H1000 in 243 Win

[chuckles]

Hello:

I recently barreled a M70 action (yeah old school) with a new Broughton barrel. The caliber is 243 Win. I am going to work up some loads for long range shooting. I read on this website that the slow powders like H1000 can give better barrel life. But is this fact or just opinion? My buddy told me that I should try H 4350 with this cartridge and 107 gr sierra- he claims that this powder is better suited for the 243 win/107 gr.
I tried plugging in H1000 load (46-47 gr) into the barrel life calculator but the result (1700 rounds) din't seem a lot better than 4350.

Thanks,
Chuck

 

[jonbearman]

I would look at h4831 or imr3031.I ran 105 gr speer round nose for hunting and used h4831(from wwII) hodgdon surplus and actually have alittle left and I covet the stuff.Anyways I have tried other slow powders like the older winchester wrm powder.It worked fair but not compared to h4831. I also used it for the 75gr hp's that I had laying around from winchester and shot ragged holes at a hundred yards.This was done with a mossberg model 800BV.It had a barrel with almost a straight taper.That gun shot great and passed it on to a friend.I hope this gives you lots to think about.The other thing I would do is buy the sierra book and they list the accuracy load for that particular bullet.I have tried some of these suggested accuracy loads and they work.The other book I love is Ken Waters pet loads book with the new update printed in it.It is like the bible for reloading.You can get Kens book from many sources including midway and brownells.Best money I have ever spent.

 

[fullersson]

I love H1000 in a .243 win. 46 grains of H1000 with 105 custom competition Nosler BT .040 jam into the lands shot great in my gun. This load worked really well for me, but don't just jump on this load work up too it and make sure it's not going to give you any problems. You shouldn't have a problem with it because H1000 is so slow even at 49 grains (compressed) I was just beginning to see a slight pressure sign. 42.5 or 43 grains N160 is a faster powder that seems to work well also especially with the 105 VLD Bergers. Read the .243 win info section on 6mmbr.com, that is where I got this load from. As far as barrel life goes the .243 win is a barrel burner and there isn't much that can be done about that. The barrel life is the reason I'm chambering a Kreiger I just got in 6br and I would suggest that if you are worried about barrel life maybe you should look into a different caliber. Hope this helps.

 

[Raptor]

I used the 46gr load in my 243XC or LR whatever the guys are calling it now and I took the barrel off at around 2800rds and it was still shooting under moa at 600 but was opening up at 1000yds.

My load was 46grs of H1000. I didn't shoot it in competition so I don't know how well it would do it you got it hot all the time.

 

[fullersson]

In defense of the .243 win my barrel life was made short because of a very aggressive cleaning routine (too aggressive). In any case as far as very accurate shooting goes the barrel life is fairly short compared to some other cartridges. Raptor is probably right, I understand the modified versions of the .243 win should have better barrel life. I'm going to modify my cleaning program so as not too waste any more good barrels.

 

[ebb]

I heard that shooting slower powders will get longer barrel life also. I thought i would find out if it was true and called Hodgdon powders. After a very long time on hold i got to talk to a guy that said he was an engineer, he said if the powder is burning slower and longer how could a barrel last longer. He further stated dont belive every thing you read on the internet. Dont belive me either call Hodgdon! The benchrest guys have been making this same claim for years, they say 6ppc barrels last longer with slower powders.

 

[Raptor]

Barrel life will be directly related to how you shoot your rifle. If you never get it hot during your shooting sessions it will last a lot longer then if you shoot one for competition where rapid fire strings are comon place. If you only use for hunting it will last you a life time. ;D

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've got over 2400 rounds down my first 6CM and at 600 and 800 yards it still shoots under 1/2 MOA. 115 DTAC and H1000 is all I shoot. I've seen .243's shoot H1000 real well out to 1000 yards.

 

[JohnnyJohnson]

Another powder you may consider that I've had very good results with is IMR 7828.

 

[JOHN708]

My understanding is the guys who are getting great barrel life out of their 243's with H-1000 are also getting their barrels treated. This would invalidate the claim that the great barrel life is all powder related.

John Skowron

 

[normmatzen]

I, too, have been using 46 gr of H1000 behind 107 SMK's and 0.040jump. This is a good node for my barrel and I have shot 600 yd and 1000 yd competition with it.

I recently tried RL-17 as I have a bunch of guns using it, but I think I will go back to H1000 as Quickload shows much lower heat generation with H1000 and it is more efficient than RL-17.

 

[Dgd6mm]

H-1000 does give better barrel life to a .243. I also can understand a .243 getting great barrel life after having MMI Trutec treat it. Back in August we had 6 barrels of various calibers treated. 2 of them were .243's, time will tell. My 6CM that is not treated gets 20 - 30 shot strings ran thru it once in a while, and an occasional F-Class shoot. Still going strong. 2 things work together better then 1.

 

[jeepman123]

I am shooting a E aurthur Brown 243 1 in 8 105 berger 43 h1000 the best group I can get is 1.25 the gun should do better than this can anyone help . I have tried 43 44 45 all shoot the same or even larger

 

[normmatzen]

How long is your barrel? My 243 with 28" barrel and 1 in 8 likes close to 2900 fps.

There is a node for 28" barrels at about 44.5 gr, 42.7 gr and 46.0 gr.

My gun runs great at 46.0 gr, but approach this slowly in your gun!

 

[jeepman123]

my barrel is a 26 in . I went out shooting today great day used a lead sled with the 243win 43 gr h1000 105gr Berger shot a 4 shot group of .489 . This was with the last group it didn't seem to shoot well till it got warmed up !!!! is this normal ?

 

[trailrider121]

I used 105 vld .050" off lands,46gr H1000,cci-250, and was getting 2850 fps with 26" barrel. I continued to work pass the 46grs which is over listed book max. I ended up with 47.5grs way over book max, and still no sign of pressure, now getting 2999 avg speed with 10 shots and shoots awesome.

 

[Dgd6mm]

trailrider we have done this same thing with 105's and H-1000 up tp 47.5 with a 28 inch barrel. Results were similar, no pressure issues and speed was over 3000 fps, accuracy was good for longrange Tac shooting.

 

[Gundog64]

My understanding is the guys who are getting great barrel life out of their 243's with H-1000 are also getting their barrels treated. This would invalidate the claim that the great barrel life is all powder related.

John Skowron

That is a fairly broad statement.

My 6CM barrel is not treated and it is doing fine still at 2500 rds. A bit of firecracking but still shooting 1/2 MOA if I do my part. All I run is H1000.

 

[JOHN708]

Then if would have to be either the powder or the case geometry or both.

John Skowron

 

[Dgd6mm]

I have over 3500 rounds down my 6CM. at 3430 rounds I put it on paper. 850 yards, 5 shot group, just under 6 inch. This was of my bipod, 5-20 SS scope. I know if I were to pull off the bipod and put it in my mechanical rest with my 12-42x56 N.F. BR I would tighting it up. I bore scoped it at 3518 which is the current round count. The bore is in good enough shape and still shooting good enough to go another 1000 rounds. I RUN THIS THING HARD. I have another barrel ready to go right now.... This barrel is not treated, but the new 1 is.... This is not a .243, but it has been shot with nothing but H-1000.

6MM Competition Match - Joe Hendrick's Design