Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles Which powder for Sierra 85 HPBT in 243 Win?

Going to start loading for my 243 (Sako A7 Varmint w/24" barrel). Never loaded for this caliber so was hoping to get some tips on which powder for best accuracy with the 85 grain Sierra. I have RL17, H4350, IMR 4064, Varget and H4895. Primarily interested in accuracy but decent velocity would be a plus too.

May also load a dedicated varmint bullet leaning toward 70 grain nosler bt or sierra. Any powder suggestion for the 70 grain bullets?

Thank you.

I found a max load of IMR4831 to be very accurate( less than 1/2" grp) with the 85 gr sierra HPBT game kings.

H4350 gives me 1/2" 3-shot groups from my Weatherby S2 Vanguard carbine.

Both of mine liked H4895 for the 70-75. Varget is a close second, good es-sd but kinda poochy on velocity. One being a 12 tw. it wouldn’t shoot 85 and above very well so a sample of 1 85 and above performed best with 4831.

Rl-16, Rl 7 and RL 26 have all worked well for me with bullets from 80 to 100 grs.

4350’s and IMR4451

RL16 or RL19, RL19 works in all my 243 and I have alot, but RL16 in my hunting 243 gives better velocity, about 150fps faster.

I started out using IMR4064 and have stuck with it. It's not the fasted but it's accurate.

I've also used Varget which is another good powder.

+1

IMR 4831 and the Sierra 85 gr HPBT gave me my best groups in my Ruger 77 243 I had in high school. The next best powder in that rifle with that bullet was IMR 3031. At that time the only thing available to me were IMR powders. I tried 4064, 4895, and 4350 too, but they didn't group as well in my rifle. I shot a lot of groundhogs and fox with that loading.

I use IMR 4350 with the same bullet. I have both IMR 4350 and H4350. I use the Hodgdon powder with 100gr bullets. Try the 4064 and 4895. I have a Sako AII 243 varmint and it likes 4350 but my custom 243 heavy barreled rifle like 4895 with the same bullets. 4895 works in both rifles.

IMR 4350 for my 6mm., so I would start with your H4350.

Tried others like Ramshot, 4451 and H4381. IMR 4350 was best followed by 4451.

85hpbt is a great bullet even for deer. Should be able to zing them pretty quick out of that 24 inch barrel.

Same here.....every 243 I have shot this combo in is super accurate.

4064 with Old IMR data....

H 380 is a sleeper with this combo...45 to 47 grains.

H 414 will yield both velocity and accuracy... 45 grains

RL 19 also.. 48 grain Max load...

Not discounting the loads listed already....

Seafire,
When you say "Old IMR data" are we talking 1970's? 1980's? How would you feel about this bullet for big mulies or cow elk? Is it tough enough?

Thanks!

I have used h4350 and varget and same great accuracy with both

ttpoz....

I personally would choose another bullet myself... but many other people have success with the 85 HP in 6mm from Sierra....

I'd have to defer to them...

as far as IMR Old Data.... they last put their old Brownsheet reading info up thru the early 2000s, because I have a few copies that do list the 260 Rem, and have some of the older cartridges deleted.. I use to have a couple from the late 70s, early 80s.. but after a couple of moves... they disappeared to the winds....

but I do have several from the early 2000s with the 260 listed in it.

another great source of reload data is Steve's Pages...

http://stevespages.com/243.html

the site has almost all the data on most cartridges, right up to the time Steve passed away....

he was a member on the campfire here.... someone else is still maintaining his web site tho.
I consult it a lot, but as always, work up....just for safety sake.

best of luck.

Interesting stuff. Thanks and apologies to the OP for hijacking the thread. I put Steves Pages in favorites.

I use W760 in my 243's with the 85 grain Sierra HPBT. 45.5 grains gives excellent accuracy and 3300 fps. I have also used IMR4064 in working up a milder load for a youth rifle once, and it gave very good accuracy as well. I found W760 to work so well, I've just never tried anything else.

Got her dialed in with IMR 4064.

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...5/sako-a7-roughtech-varmint-243#comments

H 414 and W 760 are the same powder. I’ve used both but prefer IMR 4350. I like the Sierra 85 BTHP but there are better choices for large game animals. The premium bullets offer the biggest gain for the money In 6 m/m. Hasbeen