243 Ackley questions

[Jethrro]

Hello have some newbie questions that I couldn't find answers for searching threads. I have a recently built 243 AI. All work was done by Pac-Nor and ordered by me.
Tight neck barrel length is 28 and twist is 1-8 brass is new Norma
I fire formed my brass using 4831sc I believe I started around 35 grains and worked up to 45 grains seated 0.02" into the lands. Bullet was a 107 Mk naked. Groups were a fairly decent 3/4" at 100 yds for 5 shots.
Fast forward to the next trip to the range with the 105 grain A-Max Molly with formed brass. I started the loads at 45 grains and worked up to 47 same powder and primers loaded at the lands (0.0). Groups are a terrible 1 to 1 1/2 same yardage no real change for the different weight charges.
I guess my question is should I back off my powder charge to say 45 grains and play with the seating depth? Start at a 0.02 jump and decrease in 0.005 increments till I get 0.02 into the lands or just go back to the 107 grain Mk which seemed to shoot better while fireforming initially.
Thanks in advance Jethrro

 

[expiper]

The gun is talking to you....it is saying" i dont like what ur doin",,,,soo try sumthin else....if the 107's worked with 45 gr of powder usually the 105 A-max can stand 1/2 gr more powder than the 107 SMK.....and try jumping the 105's .050"....dont piddle around a cupla thou at a time move out away from the lands and you shuld hear a new story from your gun....listen.....Roger
PS...this is the beauty of reloading....you can adjust your ammo to work best inyour gun....what works for my model xyz may or may not work for your model abc.....you just gotta fiddle with it ....you can usually see more change by seating depth changes than any other aspect of loading......once you get the groups better go up more in powder till you see pressure sighns and then drop back 1/2 gr.....

 

[WyleWD]

A couple of items stand out to me in your post and expiper no doubt seen it too judging from his comments. (And he is one of the best I know).

First, when going from the naked bullets to the moly coated ones.... you drasticlly changed the whole ball game for the rifle. Unless you're a LOT lucker than I am you'll have to start all over with load development. Maybe go to more neck tention, play with seating depth, change primers, and maybe even go to a bit faster powder or all the above.

Second thing I'd be concerned about is when you went from naked bullets to moly coated, I'm assuming that you used a LOT of patches and got the barrel absolutely cleaned of copper build up. My experience has been that when you go from naked to coated or vice versa you have to make sure that the bore is extremely clean first.

And a question to you, if the rifle was shooting .75"groups with the 107gr naked bullets during fireforming, why switch? WD

 

[Jethrro]

WD, To answer your question on switching I broke the barrel in with the naked bullets they were free and I couldn't get my hands on AMaxes. Then when the bullets became available I couldn't get molly, and had to buy a molly coat kit. I wanted to try them since I had the rifle built. If they don't work there are others and yes more than likely I will go back to the 107 Mk.
Roger, I was leaning that way just needed a little nudge thanks Jethrro

 

[Chuckhunter]

Jethrro, I'm shooting 47.5 Gr's of H-4831SC with 107 SMK's (molyed), in front of Russian KVB Primers. I think I would try going up slowly and see if it doesn't improve. With that being said, I must inform you that I am shooting a 9 twist barrel so reaching 47.5 Gr's may be out of the question. 4831Sc was the powder that made my Ackley come to life but as you are well aware, when working up loads, what works in my rifle my be just horrible in yours. Hope you get it figured out.

 

[Jethrro]

Jethrro, I'm shooting 47.5 Gr's of H-4831SC with 107 SMK's (molyed), in front of Russian KVB Primers. I think I would try going up slowly and see if it doesn't improve. With that being said, I must inform you that I am shooting a 9 twist barrel so reaching 47.5 Gr's may be out of the question. 4831Sc was the powder that made my Ackley come to life but as you are well aware, when working up loads, what works in my rifle my be just horrible in yours. Hope you get it figured out.

I have some molly coated 107's in the closet and was thinking of trying some as a comparison. Where are you seating them. A shooting buddy that I got them from is +0.04 in his 6-284. I realize each gun is different, just as reference. Thanks for all the good info and comments to all.

 

[Chuckhunter]

Jethro, I'm shooting mine .020 off the rifling. The good thing about the Sierra's is they are not as finicky about seating depth as the Berger's. I'm a big fan of the Berger Bullets but for p-Doggity's the sierras are very close and are a little less expensive.

 

[mj2evans]

I am shooting naked so powder is lower - 44.5 H4831SC and 105 AMax 0.015" off lands (got worse when I got closer) in Lapua case and Wolf primer. This load in tight necked Shilen will shoot in the .3s for 5 shots. 107MK was good too (off lands also) but AMax seemed just a little better and cheaper!

 

[Grand]

Jethro: Expiper is correct. Either load for moly of stay naked. Switching back and forth with give inconsistent results. Cleaning between loads will only introduce another variable - cleaning solvent.

 

[Jethrro]

Some how there was some confusion in my post. I broke the barrel in with naked bullets once that happened I made the switch to molly and stuck with it. I loaded some rounds and have been waiting for some good weather to head to the range. Has been fairly cold here and I have a load to try in my K Hornet that needs a fairly warm day to shoot well. Hoping to make it tomorrow.