243 barrel life with 115 gr. bullets
- Thread starter JOHN708
- Start date
John,
I have a new 8 twist barrel on the way that I am going to chamber in .243. I am going to try the 115's in it. I friend of mine is shooting the 115's in an XC with great results.
I shot out the barrel that I am shooting now in about 1300 rounds running 105's and 107's at 2900fps.
Perhaps the 115's will have a little shorter barrel life. I plan on keeping the speed between 2750-2850 with 115's. That speed will give me all the terminal velocity I need at 1000 yards.
Most of the time, I shoot the gun 70 times before cleaning at long range matches. In the summertime in Georgia, it almost never gets cool enough to touch.
What powder are you planning on using? What twist?
Chuck
I have a new 8 twist barrel on the way that I am going to chamber in .243. I am going to try the 115's in it. I friend of mine is shooting the 115's in an XC with great results.
I shot out the barrel that I am shooting now in about 1300 rounds running 105's and 107's at 2900fps.
Perhaps the 115's will have a little shorter barrel life. I plan on keeping the speed between 2750-2850 with 115's. That speed will give me all the terminal velocity I need at 1000 yards.
Most of the time, I shoot the gun 70 times before cleaning at long range matches. In the summertime in Georgia, it almost never gets cool enough to touch.
What powder are you planning on using? What twist?
Chuck
JOHN708
Silver $$ Contributor
Hi Chuck,
Thanks for your response. I'm currently shooting a 260 Rem. for long range and ATC. I'm getting about 2500-3000 rds of barrel life shooting a 139 Lapua @ 2900fps.with a 30 in. Hart barrel behind 42.5 gr. of H4350.
I'm getting .6-.7 10 shot groups @ 100 yds. ES 16 fps.
The trend seems to be heading to 6mm for ATC and long range shooting. I'm hearing slightly better accuracy. However, I've gotten spoiled with the 260 re: long barrel life. I'm starting to think the potential accuracy increase afforded by the 6mm bore dia. is not worth the loss in barrel life.
If I do decide to chamber for 243 I'll try H4350, H4831sc and IMR 7828ssc. 1-7.5 twist barrel.
Tubb's 6XC has a case capacity of 49 gr. H2O. That should increase barrel life, running 3000fps. with 115's. but my guess is 1500 to 2000rds. max. Apparently with the 6-22-250 your good for 2950fps max with 115's with slighty better barrel life.
I think I may go to a 6BRX. It should run 115's at 2900-2950 out of a 30 in. barrel with even better barrel life than the above cartridges. I'm guessing 2500 rds.
What do you think?
Thanks for your response. I'm currently shooting a 260 Rem. for long range and ATC. I'm getting about 2500-3000 rds of barrel life shooting a 139 Lapua @ 2900fps.with a 30 in. Hart barrel behind 42.5 gr. of H4350.
I'm getting .6-.7 10 shot groups @ 100 yds. ES 16 fps.
The trend seems to be heading to 6mm for ATC and long range shooting. I'm hearing slightly better accuracy. However, I've gotten spoiled with the 260 re: long barrel life. I'm starting to think the potential accuracy increase afforded by the 6mm bore dia. is not worth the loss in barrel life.
If I do decide to chamber for 243 I'll try H4350, H4831sc and IMR 7828ssc. 1-7.5 twist barrel.
Tubb's 6XC has a case capacity of 49 gr. H2O. That should increase barrel life, running 3000fps. with 115's. but my guess is 1500 to 2000rds. max. Apparently with the 6-22-250 your good for 2950fps max with 115's with slighty better barrel life.
I think I may go to a 6BRX. It should run 115's at 2900-2950 out of a 30 in. barrel with even better barrel life than the above cartridges. I'm guessing 2500 rds.
What do you think?
John,
The BRX would be my choice too. A friend of mine is having a new barrel chambered to a 260 as we speak. He is a long time 6.5-284 shooter. His last barrel,get this) went south with a little over 700 rounds down the tube.
I have been thing about a .260 for a long time also.
There are some interesting things being tested with the .243FC.
also a build on Laupas new 6.5 x 47 case necked down to .243 could be the next new great thing.
You ever shoot XTC at Oak ridge or Tullahoma, TN?
Chuck
The BRX would be my choice too. A friend of mine is having a new barrel chambered to a 260 as we speak. He is a long time 6.5-284 shooter. His last barrel,get this) went south with a little over 700 rounds down the tube.
I have been thing about a .260 for a long time also.
There are some interesting things being tested with the .243FC.
also a build on Laupas new 6.5 x 47 case necked down to .243 could be the next new great thing.
You ever shoot XTC at Oak ridge or Tullahoma, TN?
Chuck
Forum Boss
Administrator
I shot a .260 for two years. My best load was 123gr Scenars, H4350 at 2950-2970,depending on temps). I think the 6.5x47 will come very close to that with the 123s.
with the .260, I think the way to go is the AI version so you can get good vels with the 139s.
The question remains--if your max distance is 600 yards, will either round be any better than a std 6BR or a BRX? The .260 does offer better feeding out of an unmodified Rem action however.
with the .260, I think the way to go is the AI version so you can get good vels with the 139s.
The question remains--if your max distance is 600 yards, will either round be any better than a std 6BR or a BRX? The .260 does offer better feeding out of an unmodified Rem action however.
Do you think the 6.5x47 will make a good 1000yd cartridge shooting the 123s???
Like you, I shoot the 260s using the 123s with H4350 and its a tack driver with them. I have shot a lot of the 140s using Varget and had good results. I just am not very happy with barrel life and would like to go to at least 3000 to 4000rds before having to change out barrels.
I loved the 6.5x284s but after a summer my barrel was junk. I am now shooting the 6XC and really like it but from my understanding they go south at around 2000+ rounds too. So I really haven't gained much with it.
I was thinking of a 6.5x55 and using real slow burning powder and pushing the 140s to about my 260 velocities thinking that I may get another 1000 or so rounds out of it over the faster burning 260s.
I will be waiting to see how the 6.5x47 does in both the 6MM and the 6.5s. Thanks for your thoughts!!!!!
Like you, I shoot the 260s using the 123s with H4350 and its a tack driver with them. I have shot a lot of the 140s using Varget and had good results. I just am not very happy with barrel life and would like to go to at least 3000 to 4000rds before having to change out barrels.
I loved the 6.5x284s but after a summer my barrel was junk. I am now shooting the 6XC and really like it but from my understanding they go south at around 2000+ rounds too. So I really haven't gained much with it.
I was thinking of a 6.5x55 and using real slow burning powder and pushing the 140s to about my 260 velocities thinking that I may get another 1000 or so rounds out of it over the faster burning 260s.
I will be waiting to see how the 6.5x47 does in both the 6MM and the 6.5s. Thanks for your thoughts!!!!!
JOHN708
Silver $$ Contributor
Hi Chuck,
I shoot across the course and long range, 600 through 1000yds. at Butner NC. A great range, run by great people.
Regarding my choice of the 260. When running 139 Lapua's at 2850 to 2900fps you don't really give up that much to the 6.5-284 re: wind deflection at 1000yds.Plus, you get approx. double the barrel life.
I'm am currently switching to the 6br for across the course. It's more accurate than the 260 with only a speck more wind drift at 600 yds. I think the feeding problem can be solved. I hope.
John
I shoot across the course and long range, 600 through 1000yds. at Butner NC. A great range, run by great people.
Regarding my choice of the 260. When running 139 Lapua's at 2850 to 2900fps you don't really give up that much to the 6.5-284 re: wind deflection at 1000yds.Plus, you get approx. double the barrel life.
I'm am currently switching to the 6br for across the course. It's more accurate than the 260 with only a speck more wind drift at 600 yds. I think the feeding problem can be solved. I hope.
John
With the 243 and 115's you can get 3000 rounds from a Kreiger barrel every time.
It is all about the powder and cleaning.
Briefly, you need to use a very slow burning powder like H1000 and keep the throat smooth using a compound like JB.
You can look up my other posts regarding the 6mmCompetitionMatch,6CM) cartridge.
It is a big mistake to use H4350 or similar powder. This will shorten the barrel life.
There is no reason to handicap yourself by shooting a "short" cartridge for a perceived few hundred rounds of barrel life. You can shoot he 243, get 3000 fps and still get 3000 rounds out of a barrel. ,my experience is with Kreigers other barrels may yield few rounds, I don't know)
If you want the entire write up contact me at hendricks4@comcast.net.
Joe Hendricks
Hendricks Shooting Improvements
It is all about the powder and cleaning.
Briefly, you need to use a very slow burning powder like H1000 and keep the throat smooth using a compound like JB.
You can look up my other posts regarding the 6mmCompetitionMatch,6CM) cartridge.
It is a big mistake to use H4350 or similar powder. This will shorten the barrel life.
There is no reason to handicap yourself by shooting a "short" cartridge for a perceived few hundred rounds of barrel life. You can shoot he 243, get 3000 fps and still get 3000 rounds out of a barrel. ,my experience is with Kreigers other barrels may yield few rounds, I don't know)
If you want the entire write up contact me at hendricks4@comcast.net.
Joe Hendricks
Hendricks Shooting Improvements
joesr how do you rate vitn560 or n160 for 243 win barrel life shooting the 90 scenars with 46.6g, acuracy is exellent in a 24inch heavy fluted 1 in 10 twist Lrs2 Blaser, but twist to slow for 105 scenars or 115dtacs trying to get 1 in 8 twist barrel in 243 for Blaser, asked a few makers but no joy, Blaser do produce a 1 in 8 twist 6mmbr barrel would it be posible to rechamber it in 243 as i think the extra case capacity would have an edge in 1000y benchrest, i wonder would there be enough freebore left after rechambering for the 115 dtacs, paul T,Ireland.
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