Home Forums Reloading Varmint Rifles all around 243 Loads

I've Had A 670a For A Few Years. Decided it Was Time To Start Loading.

It Will Be A Truck Gun, MaBe Killing JaveliNa, Rabbits, Coyotes.

Looking For Cheap Bullets To Load.... Maybe Soft Points, Vmax? What Powders?

Remington or Hornady 100 sp over one of the 4350s.

CFE and 760 do very well in my 243. "One" bullet and powder isn't better than another. One maybe better in YOUR gun, but we can't tell YOU what your gun likes; only you can.

I Understand That, LookingForStarting Points

Back before we had all the newer modern bullets that are available these days, I shot a lot of Speer 90gr Hotcore bullets in a 243 W. and an old 244 Remington (6mm Rem. before they changed the name), primarily because the 244 had a slow twist 1-12" twist barrel and would not stabilize 100gr bullets.
The Speers were never quite as accurate as some of the others like the Hornady Interlocks and Sierras, but worked well in both guns and would average about 3/4" groups in both pretty easy ; they worked well on everything from ground squirrels, crows,rabbits, coyotes, hogs & deer.
I think Speer still makes those bullets & have heard they are more accurate now than the old Hotcores were.
Pretty hard to beat a Hornady IL for an inexpensive all around softpoint. They are surprisingly accurate and just plain work.
These days I'd probably go with a 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip for an all around bullet in a 243 W. if you want a hunting bullet. They are as accurate as the varmint bullets and will just hammer hogs and deer as well.
If you need lead free, the 80 & 85gr barnes are good, as are the Hornady GMX bullets ; just not as cheap.
If you get into fast twist barrels and long range bullets things are different, but it doesn't sound like that's what you are looking for.

Lots of powders shoot well in a 243 W., but it seems I always come back to IMR 4350 (and it shoots well in other cartridges I shoot as well, so that's a plus).

A load that has shot very well for me in several 243 W.s is as follows:
Winchester Case
Win. Large Rifle Primer
95gr Nosler Ballistic Tip bullet
41.0 grs of IMR 4350 powder (a little under Nosler book max. load)
2.708" overall length (book max. length = 2.710")- This length just shoots exceptionally well in one rifle, and very good in a couple of others, so I stayed with that length for all. Vary to what your rifle likes or needs due to throat length.

This load clocks a little over 3000fps in a couple of guns with 22" bbls.

If looking for a Varmint bullet, the 70gr Nosler Ballistic Tip over Varget powder is a great choice, but not sure how they would hold up on the Javelina ; they are hard on rabbits and coyotes though.


Good Luck whatever you decide,
-Ted

My dual purpose load from ground hogs to deer is 45gr of RL 19, winchester case, remingon 9 1/2 primer and the Sierra 85gr HPBT, killed a truck load of deer with this load, around 3300 fps + or - out of 3 different 243 and it you just want a deer killer switch to a Barnes 80gs TTSX

That Sierra Sounds Good!

I HavE H4350On hand

I sure second the Sierra 85 HPBT. It is a rare 243 that won't shoot that bullet.

But it has a very poor BC...

A 95 grain Ballistic would be a good all around'er or a standard cup n core 100 grain variety...

Greg, Thus Won't Be A Lr Gun, And Mainly A Truck Gun For Scouting Etc.

The Ballistic Tip Was One Of The First Across My Mind.

DoeS R17 Work For This Application? I've Got 2#.

Absolutely -

Run a 100 grain cup n' core...

87 VMAX if pretty handy at handling what you need done too. Reasonable BC, usually accurate and specacular graphics.

95gr Nosler Ballistic tips 's over H4831.

I like this, the 90gr Ballistic Tip, or maybe even the 87gr VMax if you want faster expansion.
I know tradition states 4350 is the powder to beat but I am becoming a big fan of H4831 with the heavier bullets in the 243.

95 grain NBT for everything.
75 grain VMax or 70 grain NBT for most everything.

I am a big h4831 fan and I have a couple pounds on hand.


Would anyone have any ballistic tips spare that I could give a run?

I use 70 grain NBT's with 42.0 grains of VarGet and WLR primers. Just get 3345 fps from a 22" barrel.

I have shot the 85 grain Serria HPBT in most of my 6mm's and .243's.. I have recently shot 65 Vmax 70Serria BK.. I still like the 85.. I also plan to do some shooting with Bergers in 85 grain and Noslers in 95 grain BTBT.. But this minute if I were picking a bullet for my .243 it would be the Serria 85 grain HPBT..and either I4350 or I4831..

I have used the 80 gr PSP Rem factory loads for javelina just because I had several boxes. My usual load for my .243 is a 70 gr Sierra Blitzking over 42 gr of Varget. It shoots well under an inch for 3 shots at 100 yards consistently.

Have Any Extra Of Those Bthp I Could Try?