.22-243 Question

[Landyboy]

So I had a 22-243 Win built, Not Middlestead, I Picked up a set of dies I thought were .22-243 Win's but I believe they are Middlesteads. (See attached Pics) Can they be used for the Win version or can they be made to work? I did resize one before I noticed the writing on the dies and it does chamber in the rifle. Thanks Bob

 

[Landyboy]

Correction, will not chamber I guess I answered my own question.

 

[AckleymanII]

You could use the bullet seater.

Purchase a Redding 243 bushing S Full length and Neck sizing die, use appropriate bushings for your 22 caliber.

There is a real can of worms with this caliber. If you try and use lapua or Norma brass for a chamber not designed for the larger in the web lapua/norma brass, you get difficult extraction issues that leade people to think that they have high pressure loads. Winchester, Remington, or SIG brass solves this problem.

If you get a reamer print of the reamer that was used to chamber your barrel, it will solve a lot of potential problems on knowing your chamber dia at the web and neck dia.

Good luck!

 

[Kurz]

You can also use Hornady and Starline brass for this conversion to avoid the dimensional differences.

If you can't find or get a reamer print then cast your chamber using Cerrosafe from Brownells. If this is awkward for you then have your gunsmith do it. Then measure the cast and do a simple drawing with those dimensions.

While you're on this journey of discovery, I suggest that you do some searching for reloading data for this cartridge. Depending on twist rate, you should consider giving credence to cooler burning powders with a slightly faster burning rate in order to try to save the throat as much as possible and to get all the performance from the powder while it's burning in the barrel.

Enjoy!

 

[AckleymanII]

Just don't use Varget with 55-60g bullets, one load you are fine, .5g more and you are SMOK'EN! Blown primers abound...never seen pressure spikes on any powder like this previously in my life! Blowing large rifle primers is no fun, especially if you are shooting a Panda!

 

[Kurz]

Agree, forget Varget.

The relationship between case volume and bullet length (weight based...) is significant here because of the case capacity vs the choice of using lighter bullets. It's out of balance, too much case capacity for the lack of weight and bullet length. Whereas if you increase the bullet weight to the 75 gr.+ weight/length, the balance comes back towards a better, more flexible ratio. You will find a larger selection of powders which are suited to that combination.

I was shooting the Hornady 53 gr. VMAX bullets in a case similar to yours and found the VVN-150 was superb. Cooler burning and efficient.

I switched to an improved version (not 40 degrees) with a much better shoulder angle which promoted a more efficient powder burn and a couple more powders to test and use. Use enough barrel length, this is NOT a short barrel cartridge!

 

[AckleymanII]

For giggles and grins, I had a 24" heavy varmint in 22 PPC. I cut off the threads and chambered it with a zero freebore 22/243 AI reamer. Started off with 60g Sierra and hit bug holes at 4000 fps! Shortish range coyote round. I want to shoot the 60g Bergers but I doubt if they will stabalize in the 14T.