my 243ai project

[white121]

I am currently building a 243ai. My rifle is a Remington 700 vs sf, It is getting the action blue printed, glass bedded, custom lug, and a kreiger 26" 1 in 8" match barrel chambered in 243ai. I am new to this round and I was wondering if anyone had any good info on the best way to start with fire forming, good loads or such.

Shaun

 

[mjbine]

I fireform Laupa Brass with the cream of wheat method. I use 24.5 grains of cream of wheat on top of 11 grains of SR4756. I top it off with poly filler from a craft store. It works very well and saves barrel life. I run a nylon brush through the barrel after every 10 shots.

 

[Ackman]

Lots of funny ideas out there about AI cartridges. Fireforming an AI case with bullets is the easiest most effective way. The .243AI doesn't blow out much compared to other Improved cartridges.....the shoulder moves forward but stays about the same diameter. With this cartridge you'll find that fireforming loads are very similar to what you'll be using with formed brass and may even be the same. Fireforming an AI is simply a matter of choosing someplace to begin and then working up a load until you find accuracy, just like with any other cartridge. My .243AI's are strictly varmint guns used with 70gr bullets. Both barrels are PacNor, one has 13" twist, the other is 9-1/2." The chamber is very minimal with a semi-tight neck and 0 freebore. Starting about 47.0gr of W760 and a 70gr bullet, best accuracy fireforming was from 48.3 to 48.7gr depending on primer and bullet. Velocity from about 3750 to about 3850. These loads are comfortably above what you get with a standard .243 and pretty much the same as formed brass. With an AI case, just develop a good accuracy fireform load as you would with any standard cartridge. It'll not only be as accurate and substantially faster than the parent case, you've also found what the gun likes. That'll be your starting point with formed brass. Then work up a little on the powder charge and you're there.

 

[white121]

thank you for the info!
Shaun

 

[BlackHawk95]

With my .243AI I would fireform with the 107gr Matchking. Loaded with 42gr of RE-22. with the bullet in the lands. I was amazed that the accuracy was as good as the fireformed brass.

Pretty much I just used about a grain less powder for fireforming than what I used in the final load.

Jerid

 

[Sendero_man]

With the 1 in 8 barrel, shoot the 105 amax, 107 SMK or 115 DTAC/VLD

I have used 4831sc, RL25, RL 22 and am currently using the Hybrid 100. It loads and meters great and has low es/sd. Been very happy with it. 3040 fps with an sd of 5.

good luck and post some targets.

 

[gatewood]

For forming brass I use 44gr of 4831sc with cheaper 100gr sierra Gk. for my bench load i am shooting 46.2 gr of 414 with 105 lapua. I tried 4831sc and the gun shot well but it didn't go through my Neil Jones powder mesure as well as the ball powder.
don't know the speed but it shoots in the high ones low twos constantly. had it on the bench the other day and shot 19 out of 25 xs at 100yds on a score target, not bad for a varmint cartridge.,only shot 22 with my ppc same day.) The gun is a nesika with a 1-8" PAC-nor in a tracker stock.

 

[SongdogHunter]

no sense in wasting those FF loads. Get it one paper at least and go hunt some coyotes with them.

SDH

 

[white121]

Sill waiting for the krieger barrel but I did just recieve my lapua brass, 105gr bergers,night force 20 moa mount and my nightforce rings, just a few more weeks getting very excited now.

Shaun