243 Ackley Improved - Reloader 26, 105 gr. Berger, 115 gr. Berger, Lapua Brass. - Your fire-form loads (provided they are a good stiff 243 Win. "standard" load) should also provide very good accuracy & still achieve normal 243 Win. velocities. - I used Reloader 23 & 105 gr. Berger hybrids just off the lands during fire-forming. - Had no trouble getting .3 to .4 five shoot groups at 100. - Then up to RE-26 for the A.I. formed cases.
Case life in an A.I. cartridge in my experience is about the same as the normal factory derived round - Given that both are run under the same/similar pressures. - Case life in it's self is highly dependent on "us" the reloader and how hard we "push" things from the operating pressure standpoint.
I agree with everything you're saying, especially the fact that the 40 degree shoulder significanyly reduces the need to trim brass. The reason for my comment regarding brass life is simple, a lot of people use the new additional case volume to increase their loads and velocity. I myself have two AI's and both are run hot.
If an AI version is run at the same pressure as the parent case I doubt case life will change at all.
No worries, just wondering if I missed something. I like AI cases in just about every flavor so if I could make them last without giving up the extra speed, I would!
I also have a few that I enjoy shooting. - The "Brass Case" in itself is one of our "limiting factors" and I didn't mean to get the thread off track with my input on it.
The Hornady BTHP Match 105 gr. shoots very well for me, too. I load this one for steel matches and local stuff but I wouldn't feel terribly handicapped with these in the ammo box v. Berger Hybrids. The Bergers shoot a little tighter, especially at extended ranges, but the difference is well within what I can hold on most days.
All I can say is that this bullet out of my .243 AI has beat a whole bunch of folks loading Bergers, Lapua Scenars, Sierra SMKs and the like. My .243 AI has not yet come in second to any rifle in these parts in any course of fire and its every day diet is a 105 Hornady BTHP in front of a stiff charge of RL-26. I've shot a clean score or ten at paint ball golf at my local range - that's popping 9 paint balls at 100 yards with 9 shots - with this bullet. Paint balls are 1/2" in diameter and a challenging target at 100. Try it some time. An experienced BR score shooter with an expensive, purpose-built gun might scoff at the challenge, but your average F/FT R shooter may find it difficult to pop 9 straight at 100 with his/her comp rig.
That's kinda the impression I was getting from the old timers that was willing to help me choose.
