.234, N160, 90 gns Ballistic Tip

KevinF

Well-Known Member
.243, N160, 90 gns Ballistic Tip

Folks -

Am researching on behalf of a pal who already owns the following components:

Federal .243 brass
Fed large primer
N160
90 gns Nosler BTs.

A search for recipies here on SD finds little of use. Viht manual does not list the bullet.

Benefit of collective experience gratefully received...
 
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Presumably you mean .243 and not .234 ?
My Vihtavouri Guide refers to the 90 grain SP Sako bullet with 45.4 grains of Viht.N160 for a velocity of 3150 FPS.
Starting 10% down would be advisable.

My .243 Sako HB Varminter loved 46gr of N160, a Remington 9 1/2 std primer out of RP Brass with the 87gr V.Max bullet.

HWH.
 
Short answer: use the nearest available bullet in that weight.
IE from 2004 Vit manual.
Start: 31.1gr: velocity: 2605FPS (which does seem rather low weight, I'd start at least at 37.5gr)
max load: 40.9gr. velocity: 3127FPS

Long answer
When I started reloading about 18 months ago I used Vit160 and used the current Vit manual for load development, I did not have a chrony at the time so I had no idea of the velocities.

I read a post to the effect that the current Vit manual has rather hot loads and the advice was to use the loads in the manual from 2004.
I also acquired a chrony so I was able to measure the bullet velocity and I found that the velocities using the current manual were, as said, rather hot.
So I reduced the powder loads and found no loss of accuracy.

Current load for a 24" barrel
85Gr Sierra Varminter, Vit160:44gr, CCI200 primer; velocity: 3100FPS.
Stiff bolt at 47.6gr.

I did have some 90gr Speer Hotcor and used from memory 41.7gr of Vit160 using the current Vit manual
Start load: 37.5gr
Finish load:43.1 at which point I experienced a stiff bolt.

As I could not get any more Hotcor I had to use other bullets.

The older Vit manual can be read on the net with a search to extract the data.
This is the .243 page.
http://img517.imageshack.us/img517/7883/vit2004243.jpg

If you compare that with the current manual you see what I mean.
 
Frank.
Hope the following is usefull.

87 V-Max
N160
Fed L/R primers
RWS cases 2nd firing

43.5g =3205
44.00g = 3233
44.5g = 3276
45.00g = 3311
45.5g = 3321

Accuraccy was best at .47" with 44.5g

90g Bergers
43.5g = 3195
44.00g = 3210
44.5g = 3250
45.0g = 3274

Chrono average five shot groups.

Best accuraccy at 44.00g.

My barrel is new and tight.

Spiker

I have the QuickLoad pressures if you need them.
 
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