most success with H4350, IMR7828, and RL22.

When I loaded for a 243 I started with H414... 760 is the same powder... 100gr hndy interlock, shot great, killed stuff. Also used it in a 7 mauser and then 708 with 140gr bullets.

I had H4350 for my 06 and it worked also but stayed with 414 in the other guns as I had a couple pounds to use.

Still have some. Got rid of the 243 and shoot 120gr in the 708 so went to H4895.

If I still had a 243 I'd use the 414 I have.

Kent

My 275 Rigby [7x57] hates 760. I was hoping for other results as I have about 12lbs of it here.

I use 40-42 grs of Imr-4350/H4350 for 100 grainers. Also good for 95 gr NBT.

IMR4350 or H4350

I’ve tried the three 4350’s. I liked all of them. Asked a guy who built custom rifles and loaded for his customers.
I asked how he duplicated a load he developed for a rifle 10 years ago. With the components changing.
He said Accurate 4350 was the most consistent. Hasbeen

Same here with at least 4 different rifle, all with the IMR

RL26

IMR 4350 for 100 gr. NP and 75 gr. Hornady HP.

24" barrel Hart bbl. w/ 1-10 twist.