Home Forums Reloading Big Game Rifles 243 Powders

What are your favorite powders in the 243 these days for 103 gr and up?

My rifle isn’t twisted for heavy bullets but my dad has a fast twist 243. Ive debated a 6mm creed or a fast twist 243 myself.

Favorite powders for 80-100 gr especially 90-100?

The last several years my old 243 has mostly been semi-retired but comes out now and then. When it does come out deer always seem to find their way to the freezer.
I have some factory ammo I bought cheap a few years ago but I’m afraid if I shoot a box of factory ammo in it that it will go on strike.

I have my dad’s old Remington 742 I’ve started reloading for. Granted it’s not great accuracy, but I’ve pretty much settled on Ramshot Hunter, as it’s the only powder I could get a group under 2” with to date. I’m getting right at 1.5” to 1.75” pretty consistently with it, so I’m happy. If this was a bolt action I’d think I could easily get 1” or under with this powder.

For 80-90 grain bullets, it's almost impossible to beat H414

When I was using and loading 243W, I settled with
W785 powder. I had some really nice tack driving
loads, then the powder was discontinued.
Left me sorta butt chapped after all the expense
and work.
Since I had another something to fill the slot
I got out of the 243 business
There ought to be some good something to
work these days since there's a gazillion and a
half powders to choose from these days along
with lots of miracle bullets to use
Good Luck

H4350 is hard to beat,

IMR 4831 and 100gr partitions, pretty good deer load for me.

H3031 and 100gr bullets

34.5 g IMR 4320 + 100 g anything = Dead stuff

I'm going to try 7828 and 100's

I4350 for 85 to 105

H-4831 95g NBTs

From the responses that’s the thing about the 243 is that people are all over the board with powders.
30-06’s and 6.5 Creedmoors are easy. If a 30-06 doesn’t shoot well with 4350 it has some kind of Voodoo curse and will bring 10 years bad luck. Same if a 6.5 Creedmoor doesn’t shoot well with 4350.

I have several pounds of H4350 and a couple lbs of IMR 4350. Trying to use it in 6.5 Creedmoor and 30-06. Might try it in the 243 just to see what kind of results I get. Wouldn’t mind having a load for all three with the same powder.
I have an unopened 8 lb jug of Hunter. I think I have a lb or two of most of the powders mentioned so far as well as some others. Have an unopened lb of Rl26 but if it likes it I don’t know how to replace it. Other than RL7 or RL50 Alliant powders seem to be MIA. H1000 seems to he MIA also. 4350 and 4831 have been available lately.

I’ve been meaning to try H-4350. Have had several people tell me they get better accuracy with H-4350

H4350 is excellent but RL17 achieved higher velo for me.

Pretty much the same deal with the 243. If it won't shoot 4350 it's likely sick or cursed.

If you have access to it, IMR 4166 has done really well with 75 gr Sierra hollow points bullets and IMR 7977 has been really good with 95 gr Ballistic Tip or Partition and 100 gr Hornady bullets.

H4350 with 95gr Berger VLD's works great in my Savage 12 243.

Back when I was young and foolish, my goal in life was to achieve 3000 fps with a 100-grain Hornady bullet, while maintaining good accuracy. IMR 4831 worked well, but didn't get the magic 3000. MRP finally did the trick, but I got ejector marks on the brass.

I use H4350 with 100gr bullets.

My all time favorite out of multiple 243’s is 43.0 gr of IMR 4831 with 85 grain Sierra. Currently shooting a factory heavy barrel 700 Remington and it will stack them at 100 yards.