New member with new .243 rifle need help getting setup

[bat243]

First post but have lurked for a while. I just bought the rifle detailed below and am looking for advice on what I need to buy to get going (the rifle is built but never fired)

I have a dillon xl650 which I know is not ideal but it should get me started.

Powder: varget (already have a couple lbs of it)
Dillon .243 dies and conversion kit
Large rifle primers (brand??)
Bullets Sierra 107s
Some sort of bullet seating gauge?



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BAT Action Model B ,B153R 7.565" lenght .308 bolt face, round with diamond fluted bolt, right bolt, right port.

Set up for .243 win match with 30 degree shoulder

BAT Stainless Steel Trigger Guard

BAT Aluminum tapered (20moa) scope rings for NF scope

Krieger HV contour 6mm 4 groove SS barrel 27.5" 1x7.5 twist

Jewell Benchrest trigger 1.5-3oz (set at 2oz.)

Shehane Tracker Stock in African Obeche with Oil Finish and Aluminum butt plate (fully bedded, action not glued in stock)

Laupua 243 new brass 500 pieces

Pacific tool and gauge Reamer & Go/No-go gauge

Nightforce nxs 12-42x56 scope

Redding competition bullet seating die

 

[TheBlueEyedBear]

Here is my second attempt at replying to your post!!
I have attached a couple of loads for the 243; one using VARGET and one using H4350. I don't think there are many 243 shooters using VARGET. H4350 and H4831SC are pretty common in the 243 for the bullets in the upper weight bracket. Your 1-7.5 twist rate would indicate you are planning to shoot the heavier bullets.
The QuickLoad and QuickTarget data was calculated not knowing the free-bore of your chamber. Also, I believe FED 210 GM primers are the most selected for this load type.
Good luck with your loading. And, if you would like larger images of the attached files just send me an e-mail.

Barry

 

[bat243]

Thanks. I will pm you for a bigger picture.

 

[bat243]

It looks like I can only cci large rifle primers at this time. Does that change the load?

 

[bozo699]

Bat243,
Welcome to the forum
I prefer the fed 210m primers but have had to use cci 200s with no problems.
Send us some pics of your new rifle we would all love to look @ it. Souds like she is going to be a real hummer!
Wayne.

 

[bat243]

I havent received the rifle yet but it should be hear early next week. A pic is below. I am used to loading .40 cal pistol rounds but the rifle stuff is a little new to me. Hopefully this is not too exotic of a setup for a beginner to load.

 

[bozo699]

That is a nice shootstick,and dining room set as well. ;D
Wayne.

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Hey Bat! If I'm reading this correctly your barrel is chambered .243 Win with a 30 degree shoulder angle? Another tool that would be very useful is a 30 degree shoulder bump gauge comparator. This tool will aid you in full length sizing the brass, unless you intend to just neck size, then disreguard this. In full length sizing you need to know where you're starting, so you don't push the shoulder back too much. Just a thought.

Mike

 

[bozo699]

Mike,
@ some point he will have to full length size so your thought is very valid.
Bat243,
you can find these bump guages and inserts Mike is talking about on sinclair's site under reloading equipment also redding makes a cartridge specific case neck guage tool that will do multiple things for you.
Wayne.

 

[bat243]

I have to say my head is spinning. I am going to have to buy a lot of new stuff

I have some brand new brass. I know that this needs to be fire formed to my chamber. Should this be done with cream of wheat or a bullet?

One fire formed I know that it will have to be deprimed, length trimmed, neck turned and sized. I have the seating die but am unclear which sizing die to order. I already have a dillon case trimmer.

 

[15Tango]

.243 Win. + 107 SMKs and Varget? Yikes . . . I could only get 70 grain and under to do well with Varget in the .243 Win., use H4350 as Barry suggested or something similar. I had 105s up to 3200 FPS with R17 if you want a speed demon load.

Wayne

 

[CanusLatransSnpr]

Hey bat! I wouldn't say there is controversy when it comes to fireforming brass but, preference. If I were fireforming brass it would depend on how tight the barrel was headspaced ie. whether the bolt closes very easily on a piece of unfired brass or if it closes with a little resistance. If it closes very easily then I would fireform with bullets and seat the bullets out just long enough to jam into the rifling. When you do this you keep the case head against the bolt face and allow the shoulder to "flow" forward to fill up the rest of the chamber during the fireforming process. If the bolt closes with some resistance, then use the c.o.w. method!

Mike

 

[jonbearman]

I have used h4831 with good results with the lighter bullets.I have also used imr4831 with 75 grain bullets with good results.Imr 3031 is the tried and true go to powder.Your reloader will not meter any of this because it is extruded powder. The ball powders that always come to mind which will meter through the dillon powder measure are: aa2520, h335 , aa2230, win 760, all in 75grain weight. 85 grain use w760, h380 .Stick powders work really well if you buy the conversion for the xl650 to use an rcbs type powder measure or the like. Also make sure that you really have a 30 degree shoulder. When resizing any high shoulder angle try with the die off the shellplate about .020 and see if it fits the gun first.You will have to experiment with a standard full length sizing die,till you get it to go in the chamber without much force on the bolt handle.You do not have to go out and buy more stuff yet,you may in the future as you learn. One other note ,use imperial sizing wax sparingly as hard shoulder angles tend to have grease bumps in the shoulder which is caused by case lube being to heavy.Lube case necks with this cartridge especially if you have a steel expander ball.They will stick and deform the neck slightly at times. I hope I have helped you.