243 WIN using Sierra 85gr HPBT's - looking for advice on loads

S

sbranden

Member
I had bought 100 of these bullets a long while back and want to start loading some up now for my Tikka T3 Lite in .243 cal. Just curious to see what everyone is using (power, primers, charge level, col). I have Varget and 4831. I was probably leaning more toward 4831 for these however, at least for starters. Have heard some good things about 4064 though too.

All experience/advice welcome - thanks in advance!
 
branden,
Each rifle is going to be somewhat different, you probably know that too. I've used IMR-4350, Varget, and IMR-4064 in the past with excellent results.
 
Thanks guys, keep 'em coming. Looks like Sierra load data favors 4064 as its hunting load with this bullet, I guess because of the additional velocity it is rated for above and beyond 4831 or 4035 or Varget or any of the rest of them.
 
I have had excellant results with 45 grains of Winchester 760, with the Sierra 85 grain BTHP. IMR 4350 also works good, but in my 243's, the W760 has been the best.
 
Have you looked at Reloader 17 for this bullet? Seems to offer a bit more velocity than the others not sure how accurate it is. Plan on trying it soon.

peace.
unloaded
 
I have heard of people getting good results with Reloader 19, but no - hadn't really considered 17.

As I look back at my notes, 4035 was the powder I had kind of first locked in on for the 243 in general, on paper anyway. But I was also keeping watch for both 4831 and 4064. I just happened to find 4831 first in the stores. As with other calibers (.222/.223, .204 in particular for me), there seems to be a pretty wide variation on what people are using. I'm interested in accuracy first and foremost. Then, to maximize my velocity with the lowest possible pressures. But this is a hunting gun, not a bench gun. And I will be doing a lot of small varminting with it also, shots out to 300yds typically.
 
Originally Posted By: sbrandenI had bought 100 of these bullets a long while back and want to start loading some up now for my Tikka T3 Lite in .243 cal. Just curious to see what everyone is using (power, primers, charge level, col). I have Varget and 4831. I was probably leaning more toward 4831 for these however, at least for starters. Have heard some good things about 4064 though too.

All experience/advice welcome - thanks in advance!

40grns 3031, new Win brass and CCI LR primers. Stevens 200 in .243, I'm getting MOA. I think that's the starting load from Sierra's manual so it worked out for me.

Good luck and post up what your rifle prefers. Always looking for better accuracy.
 
4350, yes Jack - sorry.

I also bought 1,000 Rem 9 1/2 primers when I finally found some, so I'm more committed to these than any particular powder at this point. A pound of powder isn't any big deal. I'm doing pretty well already with my Nosler 70gr BT's, wanted to try some 58 V-MAX's too next spring, but my next up will be the 85's from Sierra. 'Tis the season to be shooting bigger bullets.
 
The VERY best groups I have ever got out of my sporter Parker-Hale is with a Sierra 85 hpbt with IMR 3031 @ 35.9g This is .001 off the lands. This is a fast powder for this cal. but I have a friend that has good results in his 6mm/ 75g bullets.
Jim
 
I shot a coyote last week with that bullet. I only had a shot that included most of the hind end. The bullet angled up near a lung & the coyote went about 80 yrds. The exit hole was not large at all & everything worked well considering the shot presented. This was one of some problem coyotes so I was ready to take any shot that would do the job. I used H4350 with 95 grn partitions & Reloader 15 with the 85grn Sierra bullets.
 
I just loaded some 243 Win for my brother. 44.7 to 48 grn. He wanted around 3000fps.


45Gr of IMR 4831
85Gr Sierra HPBT.
Win primers

He will let me know how they shoot.
 


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