.243 Win. to 243 AI Upgrade

[MDHOGGER]

I have a Savage M12 BVSS in 243 Win now with about 1500 rounds thru the barrel. I have already bought a 6AI barrel for it which I use for long range groundhog shooting. I don't want to use this barrel when I go prairie dogging twice a year to the tune of 500 to 600 rounds.

I presently have 700 243 Winchester brand cases that have been fired two to three times each. Can I use these if I get a 243 AI barrel. In others words will they need to be annealed somtime early in the process or are they still relatively unworked as far as brass goes? I also plan to use the 75 V- Max which twist would be the prefered rate to use? Thanks ahead for any comments.

 

[treeman]

you'll have a much higher sucsess rate if you anneal the neck and shoulder of your casses. I had a 243 at one time that i shot quite a bit and when the necks started to split, after about 6-7 fireings) i annealed them and never had any more splits due to hard brass for the life of the casses. hope this helps. by the way be sure the 243 cases fit snug in the chamber for fire forming so you don't stretch them.______treeman

 

[Sendero_man]

you can stay with factory twist for your bullet choice.

I personally run the 1 in 8 twist in my 243AI. It enables you to shoot the heavier, higher BC bullets.

 

[MDHOGGER]

When would be the best time to anneal in this situation? Fire form the cases then anneal or anneal first then fire form. Remembering that these cases have already been fired two to three times each.