Help with 243 src

[CJC]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum but have been watching for a while ( and learning)
now its time for me to ask the advice of the people that know what their doing.

short story- i bought several rifles from a deceased estate.
-one being a decent looking semi custom,
-03-A3 Remington action , bolt has been modified and firing pin rod lightened.
- GR Douglas barrel, bore and throat look good ( at least to me)
- here's issue,, caliber - 243 super rock chucker

i know what it is (kind of)
research shows i can use 25-06 0r 270 win brass,, no problem, and use load data for 240 wby or similar

** issue is i can not find reloading dies for the 243src, no seating dies, neck sizer , FL dies .

does any one have any advice on where to buy, or if there is a trick to reloading this with another die.
i know i can go custom die, but all companies i talk to want , 3 fired cases ( which i don't have/cant load) or the reamer that was used. no idea what reamer was used.

please educate me, or give me advice to what would be best, rebarrel, rechamber, use as golf club.
i have several reloading presses, but limited experience loading anything except pretty standard calibers that i can look up in any manual

Thank you
Cody

 

[SeabeeKen]

Never heard of it. Can you run the cases into a 6mm Rem die far enough to create a false shoulder for firing which will give you your fired cases for a die? Seating is no issue, a Frankford arsenal universal seating die will work for you. If it were me, I would have it rebarreled to something easier to work with. If you do get it shooting, the barrel life will likely be short and if thats the case, you are wasting time and money. JMO.

Welcome to the site

 

[10XSHOOTER]

If you have 3 fired cases. Send them to Whidden and they will make you a die.

 

[Loggins J]

I know some guys that shoot a 6mm 06 they call it 6mm rock chucker it is basically a 06 case necked down most of them use 25/06 brass they say you can use 270 and 30/06 brass but you have to trim them I would recommend if you can get a 06 head shape gages try to see if they fit I would say about any gun smith would have the go and no go gages if that’s what it is you can use any 25/06 bushing die to size your brass

 

[CJC]

From what i looked up it is very close to a 6mm-06, but i was told the dies for it would not be correct.

- as far as trying to load with 6mm dies, i thought about that, using 25-06 brass.
im just not 100% sure on case true case length, or how far to put my shoulder back to even try to fire form a few cases to send off.

im thanking of trying to do a chamber casting with cerrosafe ( spelling) , do yall thank that would get me close enough to measurements to try and match some dies to at least load a few rounds to fireform ?

As far as the " head shape gauges" is that the same chamber gauges? if so my 25-06 go-gauge will not let the bolt close. i believe the shoulder is hitting in the chamber/barrel throat

i seen a " wild catters" reloading manual online, i am going to order it and see if it has this caliber in it.
RCBS used to sell this dies , but now do not and will not custom make them.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

From 2007, from member Cheechako. It should if this is correct, be possible to form some cases and fireform them to the chamber.

"The 243 Rockchucker was a wildcat from the 1940s-1950s made from the 257 Roberts case with a 32 degree shoulder. From the name it's easy to guess that it was the child of Fred Huntington. For some reason Remington went with the 26 degree shoulder when they brought out the 244 Remington and that pretty much was the end of the Rockchucker. There was also a Super Rockchucker with a 45 degree shoulder. "

 

[R&B]

This was a wildcat cartridge developed by Fred Huntington of RCBS fame. The 243 Rock Chucker is basically a 7 x 57 Mauser wildcat like the 257 Roberts and .244 or 6mm Remington. You can find 6mm Remington brass around if you look. Hornady and PPU still make it. You can even find some on Gun Broker Dot Com just be careful as they seem to think this stuff is made of gold. The same goes for 7 x 57 and 257 Roberts brass. I even found some 6.5 x 57 RWS brass a while back. I use all of these to form 6mm Remington brass. It is not to difficult you just need to take your time. Once you have some fired brass from the chamber you can send them off to have a custom dies made by Whidden, Hornaday, Redding and others. This is not cheap to do so you will have to decide if it is worth it to you. I enjoy shooting some of the cool forgotten old cartridges so I take the time to figure things out. It is fun and you learn things along the way.



Below is the 244 Rem. or 6mm Remington


There are plenty of people here on the form with information and insight. The other option is to find a knowledgeable competent gunsmith in your area or online. The reamer and die makers can also be a great help as well. You should also check E-bay from time to time to find old dies sets as well.

Good luck and I'm sure you'll figure it.

R&B

 

[CJC]

This is some of the same info i found,
i can actually find 243 rock chucker loaded ammo, dies and actually correct stamped brass.

as far as 243 super rock chucker- nothing ( except for stuff that has already sold or says discontinued/backordered)

but i thank we may be headed in the right direction,
- i have some once fired 25-06 brass
- i have some 243/6mm bullets
-looking at replies, it seems the 243 src uses a 45 degree shoulder , so if i can find a die close to that that will fit the 25-06 case i should be able to fire form some cases ( ANY IDEAS ON WHAT DIES WOULD WORK)?
- use load date for 240 wby for powder ( according to a few sources)

- i need to determine also if my cases need to be trimmed, how far to set back my shoulders, and will have to resize the 25-0 brass to the 243/6mm bullet ( somehow without a sizing die ( universal sizer with bushings?)

Am i on the right track guys?

 

[WAMBO]

Maybe try a 25/06 Ackley Improved full length bushing die and use a 6mm size bushing that will size the necks of your fired brass to the dimension you need.

 

[CJC]

any one know the best way to find case length or at least where shoulder angle needs to start for the 243 src.

im thanking of trying the 25-06 AI dies to make the shoulder.
then find a bushing die neck sizer to try to make enough fired cases to send to a die maker.

is a chamber casting going to be my best bet for these measurements?

im sure there are still gonna be issues as to do cases need to be neck trimmed, neck thickness, making sure its eccentric etc but i have to start somewhere.

thank you for everyone that has offered advice and ideas

 

[Lee in Texas]

Did this ever get resolved? I’m asking because I saw this

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I had never heard of the Super Rock Chucker, so I did some searching and found this post. I’m sure the guy from Facebook could help. Handloader magazine had a cover story on the 6mm-‘06 in the August 2020 issue.

 

[Lee in Texas]

The Facebook link requires a sign-in. It’s from a guy named Paul Hilfiger in the Wildcat Cartridges group.

 

[PWH]

The Facebook link requires a sign-in. It’s from a guy named Paul Hilfiger in the Wildcat Cartridges group.

I have 243 super rock chucker dies fired ammo and a newly barreled rifle from Douglas barrels so if I can help just ask

 

[PWH]

Hello,
I'm new to the forum but have been watching for a while ( and learning)
now its time for me to ask the advice of the people that know what their doing.

short story- i bought several rifles from a deceased estate.
-one being a decent looking semi custom,
-03-A3 Remington action , bolt has been modified and firing pin rod lightened.
- GR Douglas barrel, bore and throat look good ( at least to me)
- here's issue,, caliber - 243 super rock chucker

i know what it is (kind of)
research shows i can use 25-06 0r 270 win brass,, no problem, and use load data for 240 wby or similar

** issue is i can not find reloading dies for the 243src, no seating dies, neck sizer , FL dies .

does any one have any advice on where to buy, or if there is a trick to reloading this with another die.
i know i can go custom die, but all companies i talk to want , 3 fired cases ( which i don't have/cant load) or the reamer that was used. no idea what reamer was used.

please educate me, or give me advice to what would be best, rebarrel, rechamber, use as golf club.
i have several reloading presses, but limited experience loading anything except pretty standard calibers that i can look up in any manual

Thank you
Cody

Hello Cody I have fired cases if you still need them hopefully you get this it took me awhile to find dies

 

[CJC]

PWH ,

3 months later i check my messages and forum. been busy at shop and farm.

I still have not gotten any dies made or brass made up, I sent you a pm message back. hopefully you will recieve it
Thank you

 

[limpy]

This is some of the same info i found,
i can actually find 243 rock chucker loaded ammo, dies and actually correct stamped brass.

as far as 243 super rock chucker- nothing ( except for stuff that has already sold or says discontinued/backordered)

but i thank we may be headed in the right direction,
- i have some once fired 25-06 brass
- i have some 243/6mm bullets
-looking at replies, it seems the 243 src uses a 45 degree shoulder , so if i can find a die close to that that will fit the 25-06 case i should be able to fire form some cases ( ANY IDEAS ON WHAT DIES WOULD WORK)?
- use load date for 240 wby for powder ( according to a few sources)

- i need to determine also if my cases need to be trimmed, how far to set back my shoulders, and will have to resize the 25-0 brass to the 243/6mm bullet ( somehow without a sizing die ( universal sizer with bushings?)

Am i on the right track guys?

243 src that i have is 28 degree shoulder.

 

[CJC]

243 src that i have is 28 degree shoulder.

Limpy,
You are correct , ( looking at 4d reamers website their reamer sheet says 28 degrees)
I thank I just pulled from what someone had previous said in a reply.
One day I’m gonna have the time to chamber cast this thing to check everything out.
- I really want to get something loaded for it and try it out, and get something fired rounds to try and get some dies made.
For the last 3 months tractor company has had me from Texas, California, Pennsylvania and now in Canada.
I just want to get home and try to do a little shooting and reloading.
If you have any information on reloading, sizing, trimming 25-06 shells to load in this 243 src so I can get the die maker some fired brass I would greatly appreciate any advice or help

Thank you

 

[ebb]

If 4D reamers has a spec sheet, wouldn't that be all that was needed to have a set of dies made?

 

[CJC]

What I was told by the die makers was that it needed to be a “ spec sheet” from the original reamer. I’m not sure how much difference it would be between different manufacturers.
I know it’s a Douglas barrel , but unknown of what brand of reamer was used to finish it.

Y’all know a lot more about this than I do, so I’m here for advice and any suggestions

 

[treekiller1]

This is some of the same info i found,
i can actually find 243 rock chucker loaded ammo, dies and actually correct stamped brass.

as far as 243 super rock chucker- nothing ( except for stuff that has already sold or says discontinued/backordered)

but i thank we may be headed in the right direction,
- i have some once fired 25-06 brass
- i have some 243/6mm bullets
-looking at replies, it seems the 243 src uses a 45 degree shoulder , so if i can find a die close to that that will fit the 25-06 case i should be able to fire form some cases ( ANY IDEAS ON WHAT DIES WOULD WORK)?
- use load date for 240 wby for powder ( according to a few sources)

- i need to determine also if my cases need to be trimmed, how far to set back my shoulders, and will have to resize the 25-0 brass to the 243/6mm bullet ( somehow without a sizing die ( universal sizer with bushings?)

Am i on the right track guys?

CJC while reading your post on the 243 rock chucker. I noticed you had said you found ammo for this gun. Would you please let me know where you found it. Your help would greatly be appreciated .Thanks