.243 max load queiry

[yelddd]

I am fairly new to homeloading,and have had some good results using 87g.bthp hornady bullets with 37.5 grains of H380.Can anyone shed some light on what will be the max. safe loadof the said powder.all help is welcome,thanks.

 

[f d shuster]

243/h380

From the 2008 Hodgdon reloading manual, page 91, an 85 gr. bullet is shown as 43.0 grs. max, and a 90 gr. is 40.5. No listing for your 87 gr. Lyman handbook, 49th edition, page 156, 38.5 of H380 with an 85 gr. and 38 with a 90 gr. Again, no listing for an 87 gr. "Interpolate" and start low, you can't just start out with the maximum load listed. Get yourself one (anyone) of the good reloading manuals, published by the powder/bullet makers, read and follow.

 

[alinwa]

OK...... once you're playing around at MAX you may find that some barrels/chambers/brands of brass max earlier than others so here's an absolutely foolproof method for knowing MAX on your .243 with the brass cases you're using.

WHEN YOUR PRIMERS GET LOOSE YOU'RE TOO HOT!!!!!

As simplistic as this axiom seems, it's based on hard science. The process by which primers get loose has to do with the yield strength of the brass. Once your load is hot enough to loosen primers the yield strength of the brass case has been exceeded.

BACK DOWN until primer seating stays firm throughout unlimited reloads.

THROW AWAY the cases with loose primers.

With time/experience you'll learn to salvage them for ONE more shot by sealing them into the case with fingernail polish....... use them for throwaway coyote rounds...... of you leak a few look closely at your boltface to see the damage done by the hot ablative gases. You don't want to leak many primers!

If this isn't clear please ask for more explanation.

al