[RNally]

Have had good luck with 95gr SST out of my Rem 243.

 

[303hunter]

My daughter took her first deer last year with my .243 handload. 90 gr Speer Deep Curl, Hornady case, CCI 450, 41 gr IMR4350. Out of her .243's 20" 1/10 barrel it clocks 2940 fps, about the same as my 90 gr Gold Dot load for my 6.8, but I'm sure the .243 has more range.

 

[SteveOM]

Thanks for the heads up. Mine is a 60's model 99E so it's tighter than the older ones. With that said what kind of pressures can these lever guns handle? I would like to at least get 3000fps with a 80-100 grain hunting bullet. The goal is to get out to 300yds with out any scope adjustments (mpbr). My 18" 6.8 gets 260yds mpbr with a 90gr gd at 3000fps. I was figuring a 20" .243 win should have no problem at least matching that but it doesn't appear so after a little research. Want to keep it safe though.

A '60s model is fairly new/moder- at least as 99s go!
These guns can handle up to SAAMI max loads, just work up carefully and pay attention.

Think of them in these terms:S&W medium frame vs Ruger GP100 in .357 Mag.
Your 99 is the K frame - designed for full house loads, but it's going to shoot loose before the GP100 (Mauser bolt gun analogue).

Remember that a 90-100gr .243 bullet has a pretty good BC advantage on your 90gr 6.8 Gold Dot, and also a max load of some powders will definitely get you 3000fps even in your shorter 20" barrel.

 

[ATEXAN]

My daughter took her first deer last year with my .243 handload. 90 gr Speer Deep Curl, Hornady case, CCI 450, 41 gr IMR4350. Out of her .243's 20" 1/10 barrel it clocks 2940 fps, about the same as my 90 gr Gold Dot load for my 6.8, but I'm sure the .243 has more range.

Wish I could get my hands on some of those deep curls. Going to try the 95 SST and 100gr interlocks to start with as my funds are limited and try to keep my bullet cost under .30 per.

 

[ATEXAN]

A '60s model is fairly new/moder- at least as 99s go!
These guns can handle up to SAAMI max loads, just work up carefully and pay attention.

Think of them in these terms:S&W medium frame vs Ruger GP100 in .357 Mag.
Your 99 is the K frame - designed for full house loads, but it's going to shoot loose before the GP100 (Mauser bolt gun analogue).

Remember that a 90-100gr .243 bullet has a pretty good BC advantage on your 90gr 6.8 Gold Dot, and also a max load of some powders will definitely get you 3000fps even in your shorter 20" barrel.

Have you tried neck sizing or is it not worth trying? Some on the interweb say it's ok on the newer models but to full length size after a certain amount of firings and some say don't do it. Trying to get everything I can out of this rifle. Also, can any one school me on how to put multiple quotes on one post?

 

[Equalizer_2]

Have you tried neck sizing or is it not worth trying? Some on the interweb say it's ok on the newer models but to full length size after a certain amount of firings and some say don't do it. Trying to get everything I can out of this rifle. Also, can any one school me on how to put multiple quotes on one post?

Not sure on the neck sizing as there isn't much camming action to a lever gun but you could size like we do for the semi autos by just bumping the shoulder back about 0.003 inches.

For multiple quotes there is a small box on the right bottom of each post with "+ marks in it, you click on the ones you want to include in your multiple quotes then after doing the last one click on the Reply With Quote and it will then add all the "+ that you selected to your reply.

 

[303hunter]

Wish I could get my hands on some of those deep curls. Going to try the 95 SST and 100gr interlocks to start with as my funds are limited and try to keep my bullet cost under .30 per.

I bought 250 of them from RMR a year ago and wish I'd bought more, cause they haven't had any since. They do have Federal Fusion 95 gr, and that's what I'll buy when the Deep Curls run out.

 

[ATEXAN]

The fusions are pretty much the same construction aren't they

 

[303hunter]

The fusions are pretty much the same construction aren't they

Deep Curls have some "special" coating that requires using Speers loading data. Other than that they appear the same as the Fusions.

 

[SteveOM]

I agree you can try just bumping the shoulders, but .........
Really keep your eyes on what the brass is doing when you shoot.
The 99 is one of the strongest leverguns, and also most accurate.
However, I've seen some weird stuff with some of my friends 99s.
Out of round chambers, large chambers, etc...

 

[snowsnake]

Loading for pure accuracy and loading for reliability are two different things. I'm not saying you cant have an accurate reliable load but when shooting at targets if you stick a bullet in the barrel or a round wont chamber due to being slightly tight you aren't out anything but time. Having the same problem in the field can cost you a missed shot or trip back home to clear the problem so err on the reliability side. If you do elect to neck size at least make sure each round you intend to hunt with will function thru your rifle before heading out, actually its a good practice with any of your reloads.
For powder the 4350 is hard to beat and a good all round bullet is the Sierra 85g. bthp. I use it in a 6mm Remington and also in a 6mm br xp-100 pistol and they both have taken deer cleanly with one shot.

 

[ATEXAN]

I got some 95gr SST's. Going to look for H4350 or 100v but has anyone tried accurate magpro with these bullets in a .243? The #'s look good but not sure about the accuracy or temp stability guessing it is a stick powder that should be pretty stable. Also ramshot Magnum and hunter look pretty promising as well.

 

[constructor]

I've run everything from Re15 and Varget-RE25. 4350,Re17,Re19, RE22, N550, 4831 SC.
44.5gr H4350 with 95smks was the most accurate load I ever found.

 

[ATEXAN]

Definitely going to get some H4350 and try to work up to that. H, what are the top 2 LR primers you would recommend starting with for a savage 99?

 

[ATEXAN]

Got h414 since h4350 is not to be found. Going to use that and the Winchester LR magnum primers and see what happens. Hodgdons magazine shows 42gr at around 50k with 95gr bullet, does that sound right? I figure 42gr should be plenty safe for my savage 99.

 

[ATEXAN]

Well, I had no luck with the h414 and WLRM primers yet. So I recrowned the barrel and finally got my hands on some h4350 and am impressed so far. During my ladder I got a 3/8" group with 3 shots and the 4th was just over 3/4" at 100. The last shot was 2" so I have a good point to start fine tuning it. Using herters s&b brass, 210m primers and .02 off the lands. The good grouping was between 41.6-42.2 grains of h4350. Temp was 86* and velocity was 2940-3000 fps. Worked up to 44.5 just checking for pressure signs and the bolt started sticking a little with some primer cratering above 44 grains but the fps was over 3100 out of a 20" barrel so I am going​ to fine tune it around 42grains then work then see if I can find another node up to 44gr. Thanks for everyone's help and ideas.

 

[TexasTB]

243

Always used IMR 4350 before I couldn't find it 6 months ago. Now I use the new IMR 4451 and its working well.

TB