best viht powder for 243

[Acm]

Gameking working a treat for me this morning

 

[Damoeire33]

cheers chaps, im thinking i will try Hornady 87gr V-max first and use my N555,
many thanks.

Lee

N160 & 87g vmax... a match made in heaven
It's still the best combination tightest groups I ever shot from my tikka m595

 

[Ginc]

N550 for extra power. N150 for lighter bullets (Hornady Interlock 70gr).

 

[ShootyBang]

I have used N140and N150 successfully. <--Edit, having checked my log books!

Reloading is voodoo magic + physics.

 

[ShootyBang]

PS I presume you have this chart? It doesn't much lie until you get to 6.5x55 where it is too conservative by a few percent.

 

[Colonel]

N160 is my go to powder for 95gr bullets in 243

 

[Cyres]

Just loaded up some 75 vmax. 40.5g of N140. CCI Large rifle primers. Lapua brass. Col 2.630.
D

 

[ejg]

PS I presume you have this chart? It doesn't much lie until you get to 6.5x55 where it is too conservative by a few percent.

View attachment 396911

Newer data also includes N555 on some loads. Reloading data tool for rifle, handgun and cowboy action shooting - Vihtavuori

6.5x55 is a lower pressure case designed from when 8x57 etc were born ...... also with lower pressure.

edi

 

[Pete6.5]

Pick your bullet first

 

[ShootyBang]

Newer data also includes N555 on some loads. Reloading data tool for rifle, handgun and cowboy action shooting - Vihtavuori

6.5x55 is a lower pressure case designed from when 8x57 etc were born ...... also with lower pressure.

edi

The main reason 6.5x55 is loaded more conservatively than Creed is that the US market post-War was filled with old Swede military rifles which were not engineered well enough for higher pressures: those Norwegian 6.5x55 Krags have one locking lug and were designed for lower pressures. A modern action can handle much more. I think Nosler data is a little punchier than, say, Hornady data. The European CIP max pressure for 6.5x55 SE is 55,110 PSI vs. SAAMI which lists at 51,000psi. Vihtavuori actually give two different load tables for this reason, for the European (CIP) and one for American (SAAMI) figures.

Here is SAAMI ("6.5x55 Swedish Mauser") 670mm test barrel:

and here is CIP ("6.5x55 SE"), Sauer STR 200 test rifle, same barrel length, slightly slower twist:


You'll spot the difference immediately. Same bullets, same everything (perhaps slightly different twist rate on tests, best I can tell, 1:8 SAAMI and 1:8.66 CIP), except SAAMI is just a bit chicken. Compare N555 especially.

 

[ejg]

The main reason 6.5x55 is loaded more conservatively than Creed is that the US market post-War was filled with old Swede military rifles which were not engineered well enough for higher pressures: those Norwegian 6.5x55 Krags have one locking lug and were designed for lower pressures. A modern action can handle much more. I think Nosler data is a little punchier than, say, Hornady data. The European CIP max pressure for 6.5x55 SE is 55,110 PSI vs. SAAMI which lists at 51,000psi. Vihtavuori actually give two different load tables for this reason, for the European (CIP) and one for American (SAAMI) figures.

Here is SAAMI ("6.5x55 Swedish Mauser") 670mm test barrel:
View attachment 398379
and here is CIP ("6.5x55 SE"), Sauer STR 200 test rifle, same barrel length, slightly slower twist:
View attachment 398380

You'll spot the difference immediately. Same bullets, same everything (perhaps slightly different twist rate on tests, best I can tell, 1:8 SAAMI and 1:8.66 CIP), except SAAMI is just a bit chicken. Compare N555 especially.

Max pressure for the 6.5x55 is CIP 3800 bar, no matter what action. It is advised to reduce for old actions. 6.5CM around 4300 bar just to compare. The brass is designed for a certain pressure. Yes SAAMI will have slightly different pressures. Only guns we got to look at with ruptured cases were 6.5x55, many think they can willi nilly choose a higher pressure if the have a modern rifle.
edi

 

[ShootyBang]

Max pressure for the 6.5x55 is CIP 3800 bar, no matter what action. It is advised to reduce for old actions. 6.5CM around 4300 bar just to compare. The brass is designed for a certain pressure. Yes SAAMI will have slightly different pressures. Only guns we got to look at with ruptured cases were 6.5x55, many think they can willi nilly choose a higher pressure if the have a modern rifle.
edi

We're violently agreeing: CIP is 55,110 PSI, which is 3800 bar. SAAMI is lower, 3510 BAR. I stick to load tables: I just make sure they are CIP. There are many US-based load tables which use the lower SAAMI pressure.

 

[tonyshooter]

N140 for a Hornady 58 g V max ( my ideal fox round ! )

 

[smokey]

Right chaps, i will shortly be reloading for the 243 when my variation comes through, so its homework time,
i can get hold of Viht powder fairly easy at the moment so i will want to use that,
i have 4kg of N555 that i had for my 6.5 creedmoor so it would be nice to use that, and i believe i can, i also have a fair bit of N140 that i use for my 223, but iv also read that N150 and N160 will work well to,
bullet weight yet to be decided so open to suggestions, favoured bullets are Hornady and sierra, will be used for roe deer only, and a bit of long ish range gong bashing, rifle will no doubt be a tikka t3x 1:8 twist 20" barrel,

thanks.

Lee

46 GR VIT 160 85GR SIERRA PRO HUNTER

 

[Jimbob39]

87gn vmax with n555. Works well

 

[Tikkat1x]

87gn vmax with n555. Works well

Good to know

 

[paul o']

My pet load was N140 and 85hp a deadly combo .

 

[Lone wolf]

My .243 like N160 with a 75g vmax

I'm sure it would like other powders but that was readily available to me so it made sense to try it

 

[Hunters moon]

I use N135 for 58 grs vmax for fox as sampo say it’s a bonus if you can run two different calibres from the same powder

N135 for 58 vmax too..

 

[fresh slots]

Ramshot hunter works well in my .243 with 100Gr and 85 Gr projectiles