just getting started reloading. need a little powder help .243 win

[Altahick]

ok so i am just getting started reloading, almost. tomorrow i am ordering the lee challenger breech lock kit. i am already decided on which kit i want for an assortment of reasons. after alot of time spent looking for the cheapest place to get my stuff i figured out how to get everything i need with free shipping, which saves like 25 bucks.i have a couple questions, and i thought someone might also find this info usefull. kittery trading post has the press kit for $119, which is $4 more than cheaper than dirt (i know everyone hates cod but they have alot in stock that others dont right now) but kittery trading post offers free shipping on orders over $75 and also a free t shirt. but kittery trading post doesnt have in stock the shell holder i need,(already have dies) any bullets, the calipers i want etc. sportsmans warehouse has quite a bit of stuff in stock, some 65 grn hornady v max, shell holder etc. i was looking at stuff on there site, and noticed there was free shipping to the store, and i have one pretty close. i picked up 1000 primers at big 5 tonight, expensive but in stock.
with the way prices on guns,ammo, components etc are now saving almost $30 on shipping was good enough info to pass on.

my question is . could you guys help me out and recommend me say the top 3 or 4 choices on powder, so that i can call around to all the lgs and see what they got? or does anyone know any shops that have powder in stock in the auburn/roseville area. or sac but thats quite a bit farther for me.
i will be reloading .243 win to start. im getting the lee single stage kit. hornady 65 grain vmax. (65 to 100 grain is my range) i have a few hundred brass that was fired through my rifle, stevens 200.

i would like powder suggestions so i can call around. and also load suggestions for my setup. i might download a .243 reloading guide, or just use your guys help and load suggestions.

and sorry for the long post. but thanks for any info

[stevec223]

welcome

well you already have what most reloaders have--- thrift...lol.. the powders i have been using for 243 are imr 4007 ssc and reloader 19 (barnes book)... there are alot of powders you can use in 243... ck out the hodgdon website for load data...take it slo and good shooting... cheers..

[MrElectric03]

Find yourself a deal for a couple reloading manuals haha.

Seriously though the manuals are a big help. I just started reloading myself and the Lyman 49th has been great and also has a ton of load data for different calibers in the back. I think I picked it up on amazon for $25, best money you will spend when reloading.

[Nickbowen5]

Agreed with the above suggestions I would definitely get 3 or 4 manuals first. I don't know of any Powders for .243 (Sorry), but I know that the Gun Range in North Highlands has been stocking up on lots of reloading supplies and components. That would be my first stop granted you have everything else.

[gemoose23]

If you are going to shoot Hornady Bullets, why not purchase the Hornady Manual? A great source of info.

I take pics with my cellphone for my "powder" shopping list and my example of .308 Win from the Hornady Reloading Book.

[Bill Steele]

I agree with all the advice regarding picking up a few reloading manuals. Maybe see if you can get a copy of the Lee 2nd Edition or Lyman 49th at the local library, read the how to section and then copy the pages with the load data for .243, at least until your cash balances recover.

On the powder, when you are shooting the lighter bullets, your selection of powders is very broad. CFE223 is a great powder for the light bullets in 243, but very hard to come by. As you go to the heavy bullets, your list gets smaller as you will want a fairly slow burning like H4350, Retumbo, Hybrid 100V, etc.

A powder that I have seen in stock a lot that will span fairly well bullet weight wise is H414.

Good luck, have fun.

[mark501w]

Mine only likes H450 .IMR4350 is the traditional powder used.

[JagerDog]

H414 or Win760 is about the only common powder I've seen in stock with wide application in .243. In theory, it's the ball powder equivalent to H4350. Sometimes you see Hodgdon Superperformance which has good stats.

[Altahick]

i definitely will be purchasing a reloading book at some point, right now i dont have the extra $25 and i dont need any info on any other calibers for now. i didnt really realize that switching grain size changed the type of powder. i knew that a .223 would need different powder than say a .308 or 7mm mag etc. im really open to any bullet/load selection. the reason i chose the 65 grain v max is, that was the only ballistic tipped accurate bullets i could find at sportsmans warehouse, which like i say i can get free shipping to the store. the 85 grains were out of stock. my rifle is 1 in 9.25 twist. i have been reading that that twist rate will stabilize 65 to 95 grains well and have great accuracy. i will be shooting various targets mostly paper at 300 - 500 yds. probably shoot alot of 2l soda bottles with water with the v max, and check out that expansion.
so im open to any suggestions. unfortunately my powder,bullet,primer selection is going to be based off what i can actually get. thats why i thought it would be good to know the top 3 or 4 powders that will work with that setup, that way when i call around to stores and they say oh we got one pound of this left. il know right off if it will work or not.

[JagerDog]

.243 has a wide variety of bullet weights. There's always going to be powders which are more optimum for a given projectile weight. You can work outside of that optimum if you're willing to sacrifice performance. Online, W760/H414 (same powder) has been prolly the most available which is really suited to mid-weight .243.

[mark501w]

Go to the used book stores, there's tons of reloading info in the outdoor section.

[pdq_wizzard]

Varget for my 70gr SMK (good luck finding any)

H4831 is my go to powder for 90gr +

here is one place to find powders http://imrpowder.com/

also I would go to the library and see if they have ABC's of reloading, and read it.

[anyracoon]

4350 is my go to powder for my .243s!

[LynnJr]

With the lighter bullets like you have 3031 has never let me down.Once you get heavier than 85 grain bullets switch over to 4350 and don't look back.

[JagerDog]

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