New 26" Shilen barrel, where to start with load work up?

[mattri]

Putting a 26" Shilen 1:8 on my Savage action .243.

Bought this barrel so I could shoot the heavier bullets at med range.

For 500 yard acuracy which bullets/loads should I be looking at to start?

 

[mj2evans]

I shoot a Shilen 243 AI tight neck - 44.5 H4831, 105 AMax 0.015 off lands, Lapua brass, and Wolf LR. Chrono around 2950 fps. This is within straight 243 loading but drop down to be safe. Tried Sierra 107 MK too but AMax is as good or better in my gun and cheap. I've shot several 5 shot groups in the threes and am NOT a benchrest guy. Killed insects on my target at 100 yds too (not big game but fun).

 

[skeetlee]

The 105 berger VLD has all the records so thats proof enough for me. Powder wise, i would start with 4350. Look in some reloading manuals and dive in. Finding the load is half the fun!! Good luck!! Lee

 

[mattri]

Good point. I had some great loads worked up for the factory barrel, guess its time to start over.

 

[tiny68]

Are you wanting a hunting load, a plinking load, or a target load? Sorry if I missed this,

Tim

 

[mattri]

Target load, looking for accuracy at 500.

 

[normmatzen]

I have a Shilen 28" match select pre-fit barrel in a Savage Precision Target Action. It is a straight 243 WIN.

Is your barrel a pre-fit?

I'm not saying I am an authority, nor is this load the best, but for my bench rest tries I use 105 A-MAX MOLY ahead of 46 gr of H1000 in an attempt at getting longer barrel life. I shoot 600yd and 1000 yard and get an average MV of about 2875 fps with 0.080 jump. I found this load and jump by careful ladder testing. I am going to re-try the ladder again this week to try for a MV around 100fps faster for better 1000 yd performance. I still can't shoot as good as the rifle can! When my current batch of 300 bullets are gone, I will replace with non-MOLY bullets as everyone I shoot with has either never shot MOLY or tried and went back to bare bullets.

 

[juliomorris]

I have the same barrel . 105 amax wolf primers 43grs of IMR4350 (3050fps). 115gr DTAC's FGMM primers 47.5 gr RL-25 (2975fps). Both of these loads are on the hot side but both are more accurate the me both hold 3/8" at 100yds.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the replies. As I get loads worked up and tested I'll post the results.

 

[mattri]

Have the barrel broke in, going to start working up loads with the 105 A-Maxs.

IMR4350 is available around here, H1000 is scarce. Any others to be looking at?

Thanks, Matt.

 

[newboy]

Try Vit 160=46grns will give you 2950 to 3050 in your 26 inch tube , fed 210 primers.

I just shot some sierra game kings for a hunting load , 100grn
24 inch border barrel ten twist
2975 fps.

speed kills ;D

 

[Dgd6mm]

A single base slow burning powder will be kinder on the throat area. I use Retumbo and have a buddy that uses Vit. They both shoot accurate with good speed.

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the information, I'll see what I can find.

 

[Dgd6mm]

Matt, I sent you a PM.

 

[mattri]

Just loaded up a ladder, hoping to shoot tomorrow.

 

[jonbearman]

I used 105 speers with h4831 with dramatic results and far cheaper than some powders and safe.Get ken waters pet loads ,it is the most imformative reading I have evr done and has saved me 100"s of dollars trying to find my own pet loads. He did all the work for us hunter/benchresters. Sierra uses an asterisk in there manual which will tell you what the most accurate load listed in there data. Good Luck and be safe!

 

[mattri]

Thanks for the reply, been taking a long look at H4831sc, I use H4831 in the .270 so if I can use the sc in both that would be great.

 

[mattri]

Had some IMR 4064 and Sierra 100grn round nose hunting bullets left over so I thought I'd see how they did.

About .75 at 225 yards. Not stellar but plenty accurate enough for deer. After hunting season is over I'll work on some 105 A-Maxs with H4831 SC.