243 slow speeds

[Hoier]

I finally got out and chronoed my 243 and it is really slow. The gun is a Remington varmint in a 243 with a 26in barrel. The load is 44.1gr of h4831sc under a 105 amax. But I am only getting 2850. Am I right thinking this way on the slow side? The chrono is working good I clocked my 6br to check.

 

[Terry]

Reloader 22 41.7 WLR 100 Sierra SPBT 2950 fps Alliant Factory Max. 2.70″ COAL.
H1000 46.0 CCI BR2 107 SMK 2890 fps Short-Range Accuracy Load
H4350 37.4 CCI BR2 107 SMK 2986 fps CW2′s Acc. Load–just off lands.

These are from this site under 243.

I don't think your loads are too slow.

 

[Hoier]

Thanks Terry.

I guess I'm gonna rebarrel to maybe a 6x47. The 243 isn't worth having if my 6br with 2/3s the powder can match it.

 

[itchyTF]

You could blow it out to an AI. I get around 3,125 with 43.7gr of H4350 and a 105 A-Max out of a 25" barrel.

 

[langenc]

Im using RL 15-36 gr and Rem Corelokts--only 80 gr and I guesstimate them at 2950.

Barrel is 22 or 24-Sako Forester. When you jump to the 105s that takes quite a bit.

My loads are not hot. I could go fo another 150' for sure. Id rather have a little more accuracy and less recoil. I dont seem to get max accuracy in any HOT load.

 

[Hoier]

It's not shooting great but I am getting about 3/4" and it's a factory barrel. So the accuracy is there for my needs.

 

[smoooth]

If it is speed you seek, drop down to 70gr SMK or Ballistic tips, but that depends on what you plan to do with it and how far off that is?

Another plan would be to shoot hBn coated bullets or moly coated for FPS gains.

Good luck!

 

[boltgunluvr]

IMR 4350 or H4350 are still king in that bullet weight. H4831 is great when going to 115. The other poster is correct. If you need speed, go to lighter bullet. Even the 95 SMK loves a conservative 40.5 gr of H4350. Groups open up when run hotter......in my Rem 700 SPS Varmint.

 

[Hoier]

I'm trying not to get into my h4350 since it's so tough to get and I use it in my 6.5x47. I could go beat my dad up and take his IMR 4350 though. Haha

 

[boltgunluvr]

ok....gotcha....same here. I shoot it sparingly. I have better accuracy with IMR4350. H4350 is good but IMR is better for my rifle. I am aware of the temp sensitive issue but I think it's over-hyped a bit. Classic powder for a classic cartridge and classics never go out of style.

 

[243DH]

I think u got a sloow barrel. I have a 28" LW that shoots 105 vld-h with 43.0 gr h4831sc@3040. 26" brux that shoots 105vld-h with 43.5gr h4831sc@3025. 24" criterion that shoots 105 vld-h with 42.0 gr h4350@3125. And last a 25.5 Krieger that shoots 107 smk with 42.5 gr h4350 @3090 & 42.0 gr imr4350@3060. The 24" got switched to 44.5 gr of h4831sc@3025 when my h4350 got down to 8 lbs. The 25.5 Krieger got switched over to imr4350 at the same time. I got 10 lbs of imr4350 still and 20 ish lbs of h4831sc. As luck would have it all the h4350 i BO came in stock within a week of each other. Now i got about 35 lbs of it. It took 11 months but i got it. The downside is i got some different powders to burn up before i start back with h4350. All velocities are confirmed at ranges up to 1200 yds.

 

[polebilly]

You may get lucky and get a fast barrel, but my experience with the .243 has been that it's a very overbore case and velocities of over 3000 fps with 105-107 bullets is not the norm.

 

[Hoier]

Yeah I was not happy seeing the numbers. My 6br is 10fps faster with 15ish grains less powder. My dasher ran 3050with 12gr less. I just wish I could get one of those to feed good.

 

[243DH]

No offense polebilly but ur experience with 243 must be very limited. The reason alot of tac matches went to a 3100 fps speed limit is the 243. Hard on targets and competition. 3200 is attainable, several guys get that. I have gotten close, with good accuracy. With 3050-3125 fps it shoots flatter then anything i have in the safe. So i run them in that range to save wear abnd tear on barrels.

 

[Raythemanroe]

My .243 stabilizes 115g Berger vld's and is pushing them comfortably at 2995 fps.

 

[boltgunluvr]

Dashers and BRs and AIs sound sexy.... but the beloved 243 Win is so reliable and can function on an AR platform and never miss a beat. Lets see the others try that and be successful. NOT HAPPENING! I've never had success with any powder burning slower than 4350...H or IMR. However, I'm shooting poor man factory barrels to be fair about it. And I load according to accuracy, not speed. Heck, I had great results with 107 SMK using 4350...H & IMR. How are others' results with 4831, 1000, Hybrid, etc.....with bullets over 100 grains?

 

[LKEYES]

You should try mag primers, my smith suggested it and wow, they made a huge difference.
48.5 of Retumbo and 105 VLD are going 3054' with my factory Remington varmint barrel, shoots inside of 1/2" MOA all day long too.

This is JMHO

 

[KDF]

You should try mag primers, my smith suggested it and wow, they made a huge difference.
48.5 of Retumbo and 105 VLD are going 3054' with my factory Remington varmint barrel, shoots inside of 1/2" MOA all day long too.

This is JMHO

Good suggestion... or at least try some Retumbo even if you don't try mag primers.

I shoot the 105 A-Max's in a 26" factory 700 in .243 - they hit 3000fps with 48gr Retumbo & 210M's without really pushing it. They would go faster, but that's where my accuracy is. I'm betting you might find happiness somewhere in the 47-49gr range depending on your rifle and powder lot.

Good luck!

 

[boltgunluvr]

I tried mag primers....and with H1000.....and with Retumbo......I must have a slow barrel. 40.5gr of H4350 is the magic for my Rem 700(s).....using 95gr SMK.

 

[savagedasher]

I finally got out and chronoed my 243 and it is really slow. The gun is a Remington varmint in a 243 with a 26in barrel. The load is 44.1gr of h4831sc under a 105 amax. But I am only getting 2850. Am I right thinking this way on the slow side? The chrono is working good I clocked my 6br to check.

You left out two big parts what is the H20 water capacity of the cases and OAL length. Both have a bearing on the numbers There can be as much as 3 gr different in case capacity seating depth can make close to 1 gr difference. Larry