243Win Reload Opinions

[Byrnesy]

Gidday Fellas. My first post here but long time user over on http://www.australianhunting.net/index.php

This is a great site and I have referred to it many times over the years for info on different issues, congrats to all.

But I thought it was time to join the forum and get some more info.

I am building a semi custom 243 Winchester using a Howa varmint barreled action and Boyds stock. And I am wanting some opinions on brass sizing. I have been reloading for over 20 years with plenty of successes but wanting to extend the life of brass that I will use in this rifle. Normally, in my rifles, I neck size till chambering is a bit sticky then full length resize the brass with the FLS die adjusted so the bolt has a slight 'feel' when closing onto the sized brass.

So with greater brass life in mind should I go a bushed die? Currently I am going to use my standard Hornady neck sizer. I intend to to skim neck turn the brass also.

TIA

 

[jcampbellsmith]

Do you anneal your brass? Regards JCS

 

[timeout]

I would anneal the brass and then use a bushing die in order to obtain your desired amount of neck tension.

 

[CatShooter]

I do not shoot formal point-blank benchrest anymore, so easy, fast reloading/chambering is not required by me.

That being said... I neck size using a Redding Bushing die.

IF the case gets tight enough that closing the bolt takes more effort than the shooting discipline allows, I FL size just enough to allow the bolt to close with a little effort. I typically get 40+ reloads from a case, and this is not unusual - other shooters that use the same protocol get more than that.

 

[Forum Boss]

Recommend a tool that allows you to measure your actual case length to the shoulder and then set your shoulder bump with precision. Once you have established the neck tension that your rifle and load like, you may also benefit from a full-length die with a honed (non-bushing) neck. This is a very simple solution that allows body sizing, shoulder-bumping, and neck reduction in one step, with one die.

 

[searcher]

For best accuracy and long brass life, follow the advice of all three preceeding posts. As for long life of the brass alone, as long as you anneal your brass regularly, you can keep your current sizing die with no appreciable loss in longevity. By skimming the necks, as you planned to do, you can bring your tension down to what is normally considered a more desirable level and obtaining the neck uniformity you want. If you run your fireformed and loaded ammo over a concentricity guage and things are looking good - no reason to buy another die until you want to control the amount of tension without having to turn the neck.

 

[Byrnesy]

I havent annealed my brass in the past but that is mainly due to the nature of my hunting; not many shots fired. This rifle will see far more rounds through it so obviously more reloads hence the question.

So from the replies I am gathering that do the proper brass prep with the gear I have and then determine how much necking my rifle will require and then get either a bush die or FLS with honed neck.

Thanks