243 ai in shorter barrel?

[243DH]

I have a tikka I plan to get rebarreled, also have a Krieger LV contour 6mm, 8 twist blank with a max finished length of 26". I have several 243 win in 26-28", a 6.5cm @ 26", a couple 6br 8 twist 26-28", and one 243 @24". The shorter 243 started at 28" mtu contour and got cut down to 24. I went from 3200 to 3120 fps, using h4350 and 105 hybrids, basically 20 fps/inch. I really want something different but not crazy different, ie Ackley improved.

The rifle will mainly be used to bang steel up to 1300 yds, some local tac matches, and yote killing. I also will be running a can on it at times, so thinking somewhere between 22-24". I don't want a 18-20lb bench rig, this will be used around barricades with positional shooting more common then not. Not worried about barrel life either, I have 1800-2000 logged rounds on a couple older 8 twist 243s and they still hammer in the .3s. My initial thoughts are 22" threaded plus a single port brake adding an inch or so. I figured that with h4350 and 105 hybrids 3100 or so would be possible. If so that translates to 6.7 mils to 1k and 1.8 mils for wind, still running over 1300fps at 1300yds.

It will be wearing a t3 sporter stock (the orange and grey laminate) for the time being, feeding from tikka LA mags. When KRG releases their xray chassis it will get one of those. Assuming 243ai feeds good from an AI mag, the rig scoped and bipod will weigh about 12-13 lbs. What is the general thinking here on this, am I setting myself up for fail? I looked through all 8 pages of 243 loads and saw nothing on loads for less then 26" barrels with faster twist. I know that a longer barrel will let me run slower powders and higher velocity, but with a faster powder some velocity can be gained back from the shorter barrel. Thanks for any insight or advice.

 

[stacy]

I don't think u will be anywhere close those vel not w/22'' barrel u might get 2800/2900fps.I shoot a 243ackley 27'' 1/8 twt w/H-1000 105gr HVLD'S 210m primers I only get 3150fps let us know what speed u get.

GOOD LUCK

 

[243DH]

I guess that i will experiment. My straight 243 thats 24" started as 28". With h4831sc it ran 3100 ish, cut down to 24" it ran 2980. With h4350 at 28" it was 3200, cut to 24" and 3120. These numbers are chronoed and confirmed with drops to 1200 yds. That barrel is a criterion remage, its got 1640ish rds on it and still will throw down .2s off a bipod, tied for second in snipershide 100 yd shoot out 1.0. Got another 26" barrel 243 that runs 3110 without even pushing win brass(12-15 reloads), 105&h4350. The thing i don't want to deal with is a long barrel and barricades or a long barrel with a 10" can hanging off of it. I might just settle on 24" plus brake, but a short barrel is nice for everything except 1000 br.

 

[stacy]

I only use select match shilen's barrel but there a little slower than some barrel makers but I just think u be better off w/24'' w/brake

 

[243DH]

Thanks Stacey for ur opinion and experience, i believe that the 243ai really shines in a 28-30" tube. With a tube that long powders like h1000, retumbo, re 19&22, and h4831sc are perfect. They get a complete burn in long barrels since they are slower burn rate. My thinking is that with a shorter tube and faster powder, h4350, that i can recoup some speed. I 243 could maybe give me what i want, doubtful, but i think the shoulder angle of the ai might preserve my throat a little better. If it is slower then what i want then it's my fault not the cartridge. A little bit longer (23-24) plus brake will help get some blast farther away.

 

[Chuckhunter]

243DH, I have a .243 Ackley that shoots 107 gr Sierra M.K's (molyed). at a M.V. of 3232 from a 28" Hart barrel. Using 47.5Gr's of H-4831Sc as my load of choice. I opened up Q.L. and removed 4 inches from the barrel changed the bullet to a 105 Berger hybrid, naked and the results said you should come up with a velocity at or near 3091fps. I'm sure you realize that Quick Load is of course just a guesstimate but I have found that in my experience when you are careful with the inputs the outputs can be eerily close. I would think with a 24" barrel, maybe a slightly faster powder may be in order but I would certainly try the H-4831SC as it's incredibly accurate in my rig.

 

[243DH]

Thanks chuckhunter, i appreciate the quickload data. I have found that h4831sc is a great powder in 243 with 105-107. Easy to tune, very consistent, and great accuracy. I assume that the load used to generate the 3091 figure is 47.5 gr, i have never used quickload but seems that it is more often right than it is wrong. Any chance h4350 could be entered in quickload at 22"? I appreciate all the knowledge and the helpfulness of this site. So much less ego and bs on this site than anyother. What kind of psi was that load? While numbers are very good, i do realize that max velocity and max accuracy sometimes coincide but can never be counted on to do that. Once again thanks guys.

 

[Chuckhunter]

You are correct, I left the 47.5 Gr's. of H-4831 SC in place as I knew that data to be correct and re-examined several times. I changed the barrel length to 22" and substituted H-4350 for the H-4831sc and QL told me that needed to be backed off. QL suggests not exceeding 45.5 Gr's of H-4350 but as always back that off a couple of grains and work back up. If you can safely reach 45.5 Gr's of H-4350 your velocity should be in the vicinity of 2998 with a pressure of 53651 psi. Also ran RL-17 with a load of 43.0 Gr's you would get an M.V. of approx. 3050 fps. with a chamber pressure of 53369 psi. Hope this helps some As always be safe and happy shooting.

 

[243DH]

Thanks again man. I would have guessed the h4350 would have been quicker then h4831sc, or atleast the same in a 2" shorter barrel. I figured i would start at 42.5 and work up in .3 gr increments (3 shot groups) to 45.5ish. Do the same with 4831sc from 45.0-47.5, watching primers and bolt lift for pressure.