Ok...first real post here...
I've been shooting since Parris Island SC in 1976, my first rifle was an M16A1 my Drill Instructor lent me...I shot the piss out of it getting an expert badge when I graduated...MOS was Small Arms Repair and later RTE Armorer as well as PMI and Door Gunner/Aerial Gun Instructor. I got selected to shoot on the base teams and ended up with 4th Award Expert Rifle and Pistol...shot on the Western Div teams...then I did not shoot for a couple of years...got into law enforcement and was selected as DM on our statewide SWAT team...started hand loading 300WM for a Savage 110FP I got and now 308...so I'm somewhat familiar with reloading...I build my own AR and Savages. My Savage 110 308 will shoot .35 5 round groups as long as I do my part...ironically it shoots this with 175 FGMM...my hand loads will go .5 or better all day long but she seems to like the FGMM so I bought a couple of cases of it and once I go thru it I'll start over with a bunch of FGMM 1x brass and see what happens...this leads me to this...
I recently came across a smoking deal on a new Savage 12 barrel, that the owner had a smith take form large shank to small, added a 5/8 x 24 threaded muzzle and reamed the chamber to 243AI. it is fluted and 26". I just placed an order with Manson Reamers for a 243AI GO gauge and have ordered a Redding 243AI die set. I've placed an order for 200 Lapua 243 brass. I've got 400 SMK 107 and lucked into a box of 500 115 DTAC's. I have a couple of hundred older soft point 100 gr 243 to use to fireform with to save the good bullets or might fire form with the cream of wheat method...I have 4lbs of sealed unopened IMR 4350 from about 10 years ago and would like to use it...it should be ok...
I say all of that to say...I feel overwhelmed by the amount of 243 and 243AI information out there...where does a guy liek me start as a new "wildcat" reloader...
I think I know the basics...I mean I can reload and get decent results...but now reading all of this....off the lands, into the lands, elliptical throats, yadayada...where does a guy like me start...
I wanted multiple caliber availability in my rifle until I get another action and stock to build a dedicated 243AI laser. I'll give the 308 barrel a rest. I chose the 243 because I can use the same CDI magazine set up with the 243/308 parent case...I originally was going to go just 243 but the 243AI barrel fell into my lap (literally, I paid nothing for it, came as part of a trade) and reading about its qualities and inherent accuracy has got me sold on becoming a wildcatter reloading fanatic...
So...words of wisdom?
Thanks
Capt Beach
I've been shooting since Parris Island SC in 1976, my first rifle was an M16A1 my Drill Instructor lent me...I shot the piss out of it getting an expert badge when I graduated...MOS was Small Arms Repair and later RTE Armorer as well as PMI and Door Gunner/Aerial Gun Instructor. I got selected to shoot on the base teams and ended up with 4th Award Expert Rifle and Pistol...shot on the Western Div teams...then I did not shoot for a couple of years...got into law enforcement and was selected as DM on our statewide SWAT team...started hand loading 300WM for a Savage 110FP I got and now 308...so I'm somewhat familiar with reloading...I build my own AR and Savages. My Savage 110 308 will shoot .35 5 round groups as long as I do my part...ironically it shoots this with 175 FGMM...my hand loads will go .5 or better all day long but she seems to like the FGMM so I bought a couple of cases of it and once I go thru it I'll start over with a bunch of FGMM 1x brass and see what happens...this leads me to this...
I recently came across a smoking deal on a new Savage 12 barrel, that the owner had a smith take form large shank to small, added a 5/8 x 24 threaded muzzle and reamed the chamber to 243AI. it is fluted and 26". I just placed an order with Manson Reamers for a 243AI GO gauge and have ordered a Redding 243AI die set. I've placed an order for 200 Lapua 243 brass. I've got 400 SMK 107 and lucked into a box of 500 115 DTAC's. I have a couple of hundred older soft point 100 gr 243 to use to fireform with to save the good bullets or might fire form with the cream of wheat method...I have 4lbs of sealed unopened IMR 4350 from about 10 years ago and would like to use it...it should be ok...
I say all of that to say...I feel overwhelmed by the amount of 243 and 243AI information out there...where does a guy liek me start as a new "wildcat" reloader...
I think I know the basics...I mean I can reload and get decent results...but now reading all of this....off the lands, into the lands, elliptical throats, yadayada...where does a guy like me start...
I wanted multiple caliber availability in my rifle until I get another action and stock to build a dedicated 243AI laser. I'll give the 308 barrel a rest. I chose the 243 because I can use the same CDI magazine set up with the 243/308 parent case...I originally was going to go just 243 but the 243AI barrel fell into my lap (literally, I paid nothing for it, came as part of a trade) and reading about its qualities and inherent accuracy has got me sold on becoming a wildcatter reloading fanatic...
So...words of wisdom?
Thanks
Capt Beach
! You will be fine with the 100s and the 107s. You will probably be ok with the H4350 powder too. Just find where your bullet touches the lands and start load development there. Once you have a good powder charge, play with seating depth until you find the sweet spot 
! Start with a moderate to top load for the .243 Win. for fireforming brass and you should be good to go!
