Found a good 243 Winchester load

September 11, 2024, 09:46 PM

coloradohunter44

I have another antelope hunt coming up in a few weeks. I shot factory Hornady loads the last two years, but decided it was time to do my own. I went with Hornady 90 grain ELDX, 43.5 grains of H414, Winchester cases and large rifle primers. I experimented with powder loads in .5 increments and 43.5 settled down. Neck sized the cases as well. I go slow and hand weigh each one. Can't wait for the hunt.

I am using a Ruger M77 with bull barrel. I had to shoot using just my readers to get everything in focus at the range, but out hunting my regular glasses will do just fine. Leupold 4 x 12 does a great job too. I wish I had my 25 year old eyes back...

September 12, 2024, 01:07 PM

Chris Orndorff

Hope you don’t have to hike very far. I once carried a 77V (25-06) on a deer hunt. Brutally heavy rifle. Good luck!

September 25, 2024, 05:23 AM

sourdough44

Sounds like a great load for an antelope hunt.

October 14, 2024, 08:18 AM

coloradohunter44

The round worked well. A whole in the heart and lung damaged. Not much damaged meat either.

November 20, 2024, 09:27 AM

sourdough44

I gotta mention a surprise I had the other day with a 243 load. I got a deal a while back on 500, 6mm, 55 grain Sierra Blitz-King bullets.

Now these bullets are ultra frangible, especially at 243 speeds. My load data shows a bit over 3100 fps, IMR-4320 powder I was using up. That’s a rather modest load.

I mostly just use them for initial sight-in, then switch to hunting loads. Fine for smaller varmints also.

I was out at a property with serious beaver problems, plugging pipes & related havoc. There was one beaver that was out in the daytime often. I walked to his area & saw him crossing the ATV trail, 40 yards. I put the bullet right in the midsection, broadside shot. There was trapping underway, figured if he was to buggered up, scavengers would get a free meal.

This was a large beaver, but below monster status. To my surprise, the bullet didn’t exit. The trapper later skinned the beaver, small hole, then the bullet came apart, no exit.

I’ve shot a few deer with the 95 grain partition, worked as well as my 308.

OBTW, I think the beaver taken is at 25 now, a good dent, but some remain.

November 26, 2024, 08:47 PM

coloradohunter44

quote:
Originally posted by sourdough44:
I gotta mention a surprise I had the other day with a 243 load. I got a deal a while back on 500, 6mm, 55 grain Sierra Blitz-King bullets.

Now these bullets are ultra frangible, especially at 243 speeds. My load data shows a bit over 3100 fps, IMR-4320 powder I was using up. That’s a rather modest load.

I mostly just use them for initial sight-in, then switch to hunting loads. Fine for smaller varmints also.

I was out at a property with serious beaver problems, plugging pipes & related havoc. There was one beaver that was out in the daytime often. I walked to his area & saw him crossing the ATV trail, 40 yards. I put the bullet right in the midsection, broadside shot. There was trapping underway, figured if he was to buggered up, scavengers would get a free meal.

This was a large beaver, but below monster status. To my surprise, the bullet didn’t exit. The trapper later skinned the beaver, small hole, then the bullet came apart, no exit.

I’ve shot a few deer with the 95 grain partition, worked as well as my 308.

OBTW, I think the beaver taken is at 25 now, a good dent, but some remain.

I have been using the 90 grain ELDX, mostly because of availability. I kinda gave up trying to finding Nosler partitions. They used to be so easy to locate. Not anymore.

Never have shot a beaver. They can be pretty big critters.

December 12, 2025, 07:47 AM

sourdough44

I’m setting up to load some more 243 ammo. Since I’m low I’ll load some more 55 grain Blitzking, then some 85 grain Gameking bullets.

With the 55 grain bullets I’ll use the same mid charge of H4895, plenty of speed for whatever I may do.

With the 85 grain bullets I’ll go with the upper/mid charge of Varget.

I recently bought a Howa Ultralite in 243, it makes a Model 7 feel a little heavy. I did consider the popular 6.5 Creedmoor, but decided on the 243. The intended use, under 150 yards, coyotes & deer mostly.

I bought a blemished stock from Stockys, fit was good but kinda shiny. I did my 1st ‘sponge painting’ with Krylon paint, turned out ok. I got the barreled action on sale at Brownells.

December 15, 2025, 01:53 PM

old rugged cross

Curious about the beaver there. Are they over populated there. Do people just dispatch as a nuisance?
Or is there a season and limit for them?

I am a big fan of the .243 win. cartridge. It is a fantastic, versatile round.

December 15, 2025, 03:20 PM

YellowJacket

.243 100 gr partition has killed quite a few deer for me through a Model 70 fwt. Love that round.

December 16, 2025, 04:49 AM

sourdough44

Back to the beaver in question, 4 legged. Our camp property has some smaller ponds & various culverts. The beavers are constantly plugging many pipes. There is a relative that usually traps after season opens late October. Even though prices are down, skins & sells the pelts. Sometimes hides are tanned & sold to another that makes crafts. That is the best use of the problem beaver.

There are some that top the list as a problem beaver. That’s mostly those flooding a road or worse yet tunneling under a critical road. For those there really is no season. Usually beavers are mostly nocturnal, but not always. Far and away the best way to deal with them is trapping.

Speaking of trapping, many methods are lightning quick with the dispatch, propaganda aside. I’m talking about a 330 conibear trap or a sliding drowning wire with an MB-750 leghold. I grew up trapping but now just act more of an assistant.