Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

[Bill Norris]

Now I'm going to try the 58 gr. Vmax. Using IMR 4064 (.243) the Hornady book lists 43.6 as the max for a listed 3800 fps. I wonder if the bullet will stay together with, say, about 45 grs. in the 243AI?

Not sure about the 58 gr. but there are complaints of Hornady bullets coming apart mid-flight when driving them fast. Testing would be interesting. Only thing I use Hornady bullets for is to blow out brass.

 

[nmkid]

Well, I'll find out Monday.

 

[Bill Norris]

Well, I'll find out Monday.

Please let us know what your experiences are with it.

 

[nmkid]

Will do.

 

[nmkid]

Well, I went out with the 58 gr Vmax. The wind was about 5mph but, the 100-yard line is pretty well protected with big trees so no problem.
Powder=IMR 4064
Cases=Lapua
Primer=CCI BR LRP
Load= 44.0-44.5-45.0
243 AI 26" barrel 1:10

First, I was happy the bullets made it to the target! My biggest group was .575 with 44 grains. The grouping with 44.5 grs. was .484. With 45 grs. I got a nice group measuring .427. As the charge went up it appears it shot better. The cases showed no signs of pressure. Don't know how much more the bullet would take. As this won't be my primary bullet I think I will leave it there. Book says 3800 fps with 43.5 grs. so they must be humming at 45.0 grs. If I should happen to load some more I'll take my chronograph with me.

 

[Bill Norris]

Well, I went out with the 58 gr Vmax. The wind was about 5mph but, the 100-yard line is pretty well protected with big trees so no problem.
Powder=IMR 4064
Cases=Lapua
Primer=CCI BR LRP
Load= 44.0-44.5-45.0
243 AI 26" barrel 1:10

First, I was happy the bullets made it to the target! My biggest group was .575 with 44 grains. The grouping with 44.5 grs. was .484. With 45 grs. I got a nice group measuring .427. As the charge went up it appears it shot better. The cases showed no signs of pressure. Don't know how much more the bullet would take. As this won't be my primary bullet I think I will leave it there. Book says 3800 fps with 43.5 grs. so they must be humming at 45.0 grs. If I should happen to load some more I'll take my chronograph with me.

Not bad for starters. Happy it went well for you Bro. I have my 243AI out and ready to go really soon. I will be testing some 105 gr. & 115 gr. Berger. After that I have some Barts Hammer 105 gr. to load next.

 

[nmkid]

Ahhh. We both have so much work ahead of us. LOL. I have 70 and 80 gr. Hammer Hunters to try and that will be the end. Thinking about a 20 Practical or a 22 Creedmoor next. I had both of those and I sold them to Zack. He has long ago sold both of them.

 

[Bill Norris]

Finally made it to the bench today with the 243AI. As usual no disappointments from this rifle. Actually I was pretty dang content with the 105 Bergers. Should have set up the chrono but will get the speeds next time out. The 115 gr. were JLKs and the maker told me they would need @ 1 - 7 Tw. but I decided to try them in my 1 - 7.5 Tw. The best I could get was a 5-shot group @ .353 from them but the 105 Bergers really were showing out today and printed a 10-shot group @ .204

105 GR. BERGER VLD 2.173 O M 2.823 COL T/L B S .410 B C .517
POWDER 42.0 GR. H-4350 PRIMER CCI BR-2 .269 BUSHING
SEATED @ 2.162 O M 2.812 COL .011 OTL
10-SHOT GP. .204 E C T/B set on -2- 71 DEG. Rel/Hum 36 04/25/23

 

[nmkid]

Hooray! That baby is dialed in!

 

[Bill Norris]

Yea, I think Load development is done for this one.

 

[Zero333]

Had to add a couple pictures and rifle specs to one of my posts...

243 Win.
80 gr Berger FB
47 gr H-4831sc
Win. brass
210m

Savage 10 FCP-K or Savage 11 Action
Shilen 8" twist 26" barrel (the 8" twist when it really heats up some of the bullets go POOF just passed the 100 m Target and groups at 100 m are twice as big compared to shooting in the winter with a cold barrel . So I don't recommend anything below 10" twist barrel for these 80 gr Berg. Varmint bullets. Probably a 10"or 11" or 12" twist would be best, with the 11" being most optimal in my opinion)
MDT HS3 Chassis
Kahntrol Clamp-On muzzle brake
Timney trigger set to 1.75 lbs
Bushnell XRS 4.5-30x50 glass

Doing a seating depth test...



The rifle, which now has a heavier duty Savage 10 FCP action and a stainless barrel nut and ground recoil lug (not is this picture)...

 

[Zero333]

Finally made it to the bench today with the 243AI. As usual no disappointments from this rifle. Actually I was pretty dang content with the 105 Bergers. Should have set up the chrono but will get the speeds next time out. The 115 gr. were JLKs and the maker told me they would need @ 1 - 7 Tw. but I decided to try them in my 1 - 7.5 Tw. The best I could get was a 5-shot group @ .353 from them but the 105 Bergers really were showing out today and printed a 10-shot group @ .204

105 GR. BERGER VLD 2.173 O M 2.823 COL T/L B S .410 B C .517
POWDER 42.0 GR. H-4350 PRIMER CCI BR-2 .269 BUSHING
SEATED @ 2.162 O M 2.812 COL .011 OTL
10-SHOT GP. .204 E C T/B set on -2- 71 DEG. Rel/Hum 36 04/25/23

Damn !!!
You got that 243AI dialed in like a Swiss Watch !

 

[Bill Norris]

Damn !!!
You got that 243AI dialed in like a Swiss Watch !

Yea the sucker will shoot no doubt about it. Zack Donovant built it for me along with nine other rifles and they all will shoot 1/4 MOA or better when I am on my game. Rifles will out-shoot me any day.

 

[Zero333]

Yea the sucker will shoot no doubt about it. Zack Donovant built it for me along with nine other rifles and they all will shoot 1/4 MOA or better when I am on my game. Rifles will out-shoot me any day.

You guys down in the USA have some amazing Gunsmiths.

You should try with your 243AI & 105 Berg. Hyb. around 45 gr of H-4831sc.

H-4831/4831sc is more accurate than H-4350 is ALL my rifles.

 

[Bill Norris]

Oh yea, I am very well pleased with my builder. He and I have developed a friendship that goes far beyond a business relationship. I would do as much for him as I would for one of my own kids and I think he knows that.

I have some H-4831 and some VV-N165 that I am going to give a shot in my 243AI this fall with a few heavy weight bullets.

 

[IMR4064]

so far these were the most accurate in my kids rem700 cdl. i domt know the man who loaded them all those years ago but the gave single hole groups at 100 yards

brass was rem and win mixed.

 

[Bill Norris]

Been working with the Tubb 115 gr. DTAC a bit in my 243AI and think I'm gonna hold for now with this load. Looks like it is doing O K and gonna check it out @ 600 yds. on Tuesday if nothing changes.

115 GR. TUBB DTAC N/R TBN C 2.181 O M 2.814 COL.T/L B S .521 B C .620
POWDER VV-N165 47.2 GR. PRIMER CCI BR-2 .269 BU. LND .271
SEATED @ 2.171 O M 2.804 COL .010 OTL E C V2 TUNER SET-40-
.209 6-SHOT GP. 3086 FPS SD 6 ES 16 67 DEG. 33% REL/HUM 03/10/24

 

[Bill Norris]

Been working with the Tubb 115 gr. DTAC a bit in my 243AI and think I'm gonna hold for now with this load. Looks like it is doing O K and gonna check it out @ 600 yds. on Tuesday if nothing changes.

115 GR. TUBB DTAC N/R TBN C 2.181 O M 2.814 COL.T/L B S .521 B C .620
POWDER VV-N165 47.2 GR. PRIMER CCI BR-2 .269 BU. LND .271
SEATED @ 2.171 O M 2.804 COL .010 OTL E C V2 TUNER SET-40-
.209 6-SHOT GP. 3086 FPS SD 6 ES 16 67 DEG. 33% REL/HUM 03/10/24

Did not get to shoot last week but looks like maybe Thursday of this week might be the ticket. Anxious to see the difference in this bullet and the Berger 140 gr. L R Target bullet in the 260AI. Hornady Ballistic Calculator says it's handling the wind and bullet drop better than the 140 gr. Berger out at 600 yds. with my 3000 fps load. The target will tell the truth no doubt.

 

[nmkid]

Yesterday I went out to try some 87 gr. Vmax (2.700 COAL) with 44.5 grs. of H-4350, CCI BR, and Lapua cases. I got 3 different groups all less than .500 at 3415 FPS according to the Xero. Will probably leave it there.

 

[Bill Norris]

Yesterday I went out to try some 87 gr. Vmax (2.700 COAL) with 44.5 grs. of H-4350, CCI BR, and Lapua cases. I got 3 different groups all less than .500 at 3415 FPS according to the Xero. Will probably leave it there.

Sounds like it is doing well for u. I been playing with the new Xero chrono for a bit now and so far it has had no clitches and no mis-reads.