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243 Winchester Reloading Specifications

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Cartridge:
The 243 Winchester centerfire rifle cartridge is a .24″ caliber, rimless, bottleneck centerfire rifle cartridge case design that is reloadable with various combinations of primer, powder and .243″ diameter bullets by handloaders.
243 Winchester Reloading Specifications:
243 Winchester Cartridge:

Bullet Diameter – .243″.
Primer Diameter – .210″.
Primer Type – Large Rifle.
Case Neck Diameter – .276″.
Case Shoulder Diameter – .454″.
Case Base Diameter – .471″.
Case Rim Diameter – .473″.
Min. Case Length – 2.035″ / Trimmed.
Max. Case Length – 2.045″ / Stretched.
Min. Cartridge Loaded Length – 2.540″.
Max. Cartridge Loaded Length – 2.710″.
Max. Average Pressure – 60,000 PSI.
For the varmint or predator hunter hand-loading his or her own 243 Winchester ammunition wanting to shoot a lightweight bullet, the 243 Winchester will launch Nosler 55 grain Ballistic-Tip varmint bullets in the exces of 4,000 feet per second. Those handloaders desiring a slightly heavier bullet, Sierra 80 grain varminter bullet does a better job when dealing with stiff cross-winds when varmint hunting.
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Nosler Bullet
Dia.TypeWeightS.D.B.C.
.243″B-Tip55.133.276
Cartridge Overall Length = 2.635″.
Remington Primer
Type = 9 1/2 Large Rifle.
Ramshot Hunter Powder
Powder
Start
Load
Grains		Start
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Powder
Maximum
Load
Grains		Maximum
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Maximum
Load
Pressure
P.S.I.
49.43,77154.94,08659,368
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		Velocity
/ FPS.		Energy
/ FT.LBS.		Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle4,0862,039– 1.5
100 yds.3,6511,628+ 0.6
200 yds.3,2591,2970
300 yds.2,9011,028– 3.8
400 yds.2,570807– 11.8
500 yds.2,263625– 25.1
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Sierra Bullet
Dia.TypeWeightS.D.B.C.
.243″V80.194.319
Cartridge Overall Length = 2.635″.
Winchester Primer
Type = WLR.
Hodgdon Superformance Powder
Powder
Start
Load
Grains		Start
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Powder
Maximum
Load
Grains		Maximum
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Maximum
Load
Pressure
P.S.I.
44.03,23648.73,46058,400
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		Velocity
/ FPS.		Energy
/ FT.LBS.		Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle3,4602,126– 1.5
100 yds.3,1331,743+ 0.9
200 yds.2,8301,4230
300 yds.2,5471,153– 5.2
400 yds.2,281924– 15.9
500 yds.2,031733– 33.2
For the Antelope, Hog, Blacktail Deer, Whitetail Deer or Mule Deer hunter, hand-loading or reloading his or her own 243 Winchester ammunition, bullet choices and selections are very good. Berger VLD bullets offer a very flat trajectory and Sierra Gamekings are excellent as well.
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Berger Bullet
Dia.TypeWeightS.D.B.C.
.243″VLD95.230.486
Cartridge Overall Length = 2.650″.
Remington Primer
Type = 9 1/2 Large Rifle.
Ramshot Hunter Powder
Powder
Start
Load
Grains		Start
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Powder
Maximum
Load
Grains		Maximum
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Maximum
Load
Pressure
P.S.I.
40.12,87444.63,16559,883
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		Velocity
/ FPS.		Energy
/ FT.LBS.		Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle3,1652,113– 1.5
100 yds.2,9621,851+ 1.2
200 yds.2,7691,6170
300 yds.2,5841,408– 5.8
400 yds.2,4061,221– 16.8
500 yds.2,2351,053– 33.8
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Sierra Bullet
Dia.TypeWeightS.D.B.C.
.243″G-K100.242.430
Cartridge Overall Length = 2.650″.
Remington Primer
Type = 9 1/2 Large Rifle.
Accurate Magpro Powder
Powder
Start
Load
Grains		Start
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Powder
Maximum
Load
Grains		Maximum
Load
Velocity
Fps.		Maximum
Load
Pressure
P.S.I.
45.22,86150.23,10759,880
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		Velocity
/ FPS.		Energy
/ FT.LBS.		Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle3,1072,143– 1.5
100 yds.2,8811,843+ 1.4
200 yds.2,6671,5800
300 yds.2,4631,347– 6.3
400 yds.2,2681,142– 18.2
500 yds.2,082962– 37.0