Reloading for Steyr SSG in .243

[littlefraggle]

Can anyone help? I'm reloading .308, .223 and .243. The .223 is now ultra accurate with 24g of VV 540 (no one believes me until they see it!) teh .308 is the same out to 1000y again with VV540 and 175 SMKs.

The problem is my SSG, I just can't get an accurate reciepe with either 80 or 90g Nosler Ballistic tips for deer, it's really annoying me now. I've tried N140, N150 and N540 and I'm about to try Varget.

Any advice would be really appreciated.

[EMcC]

I don't know about your particular rifle but I use 85 or 87gn bullets in my present rifle and have used them in several others to good effect on Deer.
The formula is 40gns of H380, Federal Mag primer and various brass that I can get my hands on, bullet seated down to fit the magazine and a quick pass past the diagram on the reloading page for maximum OAL just to make sure now and again.
I would imagine the powder weight could be adjusted slightly to accommodate your bullet weight for good results.

[littlefraggle]

Very strange that you mention H380, that's the only powder that I get any consistency with at 40.5g under an 80g Nosler bullet. N140, 150 and Varget should all work but I can't get them to and it's making me mad!:mad:

[EMcC]

I use H380 in 22-250. .243. & .308 and get consistent results every time.

[menial 1]

Can anyone help? I'm reloading .308, .223 and .243. The .223 is now ultra accurate with 24g of VV 540 (no one believes me until they see it!) teh .308 is the same out to 1000y again with VV540 and 175 SMKs.

The problem is my SSG, I just can't get an accurate reciepe with either 80 or 90g Nosler Ballistic tips for deer, it's really annoying me now. I've tried N140, N150 and N540 and I'm about to try Varget.

Any advice would be really appreciated.
I run 43.5 viht 160 in both my .243's using 85grn soft points in Speer or Sierra. Muzzle velocity around 3080fps. Extremely accurate and effective on fox and fallow.
When I do my bit they go sub .5moa from a fully supported shooting position. This powder was the reccomendation of Norman Clarke and I have yet to regret taking his advice regarding reloading.
Regards Pete.

[littlefraggle]

Thanks for that, I'll see if I can get any 160 and give it a lash.

[jkata]

I use Vit 160 behind 87 gn heads as well and have found that to work well in my 243 Howa.

Have so far not been able to work up a 100gn load that works well.

Only 100gn round I have seen shoot consistently is Federal Power Shock

[littlefraggle]

The reason I started reloading is because of those Federal 100g Power Shock rounds. I injured a deer at 150 yds which I could not track and which affected me very badly and when I checked the rifle the first shot went 14" wide and low and left a keyhole in the paper, the next one took the spot out of the bull...go figure. I understand from Peter Sarony that an SSG will not stabilise such a heavy round and so I've stuck to lighter 80 & 90g bullets and while they are OK at 100 & 200 they are not as tight as I would want them i.e. 1.5" at 200.

[richness]

what's the twist rate, mate? Might it be one of these more varmint-biased barrels for .243 that are designed for lightning fast light bullets but not much over 70gr ?
Just a thought....

[littlefraggle]

It's a 1:10 twist and a heavy barrel. I shot some Varget loads at Bisley and noticed some pretty shocking bullet drop after teh initial cold bore shot. Still 3" at 100 yards. I did meet someone there who swears by 100g Hornady in front of 34.4g of Varget which seems very little powder to me...:confused:

[Kernel Gadaffi]

I tried my CZ American .243 with two different loads of H4350,the first was 40gr, the second was 41.5gr, using Hornady 100 grain SPBT, the heavier load put three shots into a 20mm group at 175 yards, I still have the target and was well pleased.

[littlefraggle]

Thanks, I'll try that!