Seeking Load Data for fast twist 22-243

[MQ1]

Well, it seems that you gotta be careful what you wish for…

My local shop tends to have some interesting rifles from time to time, and about 6 months ago in popped an FN PBR that someone had rebarreled to 22-243. I gave it a quick look over (no real external wear to speak of) and just assumed it was shot out. The price seemed very good, but I already have too many great varmint rifles I don’t shoot enough.

Well, yesterday I popped in to say hi to the gang, and to decompress from work a bit. The store was busy, but the owner let me know not to leave until he had a chance to talk with me about an offer I couldn’t refuse. He knows I like wildcats and reloading, and oddball cartridges, and he has made me these types of offers in the past on obscure items that are not likely to sell.

Turns out he knew the details from the original owner and the rifle in fact had less than 40 rounds through it. The barrel is a Bartlien 1-7.5 twist and was chambered and finished at 26” by a competent local gunsmith. He originally bought it for himself, but does not have the time to figure it out…and he indeed made me an offer I absolutely could not refuse.

So I’m looking for some starting load data. Currently I have H4831SC and H1000 and plenty of different bullets from 69TMK to 80gr. Bergers, but would like to work up a load with a 62gr. and/or 72gr. Lehigh Controlled Chaos. It is an all copper bullet that has a similar bearing surface and length as the 69TMK and 90 Matchking. Any starting data and real world performance experience would be greatly appreciated.

This should be a fun one

MQ1

 

[Kurz]

I skipped the plain .22-243 and went straight to the Ackley version which worked well for several years.

Without posting any absolute data, I will suggest that you can gain some insight by examining the data already developed for the .22 Creedmoor.

As always chant the mantra for reloaders:

Start low and work up slowly watching for signs of pressure.

 

[Orr89rocz]

I have a 22-243 that I inherited from my uncle. Havent played with it yet. Its not fast twist. If you look around you can find 22-243 middlestead data and 22 cheetah/220 jaybird data on hodgdons site.

 

[Zero333]

Quickload predictions... At least something to start at... It's set to 60,000 psi, but with small primer pocket brass 65,000 psi should be a breeze.

22-243win.
69 TMK
=======================================



=======================================

I'll post some specific bullet powder combos in a lil bit.
Remember this is NOT first hand experience,. only Quicklolad predictions.

 

[Zero333]

80 gr Berger
2.750" COAL
43.8 gr H-1000
64,000 psi
3,287 fps.
==========================

Cartridge : .22-243 Win
Bullet : .224, 80, Berger VLD
Useable Case Capaci: 46.818 grain H2O = 3.040 cm³ ( Total H2O capacity = 50 gr H2O )
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.750 inch = 69.85 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H4831 SC *T

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 80 35.04 2628 1227 32234 8689 88.6 1.563
-18.0 82 35.92 2693 1289 34507 8967 90.0 1.522
-16.0 84 36.79 2759 1353 36946 9235 91.3 1.481
-14.0 86 37.67 2825 1418 39561 9494 92.6 1.435
-12.0 88 38.54 2892 1485 42368 9740 93.7 1.391
-10.0 90 39.42 2958 1554 45384 9973 94.8 1.348
-08.0 92 40.30 3024 1624 48626 10192 95.8 1.306
-06.0 94 41.17 3090 1696 52110 10395 96.7 1.267
-04.0 96 42.05 3156 1769 55826 10582 97.5 1.228 ! Near Maximum !
-02.0 98 42.92 3221 1844 59809 10750 98.1 1.191 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 100 43.80 3287 1919 64092 10900 98.7 1.156 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 102 44.68 3352 1996 68703 11030 99.2 1.121 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 104 45.55 3417 2074 73674 11138 99.6 1.088 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[Zero333]

90 gr SMK
2.800" COAL
H-1000
108 % case fill ( Compressed )
46 gr H-1000
63,600 psi chamber pressure
3,188 fps.
=================================

Cartridge : .22-243 Win
Bullet : .224, 90, Sierra HPBT MatchKing 9290
Useable Case Capaci: 46.616 grain H2O = 3.027 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.800 inch = 71.12 mm
Barrel Length : 26.0 inch = 660.4 mm
Powder : Hodgdon H1000 *T

Predicted data by increasing and decreasing the given charge,
incremented in steps of 2.0% of nominal charge.
CAUTION: Figures exceed maximum and minimum recommended loads !

Step Fill. Charge Vel. Energy Pmax Pmuz Prop.Burnt B_Time
% % Grains fps ft.lbs psi psi % ms

-20.0 87 36.80 2502 1251 30576 9222 90.2 1.662
-18.0 89 37.72 2570 1320 32826 9529 91.8 1.615
-16.0 91 38.64 2639 1392 35255 9819 93.3 1.570
-14.0 93 39.56 2708 1465 37879 10091 94.6 1.524
-12.0 95 40.48 2777 1541 40718 10342 95.8 1.473
-10.0 97 41.40 2846 1618 43790 10571 96.9 1.423
-08.0 100 42.32 2915 1698 47121 10774 97.8 1.376
-06.0 102 43.24 2983 1779 50736 10951 98.6 1.330
-04.0 104 44.16 3052 1862 54668 11099 99.2 1.286
-02.0 106 45.08 3120 1946 58950 11217 99.6 1.243 ! Near Maximum !
+00.0 108 46.00 3188 2031 63600 11304 99.9 1.202 ! Near Maximum !
+02.0 110 46.92 3256 2118 68726 11357 100.0 1.162 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!
+04.0 113 47.84 3322 2206 74319 11387 100.0 1.124 !DANGEROUS LOAD-DO NOT USE!

 

[Zero333]

Not sure how much freebore you have and/or weather you'll be able to load them long. So even if you have the proper freebore.... REDUCE, WORK UP and HAVE FUN !

 

[MQ1]

Thanks for the quick feedback, guys. I don’t have the rifle in my hands yet….it is still in jail for 9 more days before I can really begin to sort out the details of how it was put together.

I know Quickload data is theoretical, and I always start low and work my way up from there.

Keep it coming if anyone has more real world detail they can share.

MQ1

 

[MQ1]

Finally got things together for a quick test.

Checked from 38.0 to 44.0 of H4831SC over the 62 Lehigh Defence Controlled Chaos.

No load shot less than 3/4”

Most were in the 1/2” range, which is about all I can do with a 10x scope.

I had one nice round 1/4” group at 41.0 and I didn’t have any bad pressure signs at 44.0, where it was looking like the groups were closing on another node that may be closer to 45.0, but I’m going to work up to that in smaller increments and hotter temps. It was only 70 degrees today.

I was using CCI 200 primers and new Winchester brass. Good times! Thanks for all the help!

MQ1

 

[MQ1]

Not sure how much freebore you have and/or weather you'll be able to load them long. So even if you have the proper freebore.... REDUCE, WORK UP and HAVE FUN !

Turns out this rifle seems to have a pretty fresh chamber that does not have enough freebore to load them long. It engraved the rifling sharply on the bullet when I was making my initial measurements. I expect I’ll be chasing the lands soon enough, but as it is today, I could chamber a 50 gr. TNT and have plenty of bullet in the neck. It also is an 8 twist, which will probably suit my purpose better anyway.

MQ1

 

[sdbob]

H1000 has worked for me also out of win brass and 77 TMKs

 

[Orr89rocz]

Just started shooting mine, its a 22-243 variant. With a winchester case, it holds about 53.2gr water. With Sierra 69gr matchking my lands seem to be at 2.588 oal

Loaded at 2.568” oal it shoots ok so far. 45 grains 4831 got me 3570 avg fps in i think a 30” barrel. It may be close to max. I did have some flatter primers on some loads with bullets in the lands on a warm day so may be close. I gotta try fine tuning it tenths if grains up and down and some seaters

 

[MQ1]

Zero333,

Could you post a quickload synopsis for the hornady 75 A-max that includes H4831SC, H1000 and VV N560? I’ve finally got some stock issues worked out in the new to me rifle, and I found that I have a forgotton, significant stash of the Amaxes…which should perform admirably for their intended use.

I have a good amount of the Hodgdon powders, but may grab a pound of N560 since it is available.

Thanks for your support on this project!

MQ1

 

[rockhound78]

I am using Varget in my 22 Creedmoor with the 62 gr. eld-vt just shy of 3800

 

[B23]

I'm using RL26 w/80gr ELD-M and they're leaving at 3650 from a 28in Krieger 8tw pipe but mine is a 22-243 improved w/35° shoulder.

Fully formed cases hold 55.6 - 55.7 gr H2O and that's with Lapua 243 brass as the parent case.

 

[MQ1]

I'm using RL26 w/80gr ELD-M and they're leaving at 3650 from a 28in Krieger 8tw pipe but mine is a 22-243 improved w/35° shoulder.

Fully formed cases hold 55.6 - 55.7 gr H2O and that's with Lapua 243 brass as the parent case.

I wish I could get my hands on some of the Alliant powders, but that is not the case these days, so I’m forced to what I have on hand and what I can reliably source…

MQ1

 

[MQ1]

For those looking for some solid copper live data:

46.0 gr H4831SC With 62 gr Lehigh Controlled Chaos and new Winchester brass with CCI 200 LR primer averages 3505 fps with no pressure signs. Grouped best using Wolf LR Magnum primers. I‘ll probably try a little higher with the Wolf primers, but the 1/2” group is minute of coyote for a long way.

44.0 gr H4831SC with 70 Barnes TSX-BT and new Winchester brass with CCI 200 LR primer averages 3250 fps with no pressure signs. I will probably try a little higher with this combination, at least until the primer shows some flattening…but 3/8” groups are hard to argue with.

I’ll share more in a bit.

MQ1