Gunners Den

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. Type Weight S.D. B.C.
.243″ B-Tip 55 .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.
49.4 3,771 54.9 4,086 59,368
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle 4,086 2,039 – 1.5
100 yds. 3,651 1,628 + 0.6
200 yds. 3,259 1,297 0
300 yds. 2,901 1,028 – 3.8
400 yds. 2,570 807 – 11.8
500 yds. 2,263 625 – 25.1
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Sierra Bullet
Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C.
.243″ V 80 .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.
44.0 3,236 48.7 3,460 58,400
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle 3,460 2,126 – 1.5
100 yds. 3,133 1,743 + 0.9
200 yds. 2,830 1,423 0
300 yds. 2,547 1,153 – 5.2
400 yds. 2,281 924 – 15.9
500 yds. 2,031 733 – 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. Type Weight S.D. B.C.
.243″ VLD 95 .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.
40.1 2,874 44.6 3,165 59,883
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle 3,165 2,113 – 1.5
100 yds. 2,962 1,851 + 1.2
200 yds. 2,769 1,617 0
300 yds. 2,584 1,408 – 5.8
400 yds. 2,406 1,221 – 16.8
500 yds. 2,235 1,053 – 33.8
243 Winchester Load Data:
Winchester Cartridge Case
Case Trimmed Length = 2.035″.
Sierra Bullet
Dia. Type Weight S.D. B.C.
.243″ G-K 100 .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.
45.2 2,861 50.2 3,107 59,880
Ballistic Test Barrel Length = 24″.
Ballistic Test Barrel Twist Rate = 1 in 10″.

Bullet
@		 Velocity
/ FPS.		 Energy
/ FT.LBS.		 Trajectory
/ IN.
Muzzle 3,107 2,143 – 1.5
100 yds. 2,881 1,843 + 1.4
200 yds. 2,667 1,580 0
300 yds. 2,463 1,347 – 6.3
400 yds. 2,268 1,142 – 18.2
500 yds. 2,082 962 – 37.0