95g vld and 105 amax loads for 243

kyotekiller25

kyotekiller25

Well-known member
I'm going to start playing with some 95g vld's and 105g amaxs out of my stevens 243 for some LR shooting out to 800 yards and for the coyotes that dont wanna come in any closer then 500 yards or so.

Just curious as to what people are using powder wise and getting for groups and velocity.

I have IMR4350, RL22, IMR7828, and H1000.

Hoping to get 1/2-3/4 MOA, 3000fps w/105's, and 3100fps w/95's.

In all actuality, I'm hoping the AMAX's shoot better for a couple reasons. For one, the BC is a tad higher, I know the difference is very minute .500 for the amax and .485 for the VLD, but hey its higher. For two, the plastic tip on the amax will help initiate expansion at LR on coyotes, plus I love red, its just a sexy looking bullet! For three, there $10 cheaper per 100, and that adds up after awhile.
 
With my new 243 AI I am shooting 105 AMAX and 107 Sierra's at 3260 (55F @ 1500 ft) with RL17 44.5. I am also running moly in it.

This is the load developed by the original owner and I have not messed with it. You should be able to get 3K out of the 105's.
 
I'm working up loads for my .243 with a 28" carbon wrapped barrel from ABS here in Lincoln...

Using 45.5 gr. of H1000 under the 105gr AMAX Fed 210 Match primers Lapua brass...running right around 3000 fps. Looks to be a 1/2 MOA load at 100yds. Will know more tomorrow. Need to hit the 300 yd range as I'm not really sure I'm spinning em' fast enough based on my twist rate...
 
Well I loaded me up a good batch of 105 AMAX's with 4 different powders, IMR4350, rl22, IMR7828, and H1000

Loaded up 3 loads of each powder at the upper end in .5g increments. 40-41g IMR4350, 47-48g H1000, and 44.5-45.5 of rl22 and 7828. Should get 2925-2975fps with the above powders.

Using Rem cases, Fed210 primers, and an OAL of 2.790" which is right at the land in my stevens 243. Good news is they fit in the magazine so can use them as a repeater.

Hopefully I can get out this weekend if the weather cooperates.
 
Did a bit of shooting yesterday morning with the stevens 243 and some 105g Amax's and 70g nbt's.

44.5g of rl22 or 7828 seems to be the ticket so far. Rifle didn't care for H1000 or IMR4350 much.

Need to play with seating depth as it was doing 2in1 out on most loads. Might do a primer swap as a last resort.

Got the 70g nbt's to shoot .8"-1.2" from 45.5-47.5 of IMR4350, but it was doing the 2 in 1 out on all groups to, so mess with seating depth on those as well.

210nig5.jpg


k9cj6w.jpg
 
don't overlook the 87 Vmax. I run 39 gr IMR 4064 just at about 3150 fps and it'll hold 3" groups at 500 meters. The 87's a great long range bullet. A friend routinely uses them in his 6BR for PD's at 1000 yds.
 
Curious about your load data source, as Hodgdon shows 46.0 as max for H1000 and 105 gr. Amax? 47.0 + gr seems WAY hot? Or was that for the lighter bullet?
 
87g vmax was going to be the next bullet to try. I may not need to if the 105 will consistently do 1/2-3/4 MOA.

I have (20) 95g VLD's I am going to try with some RL22 and IMR7828 I believe as well. Seems my rifle is liking those 2 powders with the 105, so hopefully it will be a good place to start with the 95.
 
Look to reloader 17. You'll have to search for load data. Should be easy to find though. I currently run 41 gr. reloader 17 in my 6mm rem with the 105 amax.
 
Back
Top