In Need of Schooling-243Win or 243AI

[Bully]

Howdy.
Here's my story...
I am currently shooting and enjoying a Savage M10 with a CBI prefit barrel in 6.5x47Lapua. The gun is accurate enough and a lot of fun to shoot. I have roughly 1600 rounds thru it. I'm running 130's with Varget and hammer steel to 750 (the furthest I've been able to shoot) and it does well on paper. I like it. But, I'm hankering for a change. SOOOOO, I started to take a look at .243W. I have a buddy that shoots a .243 and he crushes most at local, mostly informal comps. I like the little additional speed I'll get and the fact that, if need be, ammo is available from store shelves. But mostly I just want to change it up.

I'm betwixt and between the .243W and .243AI and am wondering what the good and bad points are for each? Also, if anyone has suggestions for loadings that would be a bonus.
I will be building off either a 1:7 or 1:7.5, 24-26" long barrel and my Savage that I will have hard fitted. I'm looking to shoot 110 or 115gn bullets at slightly higher than average speed. Rifle will be used for paper at 300yards 99% of it's life but will get stretched out to 750yards and hopefully 1k+ at some point.

Thanks in advance.

 

[Bully]

Neither........6X47 Lapua.......

I'm going to do a 243 or 243AI.

 

[Larryh128]

I'm going to do a 243 or 243AI.

Go with the Ackley. Much easier on brass , a little more velocity. And you can still shoot 243 in it if you want to. I've had a lot of ackleys and have never regretted one of them. Actually all of them have been very accurate.

 

[Bully]

Go with the Ackley. Much easier on brass , a little more velocity. And you can still shoot 243 in it if you want to. I've had a lot of ackleys and have never regretted one of them. Actually all of them have been very accurate.

What bullets are you shooting and what powders are you using with them? Any chance you're shooting heavies?

 

[JLT]

I'd go with the AI chamber. Fire forming is a breeze, you get a decent increase in capacity for more velocity if you want/need it, the brass doesn't stretch and dies are readily available. I love my AIs - they're accurate, the extra velocity is great and I hate trimming brass . . .

BTW, I have no problems getting a 105 to 3,300 fps+ with RL-26.

 

[JRS]

Go to the main page and click on 243 Win.

 

[Bully]

Go to the main page and click on 243 Win.

Been there done that and skipped the temporary tattoo.
The main page doesn’t have info on the 115 in AI. Also, I’m looking for others that have gone down this road.

 

[rcparker1]

I have been looking at a heavy 6mm build also. Not trying to hijack your thread but have you looked at the 6mm slr. It has caught my attention for a build. anyone have real word experience

 

[Bully]

I have been looking at a heavy 6mm build also. Not trying to hijack your thread but have you looked at the 6mm slr. It has caught my attention for a build. anyone have real word experience

I have looked at them all. With the exception of 6Creed I’m not really interested in anything else. Along with the performance of the 243 i also want the ability to buy ammo off the shelf.

 

[rcparker1]

I have looked at them all. With the exception of 6Creed I’m not really interested in anything else. Along with the performance of the 243 i also want the ability to buy ammo off the shelf.

Just curious, who makes 243ai ammo " off the shelf"

 

[Ktmracer358]

You can shoot factory 243 win ammo out of a 243ai.

 

[rcparker1]

You can shoot factory 243 win ammo out of a 243ai.

I'm aware of that. When I read through post first time I assumed because he said performance and off shelf ammo he meant loaded AI. Standard 243 will not give performance advantage. After rereading it's probably my misunderstanding

 

[pdog2225]

I'm aware of that. When I read through post first time I assumed because he said performance and off shelf ammo he meant loaded AI. Standard 243 will not give performance advantage. After rereading it's probably my misunderstanding

This past summer I re-discovered the 243W for long range shooting. Its easy to load for, easy on recoil and quite accurate. Its also a great trainer for working on your wind reading skills. I use the 107SMK/RE22/Fed210M and get a tad over 3000fps. Depending on altitude and temp this is usually good for upto 1400 to 1500yds and it seems stable subsonic. pdog2225

 

[Dgd6mm]

I've been a 6mm Competition Match man for over 10 years, not suggesting this cartridge for you. To your opening post, it's simple, .243AI. I also shoot a .243, but had I been looking for a more comparison cartridge to the Competition Match I would have went the AI, for the extra speed to push the 115 DTAC.

Don Dunlap

 

[nmkid]

I'm fighting myself right at this time on either the .243AI, 6.5-47 or a 6.5 Creed for my next build.

 

[mikeinct]

Have your fun...Barrels are like tires, expendable..243W A I go for it...w the 115 DTAC...That sucker rocks !!!...The 243Win is nice, one of my favs.. AI configured = less brass trimming...1-8 twist winning!! do it..Barrel life be damned..You only live once..Go for it!!! mike in Ct

 

[Bully]

Have your fun...Barrels are like tires, expendable..243W A I go for it...w the 115 DTAC...That sucker rocks !!!...The 243Win is nice, one of my favs.. AI configured = less brass trimming...1-8 twist winning!! do it..Barrel life be damned..You only live once..Go for it!!! mike in Ct

I'll be threading/chambering barrels myself so, yup!! Got any load info by chance?

 

[mikeinct]

For short range work the 88gr Berger flat base was very accurate 1 to 400 meters, 600 to 1000yds..I like my results w the 115 Dtac...If you have the time to sort bullets the 87gr Vmax was good to about 800yards...I used IMR 4064 w the 88grs bullets...I used H 4350 with the 115 bullets..Oh yeah, forgot the 105 Berger Hybrid nice also ...mike

 

[JLT]

I'll be threading/chambering barrels myself so, yup!! Got any load info by chance?

Try RL-26 with the heavier bullets. Eye-popping velocity at sane pressures and it's produced outstanding accuracy with the 105s out of my barrel. I'm waiting on some DTACs for a work up.

 

[Bully]

Try RL-26 with the heavier bullets. Eye-popping velocity at sane pressures and it's produced outstanding accuracy with the 105s out of my barrel. I'm waiting on some DTACs for a work up.

Cool. Let me know how it does. I’ll hopefully start the barrel in February-ish.