I'm thinking on changing my varmint load for my .243. For ages I've been shooting a Sierra 85 gr. bthp, with 4985 powder. It has always done the job on groundhogs, but I was thinking about going to a lighter bullet, like 70 gr. or 75 gr. Anyone have a pet load for their .243 that works good? Thanks for any info on the matter.

Hunter01

70gr Sierra BlitzKing
WW Brass
CCI 200
41.0grs H4895 - 3402fps - work up to this one

Hornady 75 gr V-Max with IMR 4064, Fed 210M.

Sierra 70 gr. Blitz King @2.710" c.o.l.
Winchester cases w/ CCI 250 primers
46 gr. - Ramshot Big Game
~3,480 fps with SDs < 15 fps
consistently groups 5 shots <1" @100 yards
Rifle = RAR Predator 22" barrel

I was kinda looking at the 75 gr. Vmax. It has a pretty good bc. Hope I can make it work in my 243.. Thanks for the info.

Sierra BK 70gr
41gr Varget
BR2 primer

My 243 really likes 68gr varmint grenades

sierra 60gr hp--#1500
reloader 15 43grs
fed 210

70 gr nosler bt
41-42 gr varget

55 gr. nosler varmagedeon and IMR8208

I use the 55 grain Varmagedeon as well but I drive it with 44.5 grains of H4895. Listed in the Hodgdon's online loading data at 4058 FPS but here at 6200 feet it goes 4110 FPS. Prairie Dogs simply vaporize with this load.

Winchester Cases and the old WLR plated primers shot from a Model 70 Coyote light.

I used the varmegedon bullet on a jicama that weighed probably 10 lbs. and it did not even leave a mist on the prairie dust. just vanished. I was impressed!!!!!!

Sierra 75 gr HP
Varget 40.0
Fed 210m
Nosler brass

Accurate inexpensive & dependable out to 300m.

Winchester M70 Heavy Varmint.


42

58 grain Vmax or 55 grain BT with Varget.

what rifle? I use 70 ballistic tip or 68 berger; I4064, or varget. lapua brass, 210m in my rem and sakos.

I'm not a big 243 fan but I do have one. I use 75gd V-Max in it at about 3150 fps. When I first started working with it I noticed that those bullet's were coming apart going through a target sheet and a 2" foam target backer. I changer out the foam for a piece of cardboard and got the same thing. know it happened because the ground behind the target was littered with brass that was torn apart!My son also ha a 243 and he use's I think it's a 55gr bullet, he like's the speed but it doesn't shoot as well a mine with the 75 gr bullet. I load mine with H414, found it to be very good, out preformed IMR 4350!

70 grain Varmageddon on top of IMR-4064. Let the rifle tell you what charge it prefers. Federal Gold Medal primers.

55 NBT and RL-15..

Jicama? I had to Google to see what kind of critter this 10 pounder is...

I seems like they should be easy to hunt at least -- it is some kind of root vegetable!



John

Savage Axis w/ 1:10 twist ER Shaw.

The most accurate of many tried are 75 Speer HP and Berger 68 FBHP.
Everything else shoots pretty well up to and including 87 VMAX. Not much luck with anything heavier.
Near max loads of Varget has worked best for me.

If I'm keeping fur, I go to a 55gr blitzing on top of 40 grains of IMR4064. book says 3800, I average 3795 fps. Shoots a one hole group and flies great out to about 300. After that, any wind makes doping nearly impossible due to retained energy drop and horrible bc.

If I'm not keeping fur or I'm expecting much wind, I go to an 85gr Sierra hpbt on top of 38 grains of 4064 iirc. But with how small alot of the dogs are around here, exit wounds can be pretty rowdy. But down range accuracy is phenomenal and they buck the wind really well. My longest coyote kill came with this load at 623 yards. I'll have to look at my notes to see what velocity was last batch. I'm remembering around 3200 but I may be wrong. I've been loading for my new long range build and haven't messed with my coyote rig much in quite a while. Maybe this is the year the widowmaker makes its return.....-

Checked my notes and factory federal stuff pushes that 85gr Sierra at an average of 3095 in my rifle, my handloads average 3165.