.243 Win . . . . lots of questions

[songdogslayer]

Hi folks,
I'm pretty new to this forum - but I've been shooting one kind of firearm or another since I was seven years old. Anyhow, I have a new Savage Model 12 Low Profile .243 with 1 : 9.25 twist. It's sitting on a Choate Ultimate Varmint stock and topping it off is the Horus Vision Predator with H-70 Reticle. I just started reloading a few weeks ago and, after putting together a couple hundred rounds, I stumbled upon an article about neck turning . . . have never heard anything about neck turning,I've reloaded with an uncle for the past several years - mostly .223 Rem). Anyway, I'd like as much "beginner" information as I can get regarding neck turning. I've done extensive reading in here, as well as on Varmint Al's site . . . still seeing a lot of terms with which I'm not familiar. Finally, can anyone give me the go / no go on Varget with 105 gr AMAX? Any load suggestions here? I read in the Hornady reloading manual that Varget gave best overall results, but then they don't show a varget load for their 105 gr AMAX!

I believe my rig has the potential for 600+ yard shots on prairie dogs . . . and with some help from the experienced reloaders in here I hope to meet and exceed that goal.

All the best!
~Scott

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

Scott,
I don't think that I'd get involved with turning the case necks on your .243 with its factory chamber. Factory chambers are notoriously oversize, and removing material from your case necks will only serve to increase your neck clearance, which is a bad thing. JMHO

Hodgdon shows Varget loads ranging from 31.0 to 33.0 grains using a 105 A-Max bullet so you should be good to go, but they're getting over 200 fps higher velocities with Retumbo, and close to that with H1000. Re25 might also be a better choice. All you can do is to experiment with them.

Good luck!

 

[dgc940]

What about turning just enough to clean up necks?
I have heard varying opinions on this. But I also heard David Tubb say it is a good thing even in factory rifles and we all know how well he shoots!

 

[Spotcheck_Billy]

What about turning just enough to clean up necks?
I have heard varying opinions on this. But I also heard David Tubb say it is a good thing even in factory rifles and we all know how well he shoots!

I think that the key as to whether or not to turn case necks that are going to be fired in a factory barrel is the quality of the brass in question. If you've got brass that has significant variations in wall thickness at the neck it might be wise to turn the necks.

On the other hand, I'd prefer to find higher quality brass

If at all possible!

 

[songdogslayer]

Thank you for the replies, folks. I bought a few hundred pieces of Graf & Son brass and I've been having problems with the necks cracking. New brass, first load and cracks in about 3% of the necks . . . not happy about that, but whatdya' do? I'll purchase some Winchester brass next and try that. I have about a half dozen prairie dog shoots this year, so I'll be busy. If anyone knows anything special about loading for the Savage Model 12 Low Profile in .243 {1:9.25 twist} please share your information with me.
All the best,
~Scott

 

[Varminator]

Scott,
I neck turn everything. But do not be fooled into thinking that it is required for accuracy. If you have a barrel that has been reamed to a smaller than normal neck size it is required for release of the bullet to avoid major pressure excursions. In the case of a stock Remington 700 barrel that I have the standard Lapua Brass is the hot setup with about .003 clearance with a bullet in place, that is only .0015 per side still pretty tight. What I do after typically a couple fire forms,mainly because the .243 stretches like rubber) is trim.size, and neck turn,just a clean up) then shoot until you need to replace the brass. Many benchers buy reamers with tight necks and then neck turn the brass to match with just enough clearance for bullet release, this is the accuracy game. I have a Dasher that has a .270 neck and will shoot standard Lapua 6BR with no "real" problems except that "some" Lapua brass is a little thicker at the neck .272 is considered a no turn chamber so I clean up all fire forms after they are formed, the ones I loose,split at the shoulder) very well may be too tight.
MM

 

[BoydHeaton]

48.5 to 49.5 gr of retumbo with a 105 a-max.....All kills on this video were made with a savage m12 in 243...A few over 900 yards
Click here to watch trent-video-final-0002

 

[AckleymanII]

BEWARE!!!! If you are having necks crack on the first firing, that is an indication of a large neck dia in your chamber, and neck turning would only make the cracking worse!

Instead of wasting your money on neck turning, save your money for a custom barrel.

I neck turn for a lot of cartridges.