how slow. can you slow down a 243 win

[coalman]

i am shooting a ruger m77 mk11 compact in 243 win for coyote hunting. i load 42 grains of h4350 behind a 95 grain nosler balistic tip.i can put 3 shots inside of a 2 inch circle at 100 yards with this load and rifle. was wanting to pull shots tighter but not quite sure how slow i can slow down the charge and still be effective with this load.this load was originally loaded for a rem798 with a 22in barrel. the ruger has a 16.5 in thin whippy little barrel. so i am guessing the load is to hot for a short barrel.i understand that a rifle such as this not a tackdriver but i think it can do better than this.
thanks
dale

[dk99358]

Did you work up to 42 grains in the Ruger or did you use the same load as you did for the Rem. without testing? That is dangerous.

Do you really want a slower load or are you looking for better accuracy?

Hodgon's website lists 42 gr of H4350 (3087 fps) as a max load for the 95 partition. They start at 39 gr (2917 fps). So you could try a few loads (I usually jump by 0.5 gr at a time) between 39 and 42. I usually find the best accuracy is a little below the maximum load.

The partition is a little different than a BT but that won't be a problem if you are working up from a starting load.

Do not try to go lower than the starting loads with the 4350 powders or any powder that is slower burning. There have been instances of blown up guns with reduced charges of slow burning powders.

If you really want to go slower, Hodgdon list some youth loads with H4895. Also Speer used to list reduced loads in their manual but I don't know if they still do.

Dale

[ScaredOnce]

Wow... There's some serious knowledge here on this. This thread reminded me that I'll need to kidnap a reloading person if SHTF...

[Lycanthrope]

Typically, longer barrels have more whip. I doubt it's too hot for the barrel......

Have you tried differing powder charges? Working your way up/down .3 grains can shink groups. OAL also has an impact.

Lycantryvarget?thrope

[WVBob]

Go to;

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

and pick a load. I like Varget in my .243 with a 95gr bullet.

[markheck1]

My Winnie 70 likes H380, and it ain't slow by any means,

OASN 70gr. Nosler balistic tips at those speeds are like grenades when they hit

[GUNGUY45]

I'm running 43.5 gr. Varget in an R/P case, CCI Large Rifle Primer, Nosler 55 gr.
Very fast, AND VERY accurate. 5 shots in a cloverleaf off of a bench @ 100 yds. Groundhogs explode.

This is out of a mid 60's vintage Rem. 700 with a "whippy" thin barrel.
No need to slow down to get accurate, just figure out what your rifle likes.


Hodgdon lists Varget at 41 gr start, and 45 gr Max.

[eightshot627]

I wouldn’t look to slow it down but I would look at a faster burn rate powder than H4350. With that short barrel H4350 doesn’t have much time to burn. I bet it throws flame 3 feet out the barrel. Try a faster powder, Varget, H380 and WW760 all burn faster than H4350.

Walt

[markheck1]

I'm running 43.5 gr. Varget in an R/P case, CCI Large Rifle Primer, Nosler 55 gr.
Very fast, AND VERY accurate. 5 shots in a cloverleaf off of a bench @ 100 yds. Groundhogs explode.

This is out of a mid 60's vintage Rem. 700 with a "whippy" thin barrel.
No need to slow down to get accurate, just figure out what your rifle likes.


Hodgdon lists Varget at 41 gr start, and 45 gr Max.

WOW! 55's that's cool, I was told .243 wouldn't stabilize bullets that light in standard guns, yours seems to do so very well....Hmmmm....might have to try some, not that the 70's don't scream themselves,

[jowi11]

I'm running 43.5 gr. Varget in an R/P case, CCI Large Rifle Primer, Nosler 55 gr.
Very fast, AND VERY accurate. 5 shots in a cloverleaf off of a bench @ 100 yds. Groundhogs explode.

This is out of a mid 60's vintage Rem. 700 with a "whippy" thin barrel.
No need to slow down to get accurate, just figure out what your rifle likes.


Hodgdon lists Varget at 41 gr start, and 45 gr Max.

It sounds like you've already done what I am hoping to do next year. I just bought a Savage 14 .243 this summer and can't wait to try out 55gr ballistic tip reloads on groundhogs. Even just roughly sighting in from a poor bench showed good potential.