Savage11 243, reloads
 

I would like to get ideas for a good place to start working up loads for my savage11 243, with a 20 inch barrel. I have already ordered 100 grain, btsp from hornaday.

Get yourself a loading manual, read it cover to cover, and if you have friends that reload speak to them and they will help you. Start at minimum charge, and work your way up in 1 grain increments. Find the most accurate load and stick with it. Don't go for velocity, go for accuracy. The Hornady should be a very accurate bullet.

Yup what he said. Maybe get two manuals.

:D Al

A good place to start would be with one of 4350 powders and a Hornady loading manual.
Many loading manuals are on line. Nosler, Alliant, Accurate and Hodgdon are good sources online.

Welcome to reloading.

Sorry Guys
 

Sorry guys!!!
The gun I have is the 11/111 Trophy Hunter XP, 243 winchester (22 inch barrel). I have been loading since 1980, but only pistol loads. I am new to loading rifle cartridges, and am searching for a good place to start. The manual I have is the 3rd edition Hornaday reloading manual, which I bought new.
I do appreciate your input very much Thanks

I reload for 3 different calibers using Hornady BTSPs, including the 100 Grain for my .243 Sako. Hornady has a recommendation in my manual to use IMR 4064 for good results, so I worked up a load with 33 grains of IMR 4064 in Hornady cases and CCI primers. That is under the max of 34.2 grains in the manual and will shoot less than 1/2 MOA all day if I do my part. With that load I'm right around 2750fps at the muzzle. I just got into pdog shooting last Fall with my .22 Hornet and am getting ready to work up a load with the 58 grain VMax for the .243 for long shots that I couldn't take last year with the Hornet and I'm hoping the IMR 4064 will do the job with them too.

Top, where are you going P-Dog hunting? Maybe we can hook up and I might even let you crack a few off on old "swifty" (220sw My primary P-Dog eradicator) Just had a new barrel put on her a few months ago and she is all broke in. For further out than 400, I switch over to the 6.5 creed which will make the "pink mist" at 750 or so for me, probably further for someone better.

As to the OP, what is the twist rate on that barrel for one because some (like the 1-10) don't like 100gr bullets at all. Or at least my son's .243 didn't like any 100gr I tried to put through it. Damn thing would keyhole at 100 yards. But the 75gr HPBT in that puppy clover leafed at 100 all dang day.

Savage
 

I will be shooting a 200yd shoot in a couple months, it would be nice to shoot coyotes out to 300yds. No piggies in my area yet, lots of deer though & black bear. The barrel has a twist of 9.25, so I'm guessing a heavier bullet would work fine/ or not, what's your thoughts? I will look into the Imr 4064 powder thanks.

IMR 4064, H4350, and W760 for the 243win. Not sure what your reloading set-up might be, but the ball W760 meters nicely. 4350 tends to be the speedier of the bunch.

[QUOTE=super_hunt54;4193265]Top, where are you going P-Dog hunting?

Out in northcentral Wyoming on my two month trip in Sep. & Oct. to hunt deer, elk, and antelope.

[QUOTE=Topgun 3006;4193317]Ah. I usually go to SD or Dayton WY late spring or early summer for the eradication hunts. Sept. Oct. I'll be in CO this year, or should be anyway health willing, Elk hunting. Plague hit SD a few years back and lowered the numbers on a lot of Colonies in the basin areas. It hit in Montana as well but not TOO badly so you should be able to have some fun.

Op, that twist rate SHOULD be fine out of a 22 inch barrel. As far as some load data, as I said I couldn't get my boy's .243 to shoot a 100 grain and had to drop to a 75gr. Nomercy and Top seem to have some good loads as far as I can tell. Just make up a few test loads with various measures and see what your rifle likes to eat the best. I know every one of my rifles, from the multi thousand dollar customs to the basic bang on the brush knockarounds has a preference and some of them are picky as hell and will drive a sane man to drink! I guess thats part of the "fun" :)

savage
 

Thanks!!!
I guess I need to get to work loading, shooting, etc. I'm hoping the savage likes 100 grains of lead being feed through it. God willing I'll come up with a load, that will preform well at 200yds plus.
God bless ya for your help!!!

No problem. Good thing about the .243 is you can shoot the thing all day and not have a sore shoulder after!

You would be surprised how many revolutions that 3/4 inch faster twist rate than the 1-10 will put on a bullet. Not to mention my boys rifle only had a 20 inch barrel as well so that's 2 more inches of spin up. It should handle a 100gr just dandy. Good luck, load safe, and most of all have FUN!

Best place to pdog shoot in sd?
 

Any one been out there weres the best place to start for someone new to the game?

I just finished up these loads a month ago with my buddies Savage 11 with once fired Winchester brass, IMR 4350, CCI 200 primers and Hornady 100grn BTSP.
1. 38.5grns- 4 in .762 c/c with the 5th opening it up to 1.890 c/c
2. 39.0grns- 1.290 c/c
3. 39.5grns- 3-.270 c/c, 4th- opened it to.775 and the 5th kicked it
to 1.125 c/c
4. 40.0grns- 4-.820 c/c, 5th opened it to 1.575 c/c.

I then went to Hornady 95grn SST
1. 41.0grns- 1.325 c/c.
2. 42.0grns- 1.620 c/c.
3. 43.0grns- 1.458 c/c.
4. 44.0grns- 2.358 c/c.

All groups were 5 shot and barrel was allowed to cool 10minutes between groups and was cleaned with a dipped nylon brush and dry patch. 100yds at 78 degrees and 3mph full value R-L wind. All loads were loaded .010 off the lands. :fighting0007: