low velocity rifle loads
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I don't like to use fast powders in bores under .30, simply because such loads can pressure spike at the drop of a fedora. If you must have reduced loads in low expansion ratio rounds, use published loads with SR4759 or Accurate 5744, both of which are designed for that exact use.
Depending on what exactly you are looking for, Hodgdon has a list of "Youth Loads" that employ a light-for-caliber bullet and reduced charge of H4895. Not cast bullets, to be sure, but still easier on the shoulder. They have a 243Win load in there, too.
Have to be careful using out of date old manual's loading info. Powders have changed quite a bit and back in the day, pressure testing equipment could not compare with modern methods. They are interesting to read, but I'd follow today's manuals for any loading practices.
I checked my Lyman 47th Edition manual. I also have a REAL old Lyman manual. It is full of reduced /cast bullet loads for tons of calibers.
They list one for the .243. Mold #245496 an 83 grainer. As the bores go up, so do the number of dif loads. I use several dif Unique loadings. I once shot a Javelina w/a Unique load of a 90 grain HP, @ about 2000 fps out of my .270 (22 mag or Hornet velocities w/twice the bullet weight).
I'll only list the max loads. They start out 2 grains less, but the last 4 listed start out 5-6 grains less.
12 grains of Red dot 2032fps
10.5 700x 1904 40K cup (and this is the highest of any of em)
11.0 PB 1836
11.5 SR-7625 @ 1909
13.0 SR4765 @ 2013
20.0 SR4759 @ 2156 (starts @ 14.9 grns)
19.7 IMR 4227 @ 2156 (yes they are both at 2156)
22.7 IMR 4198 @ 2175
21.0 RX7 @ 2092
The manual lists 4 loads in the 2,900 fps range that I wasn't going to mention. But, being as it was already mentioned.
H4895 25.0 @ 2126fps upto 37.2 grains @2970fps and 47,400 cup
They list one for the .243. Mold #245496 an 83 grainer. As the bores go up, so do the number of dif loads. I use several dif Unique loadings. I once shot a Javelina w/a Unique load of a 90 grain HP, @ about 2000 fps out of my .270 (22 mag or Hornet velocities w/twice the bullet weight).
I'll only list the max loads. They start out 2 grains less, but the last 4 listed start out 5-6 grains less.
12 grains of Red dot 2032fps
10.5 700x 1904 40K cup (and this is the highest of any of em)
11.0 PB 1836
11.5 SR-7625 @ 1909
13.0 SR4765 @ 2013
20.0 SR4759 @ 2156 (starts @ 14.9 grns)
19.7 IMR 4227 @ 2156 (yes they are both at 2156)
22.7 IMR 4198 @ 2175
21.0 RX7 @ 2092
The manual lists 4 loads in the 2,900 fps range that I wasn't going to mention. But, being as it was already mentioned.
H4895 25.0 @ 2126fps upto 37.2 grains @2970fps and 47,400 cup
The Speer manual generally lists a reduced load for every cartridge. I've noticed, too, that the last Hodgdon manual update- the 2008 version- that looks like a magazine, lists loads for a number of rifle cartridges using Trail Boss powder for reduced loads.
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Unique can be used for light loads in a .243, if you use light bullets. If you have a mold for a .243 cast design, which are hard to find, or you have some of the BT bullets in hand, try a starting load of 8-10gr of Trail Boss. TB has been very good for light jacketed/cast designs in my collection.
Unique has a long history with reduced loads, but all the extra space is a problem for consistancy, or you need to mess with fillers.
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I'll second Trail Boss. Very clean. Hodgdon apparently feels you can't overpressure any gun with it easily as long as you don't compress it. Their general formula for finding either a lead bullet handgun load, or a lead and jacketed bullet loads in rifle cartridges is here. They have also begun listing Trail Boss load data for rifles in their on-line load data. For .243 Winchester they have one for the 100 grain Speer BTSP seated to 2.650" COL in a Winchester case with a WLR primer that is 8.0 grains to start, 15.3 grains maximum. My guess is that 8.0 grain starting load will work with about anything you put in the case, while the maximum will change with bullet length per the instructions in the link.
Unique has a following among cast bullet shooters, but I've always preferred 4759, or 4227. My trials with Unique showed it to be very position sensitive, much more so than the two powders listed above. Ed Harris has done some work with it I believe and also with 2400. His comments can be found on one of the two major cast bullet sites. Regards Rodfac
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