Powder Choice for 243 Win.

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
An acquaintance wants to reload 243 Winchester and he's using a 58 gr. bullet. That bullet weight is lighter than I care for in that caliber but that's his choice. The available powders are IMR-4895 & IMR-4064.
Both powders appear to be acceptable for loads with that bullet. Does anyone have a preference between those two powders?
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Never used any of those powders in my 243W. My model 70 loved AA-2520 with 55 grain Nostler BT's. Liked AA-4350 with 70 grain TNTs. With 100 grain Nostler's, went with H-4831, as my deer hunting load.
 

Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Yeah, my personal take on it is 58 grains is bit too light for an all-around bullet. I see the advantage if you want a flat shooting varmint round but I would prefer a little more weight in that caliber.
 

Winelover

North Central Arkansas
Nice thing about 243W is it can be used for anything, from small varmints to deer sized game, with very little recoil. Just a matter of the right bullet selection.
 

Matt

Active Member
Of the two I’d go with the 4064, without looking at any data I’m guessing it’s going to give best results.
On the surface a 58 gr bullet in .243W seems silly, but at maximum velocity it makes a great coyote/varmint round that shoots laser flat out to 300 yards which is as far as most real field shots are made, despite what you read in the gun press. In my .223 Winchester Super Short Magnum I shoot 40 grain bullets exclusively. At 4200 FPS it is like a stretched string to 300 and with a little hold over I can hit my 500 yard plate fairly easily.
 

fiver

Well-Known Member
I had to go look at what I was using.
my rifle prefers the 58gr V-max with like 47grs of H-414.
it is absolute messification on rock chucks.

if I had to choose between the 2 powders you show I'd go with the one I had the most of, or the 4064 if I only had 1-2 lbs to burn up before getting more.
[actually I'd be getting more waay long before 2 lbs. but I like 4064]
 

Hawk

North Central Texas
My brother has a .243 and only deer hunts with it.
I was loading him Hornady bullets with IMR 4350, but we changed over to Nosler hundred grain partitions with IMR 7828.
 

Tomme boy

Well-Known Member
Varget for 60gr- and h4350 for anything over 70gr. At least that was what I found on 3 different 243s I had. 87gr Hornady was the most accurate in all 3 rifles as well. Took several deer with them also. But it needs to be 100yds+ for this bullet. Too fragile close in. You will get a pass through with major damage. We are no longer allowed a late deer season doe hunt with rifles so I got rid of mine.
 
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Petrol & Powder

Well-Known Member
Of the two powders available, 4895 has a slightly faster burn rate than 4064. I don't think it will make much difference which one he goes with but it might be fun to load both and compare.
I think with that light bullet, 4895 may have a slight edge, but that's speculation on my part.