Good powder for 243 nosler 80 grainers....?

ackman

What OAL you using for 70g nbts and H4350?? I have a Rem 700 ADL stainless 24" tube.

I tried 46-48g in .5g increments with H4350, win cases, WLR primers, 2.710"-2.750" and was getting .8"-1.2" at 100 yards. 3 shot groups, with 2 of the shots either being within 1/2" then the 3rd opened them up.

The best load I got with H4350 was 47.5g at .8" and 3610fps. The velocity is where I want, but the accuracy is not quite there with the flyer. Think I just need to tweak and work the seating depth. If anything, I have some CCI200 primers to try, but I dont think the WLR's are the problem. Its really wanting/trying to shoot.

I expect 1/2 MOA at top velocity for my varmints rifles/loads. Maybe I expect to much??
 
Here is what my 243s done the first time out with H4350/70g NBTs at 46.5-47.5 at 2.710" OAL. I tried 2.750" which is at the lands a few days later and they actually shot a little worse, about 1 to 1.2 MOA, but there was no 2 in and 1 out going on...That 2 in 1 out really irritates me.

On the other hand, I have a super accurate load with AA4350 and the 70g NBT at 45g, but its going so dam slow I dont wanna use it for coyotes much past 300-400 yards. It shoots 1/4-3/8" at 100, and 1/2"-3/4" at 200. I would like to see at least 3500fps to 3600fps with this kinda accuracy out of H4350. I"ll just have to keep messing with it untill I get what I want out of it.

2ivjmvm.jpg
 
I just had some great success recently with Reloader 19 powder and the Nosler 70gr BT's. Here is the last group I shot at about 90 yards (all I had to work with that day).

picture.jpg


I haven't chrono'd this load yet, but it would have to be breaking 3400fps.

For 80gr, I shoot the Sierra Blitz (80 SBT) bullet with IMR-4064. I keep these short also, but at 39.8 I can get these moving out of my Tikka at 3,375fps on average. Wonderfully accurate long distance bullet, and explosive!
 
Why such the short OAL I have to ask??

I can reach the lands with the 70g nbt and still function in my mag at 2.755"-2.760" but there not shooting to great, slightly over 1 MOA.

I've always had great luck seating NBT's right at the lands in every other rifle/bullet I've shot, but this one is not that way. Haven't really tinkered with it to much loading them short since my accident.

Groups awesome at the book OAL of 2.710" with AA4350, and no flyers, but its not going near as fast as I'd like to see for a 70g bullet from a 243 for longer range coyote work. However, its pretty sad to see it shooting better at 200 yards with no flyers then the H4350 loads do at 100...Just a bit irritating is all

So I go to H4350 same length of 2.710" and I'm getting 200-300fps faster velocities then AA4350, now were talking!, but now I'm getting a stupid flyer in every group. Why I have no idea. I will get to the bottom of it shortly though.
 
I would try imr4007ssc or imr4350. And for what its worth, mine like to jump into the lands. My 70 nosler bt with 46 gr 4007 shoots consistent nickle size 5 shot groups at 200 loaded at 3.190" at ogive with hornady tool (roughly 2.630 oal). Also 87 vmax loaded with 43.5 gr imr4350 at 3.200" ogive (roughly 2.650 oal)same size groups. I found that with my rifles sometimes letting the bullet jump was better accuracy because the bullet was in the case more allowing the powder to be more uniformly packed, less air space. I can barely hear the powder shake if any with the loaded rounds. I also use mag primers with these loads. This seemed to fix my 2 in 1 out problems, velocity was more consistent. Maybe I was just lucky, but they work in my friends and my brothers rifles as well.
 
Last edited:
kyotekiller25, on the question of why such a short OAL - answer is I don't know, it's just what this gun likes. I measure all bullets to where they touch the lands. I also then look at rule of thumb against casing + bullet length - caliber... and then check my book recommended COLs too of course. But I've been out to 2.710 with the 70's, and 2.705, and 2.690 or .695 which is about where this bullet "should" be if keeping .243 inside the case neck, but in the end... for every powder I've tried (varget, 4064, re19, etc.) it always come back to 2.620 or 2.625 as the sweet spot. I've seen this in this gun with other bullet types also, like the 80SBT and the 85HPBT. The jury is still out on 85TSX's. Anyway, I just let the gun tell me even though I originally wanted everything seated as long as I could 'figuring' my accuracy would be better and that I might actually have less barrel burn that way. But you have to go with what works. This new RE19 load just accounted for 3 more ground-hogs this evening. Very accurate, with excellent terminal performance.
smile.gif
 
Last edited:
You might try several things:

try jumping the bullet .005,.010, and .015.

Second, if you are getting a flyer I wonder if you have a stock issue.

Third, wind plays havoc with groups, sounds like this is a subject that just about everyone needs a education on, buy a $45-65 wind flag...will save you thousands in reloading components over the years.

Forth, barrels are all different.

Sixth, I shoot test groups with very high powered scopes, then swap out for hunting....really pays off.

Seventh, lot numbers of powders and bullets are very different. I shot the same load(47g) in IMR 4350 with WLR, Win case, 70g NOsler yesterday and shot an inch group at 200 yards...not bad.

Eighth, dies you use may be very important, I use Bonanza/Forester.

Nineth, number of times your brass has been fired is of critical importance, work hardened brass will throw flyers, pay attention to bullets that seat harder than others, mark that case with a Sharpie to see if that bullet flies out of the group.

Good luck
 
Last edited:
Back
Top