243 AI Barrel Life.

[headhunter1111]

I've got a coyote rifle that I put a Douglas 5a stainless XX airgauged barrel on a while back. Chambered it in .243 AI and have shot a maximum of 450 rds through (I actually think it was more like 400 even but I added a few just in case I miss counted somewhere along the way) and the throat is already VERY eroded. Seating depth is so long I am only able to use 108gr Berger Tgt BT bullets and 95gr Nosler Ballistic Tips. Any others I have are not even close to touching the lands. These two just barely fit in the mag well.
I used light bullets only for fireforming, all but 100 or so were 107SMKs or 115berger VLDs.
Most were the 107s at around 3020fps with 4831sc. This was NOT max in this rifle. I reloaded cases 6 times before having any issues with primer pockets loosening up. 2gr heavier was where i began to notice a sticky bolt.

I am curious, is this pretty standard barrel life for the 243 AI?

 

[RJinTexas]

I've never seen any 243 or 243AI shot out in under 450 rounds, but I've seen lots of throat erosion when push hard. I'd shot it until your groups start to open up then cut off a couple of inches and re-chamber it in 6mmAI. I don't care what folks say I've found the 6mm Rem & 6mmAI far superior to the 243 Win & 243AI and much easier on barrel, I'm basing this on how long they have lasted in high volume shooting in the prairie dog towns.

RJ

 

[k80skeet]

The regular 243 usually goes south somewhere between 1200-1500 rounds all depending on how it was used. I would guess the 243AI would be at least a couple hundred less due to increased powder charge. Now if you shoot it on a hot day with max loads and get the barrel really hot it could be less than half that amount.

 

[40X Guy]

I have not heard of a 243AI barrel being throat eroded that quickly. My 6AI Broughton barrel with 330 rounds is still where it was when new. And it sounds like you are not pushing it hard. You can probably push 107's around 3200 with no issues. Maybe an issue with the barrel? You should be able to get at least a 1000 rounds out of it.

You may want to take it back to your smith and/or possibly send barrel back to Douglas. I can't see setting it back with only 450 rounds thru it and paying for it.

Frank

 

[fullersson]

I'm just wandering how you reloaded brass 6 times with only 400 or 450 rounds down the tube? If you have 600 rounds through it then you could expect some throat wear depending on how you have used it. How much throat did you have to start with; maybe it was already a long throat and just a little wear put it out of reach of your smaller bullets. What about your cleaning routine; very aggressive cleaners (40x, JB, Isso) can contribute to throat erosion.

 

[wc872]

I have had very good results by using David Tubb's Throat Maint. System. I fire 2-3 rounds of it about every 480-500 rounds or so. Using my borescope I can tell the difference in how smooth the throat is after shooting the TMS. After shooting the Throat Maint. rounds I clean very good and then start shooting again. I don't chase the throat at all. I used to, but rifles with three different barrel makers barrels have excellent results without chasing the lands. Just something you may want to try.
Semper Fi

 

[headhunter1111]

RJ- I plan to rechamber it in 6SLR. I hear the longer neck of this (and the 6mm) gives you a little better barrel life. Plus I have wanted to play with one every since I saw it.
k80- I've not shot hot loads in the heat at all really.
40X- I'm thinking it was throated kinda deep, a little heavy on the freebore to start out with. As to sending it back, not really worth it. I've had my fun. It shot great new, now I'll just have to rechamber in 6slr to get my moneys worth.
Fullerson, I had 50rds of Winchester brass that were reloaded 6times. Adding up to 300 rds. I also tried 50rds of Remington, Adding up to 350, a couple boxes of factory I used in a pinch, call it 400. Just fireformed 25 more, . Maybe I missed count somewhere so I figured 450. That is how I figured my round count.I plan on fireforming another 25, shooting this brass until I get my reamer and then going with the 105VLDs.

 

[headhunter1111]

Ps fullerson- I use a patch with shooters choice to get the worsed of the powder fouling out, dry patch it, then run a nylon brush soaked in sweets 7.62, enough patches through it to clean it all out and dry it good, (this barrel actually has very little copper fouling) and finish off with a light coat of Hoppes oil. Dry patch right before I shoot it.
WC- I've thought about trying that just to smooth things up. Maybe I'll do it. Can't hurt anything.

 

[fullersson]

Headhunter, thanks for answering our questions. It sounds like you have covered all the bases. I wish I had some helpful advise, but I don't. Good luck.

 

[headhunter1111]

I'll let you know how she shoots once I get her rechambered.

 

[BDA]

Round count in my 243AI is just under 1000 right now and it's still shooting well. I don't know what the throat looks like but I just shot this 5 shot group at 705yds last week while laying in the snow.

 

[Ironworker]

Don't you feel obligated to tell us what kind of scope that is ? ???

 

[BDA]

Sorry (grin)

Specs are:
Rem700 S/A that this is its 3rd barrel
Rock 5R 1-9"tw Rem Varmint Contour at 24"
ADL A5 50/50 Black/Orange
Older Leupold VariX-III LongRange (pre-Mark4) 3.5-10x40 in Seekins rings/rail

Running 105VLD's from the mag at 3200+ via '17 in Lapua brass.

 

[headhunter1111]

Beaut of a rifle BDA

 

[JohnMill]

Who made the ADL A5

Thanks John

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

JohnMill: Looks like a McMillan stock to me but, I could be wrong.

Mike

 

[BDA]

It's a McMillan A5, molded in 50/50 Black/Orange.