Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Anyone have any lighter loads for a 243 Winchester?

Hello All,

Just wondering if any of you have some lighter loads for a 243 Winchester? Anything with powders like IMR 4895, IMR 4320, IMR 4198, RL 7, H 4198, etc. I am not looking for top velocity, but something easy on the shoulder. Thanks in advance for any help.

You might check in the reloading pages further down or go directly to Seafire by PM.

The 1990 IMR powder Paperback manual is full of the data which you seek. Is there a target velocity and bullet weight? I can post some data here but if you will send me a call phone number by PM I can send you pictures of the 243 Winchester sections.
Take care, and good Luck,
Rick

For hunting loads going to the Barnes 85 g TTSX and a mid range powder charges gives a mild recoiling load which is deadly as long as you don’t try to stretch the range too much.

Less recoil than a standard 243? I’d go to a 223.

I have an older IMR Manual which shows IMR 4198 in the 6mm Remington with 80 and 100 grain bullets, but it does not show it in the 243 Winchester. Does your manual show it?

Why even post?

I am going to use the Speer 85 grain BT and the 95 grain Nosler Partition.

After the season I plan to cobble up some H4895 loads for my 6CM to take it easy on the barrel. 85gr NPs, 100gr Sierra PHs, or 95gr BTs. Easy to get 2800 or so at about 10k PSI less than top loads.

Yes,
243 with 80 and 100 grain bullets. Several other powders too, Can't get SR4759 any longer. I use quite a bit of 4227 instead. It works well.
Let me know if I need to send it to you.
Rick

PM sent.

Pappy,

That’s another reason I would like to load down. My 250 Savage is pushing the 100’s at 2750ish. Less wear and tear is good on the 243.

I loaded some for my young cousin a few years ago with the 85gr Sierra HPBT and IMR4198. I'd have to find my notes to give the powder charge. Got the load from Seafire.

I think Hornady makes a low recoil factory load for .243. Give that a look.

Loaded the 80 TTSX for grandkids with starting loads, 8 year old, 70 lb granddaughter liked it, increased as she got older

I loaded the 85gr Partition with the starting load of IMR 4350. Recoil seemed mild and accuracy was fine for short-med range. Daughter likes it fine in an A Bolt Micro.

Yep. Got some load info from Seafire 8-9 years ago, now. Worked from there. IMR 4198 has been in my powder stock ever since. I’ve now loaded the 85 gn Sierra HPBT or Hornady 85 gn Interbond, for four different .243’s; New Haven M70 Classic, TC Venture, Savage 110, and M77; and the sweet spot has been somewhere between 26.5-27.5 gns of IMR 4198 for all four rifles.

Easy on the shoulder for extended range days and youth shooters/hunters, most recently I’ve been loading it for my 78 year old father and his surgery hampered shoulder. None of the deer or hogs shot with the HPBT went more than 10 yds, one buck shot with the Interbond went about 60 yds.

The 6.5 Grendel does a pretty good .250 Savage impression too, with 100s at 2800 and 120s at 2600, with about 30gr of powder or thereabouts.

That Seafire Character gets around quite a bit....

But if he was available, he'd tell you 30 grains of 4198, either one.. but IMR one is more accurate, eg tighter groups...

30 grains of RL 7 is also another alternative, and also gets a little tighter groups than IMR 4198.

MV velocity in right around 2600 fps MV, out of a 22 inch barrel...

As a matter of fact, a couple of seasons ago, he shot a pretty large blacktail with an 85 grainer, and 30 grains of IMR 4198, so he uses those loads himself....

Recoil is similar to a 223, in the same size gun... He's also used the same load and has taken deer with a 90 grain and 95 grain Ballistic Tip or Speer SPs in 85 and 90 grains...

If you are hunting and looking to take down a deer say 150 yds and under, you can drop your charge down to 25 or even 20 grains of IMR 4198, RL 7 or H4198, with an 80 or 85 grain Sierra SP. If needing to drop down that low, a Sierra 85 grain SP would be a better choice than the Sierra HPBT, as the later bullet is harder ( designed to be pushed harder) than their 85 gr SP.. but their 80 gr SP does just as well...

Even a 75 grain HP will work just fine on deer with these 30 grain loads, even down to using 20 and 25 grains of powder...

watched a lot of young kids ( Boy Scouts ) be successful with these kind of loads...

Been toting a 6.5 Grendal in a Ruger Predator this season....with 30 grains of powder ( W 748) 90, 100, 120 and 129 bullets recoil about as much as loads in the 243 or 260 Rem with 30 grains of 4198.