243AI with 105 A-max load question

[montana_native]

I was browsing Reloader's Nest today and noticed a lot of people are using slower powders like RL22 and Retumbo with a heavy bullet with good velocity.

I am running a 28" barrel using H4350 and H414. My velocity is around 3100 fps with the most accurate loads so it seems like I am giving up 100-150 fps.

Might it be worth the time to try some Retumbo or should I leave well-enough alone?

Thanks.

 

[LWolken]

I run about 43grs of RL22 and it gives me 3200-3250 in my 1-9" twist Hart. I have seen alot of guys post higher loads but I'd start around 41-42 and work up from there. This is with Lapua Brass. I as able to get up to 3450fps with 45grs of RL22 out of a 30" pipe. They didn't shoot very well at those speeds and it was pretty hard on my brass.

Lance

 

[cmillard]

sorry to get off subject, but what are you guys getting for barrel life on this bullet/powder combo? or if you have measured you throught lately.

 

[LWolken]

I have a 1-9" Hart That has seen over 2500+ rds and still shoots good. I did have the chamber touched up about a year ago and its seen another 600 rds since then. I'm not a competitive shooter or anything but it still shoots good enough. I bought a barrel for it two years ago and have not had it installed. Don't subscribe to the barrel life you see on forums from what I can tell its much longer.

Lance

 

[oneflyer]

The anecdotal stories about barrel life of this round are all over the place. I think that barrel life varies by shooting style. Occasionally lobbing a round at a varmint is much different than sighting and shooting at a BR match where barrels have little chance to cool down much less recover from the hot loads that are shot. I have a 243AI that I shoot competitively and I expect no more than 700 rounds out that barrel. I think that is the current school of thought. The cost of the barrel, smith work, cost of reloading components equals about a buck a shot.

 

[LWolken]

Firing over 400rds in day doesn't compare to shooting a match? What kind of matches are you shooting? All I'm concerned with is; Will it shoot one minute of dog? When you pull that pipe at 700rds send me a PM I'll take it off your hands.

Lance

 

[mbianchini]

My favorite 243 Ackley powder is Reloader 25. Have tried about every slow powder from H-4831 to H-1000 and find R-25 gives me the best results. I load 105gr A-Max's with 47.0gr of Reloader 25 for my Krieger 8" twist barrels, a little more powder with the Lilja 8" twist 3-grooves. The Lilja load runs 3302 fps, with a 3.229" OAL. Cases are neck-turned fireformed Lapua .243 Winchester brass and Federal 210-M's
My Barrels are 29'' and 30" and chronograph using Oehler P-35 at around 70 to 80 degrees. I shot the same load here in Western PA this winter at about 35 degrees and was only getting about 3283 fps with 47.0gr

 

[montana_native]

That is one thing I didn't include in my original post was the OAL of the cartridge. At 2.805" I am 0.005" off the lands. It's got very little free bore so I have to seat the bullets fairly deep.

Thanks for the discussion so far.