Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

[germanlongbow]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Just finished 243 ackley improved last month. Mike Hartman (Winfield IA) built rifle on remington 700 action krieger 17 hv (1x8 twist) finished at 28 inches with vais brake jewel trigger HS Precision PSO25 in winter camo. Fireforming loads base on Lapua brass, Berger 105 VLD, Federal 210 match primers, and Reloader 22 at 42.6 grains. Loads proved very accurate at consistent sub .3 inch groups. Haven't had chance to chrono at this time (shot chrono while testing 220 swift with 30 grain bergers). Changed powder over to reloader 25 and bumped load up to 46.1 grains. Accuracy tightened to sub .2 inch three shot 100 yard groups. Not bad for less than 50 rounds new chamber.

 

[potatoe]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Rifle:
243 AI .268 neck dia.
Remington 700
27" Benchmark barrel, 1:10, 6 groove
McMillan stock
Lapua brass

Fire Forming Loads - All bullets seated on lands/CCI BR-2 primers

69 gr. Berger
40.5 gr. Varget

70 gr. Nosler Bal. Tip
40.5 gr. Varget

75 gr. Hornady HP FB
38.5 gr. Varget

80 gr. Berger HP varmint
45 gr. H414

80 gr Berger
37.5 gr N140

*All cases formed very well, but the faster powders seemed to produce the better formed cases.*

.243 Ackley Loads

69 gr. Bergers High B.C. varmint
43 - 45 gr. Varget
oal: 2.860

80 gr. Berger varmint
43-47 gr. H414
oal: 2.800

88 gr. Berger High b/c varmint
42-45 gr. H414
oal: 2.945 *Shot very well @ 100, but were unstable past 300 yards*

80 gr Nosler Ballistic Tips
46 gr H4350
oal: 2.715 *My go to load. Great accuracy to 400 yards, .3 average at 100 yards, mean on ground hogs*

 

[normmatzen]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments


243 WIN pre-fit Shilen match select barrel
Savage PTA
SSS Dog Tracker stock
NF BR 10x42 scope

Completely built myself

Have used H1000 since built to attempt to increase barrel life.

Barrel is 1 in 8 and I use A-MAX initially with a switch to 107 SMK the last couple years.

46.0 gr H1000 yields 2918 fps at the muzzle with my 28.6" barrel

2025 shots down the tube and it still outshoots me!

Mainly used for 600 yd and 1000 yd BR

 

[bluealtered]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

I've become interested in the .243ai and after reading all the posts here on it, i see twists that average between 1:8 and 1:13 for the most part. Is the 1:7 considered to fast or am i just missing something here? I don't know anything about the .243ai, and i am looking at a .243ai with a 1:7 and 20" barrel. Can you share some thoughs on this combo for me and give me a little knowledge base to work from. Thanks, blue.

 

[RJinTexas]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

bluealtered, If your set on using a 20" barrel you don't need a Ackley chamber. With barrels less then 26" your not going to be able to see much if any advantage over a standard .243 and even with a 243 I recommend a minimum length of 22" and a twist no faster then 1 in 9.

RJ

 

[bluealtered]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Thanks, this would be for the most part a 3-600yd bench rifle. Just something for fun, and something i have seen for sale. I have a .243 in 1:9 already and from the replies i guess i should leave it at that. I simply wasn't sure about a twist that fast and your replies have helped me learn something new. Thanks, blue.

 

[PREMOD70]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Back in the day when we had groundhogs to shoot at I used 42.5 to 43.0 grains of IMR 4064 with the then new Nosler 70 grain BT, Winchester brass, Federal primers. It would run 3700fps out of my 26" barrel Winchester Varmiter, .243 of course. Most reloading books max out below the figure I give so start low and proceed at your own risk.

 

[jerrschmitt]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Thanks, this would be for the most part a 3-600yd bench rifle. Just something for fun, and something i have seen for sale. I have a .243 in 1:9 already and from the replies i guess i should leave it at that. I simply wasn't sure about a twist that fast and your replies have helped me learn something new. Thanks, blue.

The 8 twist allow you to use the 105 AMAX and 107 SMK. Makes a great 1000 yard prairie dog rifle.

 

[CdnHotshot]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

243 ACKLEY

BERGER 80gr. FB VARMINT pn#24321 lot#3031
H4350 46.0
Bullet seated 5 thou.
Lapua brass, CCI BR-2
Avg. 3576 fps ES 19.02 SD 9.63

BAT action, PacNor 1:10 x 26
No-turn Lapua brass

COMMENTS:
46.2 gr. powder produced shiny pressure signs on case heads but load testing produced nice tight horizontal groups without stiff bolt lift. The primers in both, 46.0 and 46.2 gr. loads produced cratered primers. This load is just under the borderline of being "HOT" which was developed in cool summer morning temperatures between +6C. and +12C.

 

[English]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Nesika 243 AI
270 neck
25 inch tube
12 twist
zero free bore
80gr Berger varmint
49.6 Vit 160
seated to the lands
average velocity 3700
shows no pressure signs,brass is bumped 2 thou every firing and also annealed,shoots in the 2/3s at 100 yards and sub 2 inch at 500 yards

 

[cliffy]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Working on two .243 Winchester specific loads: 62 Grain Barnes Varmint Grenade and 100 Grain Speer Grand Slam. Not similar? One is for Wolves and one is for Deer and Hogs. Can a wolfy outrun a 3900 fps express train? Can a deer withstand a 2000 ft/lb impact? I'm not very good with computers, but I shot three times this past week - 16 miles there and same back. Bear with me as I know Ackerman surely will heckle my findings. I give specifics, since I always shoot through a chronograph. Alliant ReLoder 15 and 17 are designed PERFECTLY for the .243 Winchester with DIFFERENT bullets. Alliant ReLoder 10x is TOO fast and ReLoder 19 is TOO slow for .243 Winchester Loads. RL-15 and RL-17 are not interchangeable, since performance will suffer. Since I am continuing with .223 Remington loads currently. cliffy

 

[cliffy]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

RL-15 powder at 46.4 grains will drive a 62 grain Barnes VG Bullet at 3900 fps depending upon ambient temperature. The hotter, the faster, so cut powder charge by .02 grain per 10 Fahrenheit degrees increase. My loads are figured at 70 degrees Fahrenheit. Factory Loads cannot account for these variances. Handloaders have every advantage from Texas to Alaska. Hopefully wolf hunting will be allowed EVERYWHERE very soon, or we will be in trouble. cliffy

 

[mw0248]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

100 gr. Hornady BTSP interlock, WIN brass, CCI 200 primer, 36.2 gr. IMR4064;
this load is like magic in my Browning X-bolt;

0.4 - 0.8" groups at 200 yds; shoots better than my old rem. 788 in 22-250;

much higher BC, and more energy at range; I quit shooting the 80 grainers;

 

[joebino55]

Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

My 243Win load I shoot for F-Class:

Remington brass
105 Hornady AMAX
45.5 gr Vihtavuori N160
CCI BR2 primers
seated .010" off the ogive
Average MV= 3270fps from 26" Krieger gain twist 1-8.75" to 1-8.3"
Standard deviation=9fps
Extremes Spread=20fps

<.4MOA at 100 yards and very accurate out to 1000 yards. This is my F-class gun. Remington 700 S/A

 

[K22]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

My favorite 243 loads (Twist 10"):

80 grain Sierra Blitz - 42.0 grains IMR 4350, Federal 210M primers, Winchester brass, COL 2.675 (great long range varmint load), Best Group (5) .341

85 grain Sierra BTHP - 40.0 grains IMR 4350, Federal 210M primers, Win brass, COL 2.680 (great all around load), Best Group (5) .421

90 grain Nosler BT - 40.0 grains IMR 4350, Federal 210M primers, Win brass, COL 2.700 (my favorite load) Best Group (5) .289. Flattened a deer this season with this load.

100 gain Sierra Pro Hunter - 38.0 grains IMR 4350, Federal 210M primers, Win brass, COL 2.700 (great deer load) Best Group (5) .502

 

[dflippin]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Hello everyone,

Standard .243
Rifle: Rem 700 BDL Sporter
Brass: Lapua
Bullet: 75 VMAX
Powder: Superformance
Charge: 50.5gr
Vel: 3699fps
ES: 20
Group: In the 3's

 

[jbartoshevich]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

I am just getting into reloading for .243 caliber and will be shooting a Remington 700 with a shilen 26" bull barrel with a 1 in 10 twist.
I will be using a 4-28 power preditor scope benchrested for 200 yards.
I need to know where to start with my loads?
Thanks!

 

[kelbro]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

New barrel for my Savage

.243 AI 26" 8 twist Shilen SS Match Varmint contour
30 fireforming/break-in rounds down the tube
Rifle: Savage FP10 action
Brass: WW
Bullet: HBN'd 107 SMK, .01 off the lands
Powder: H4831SC
Charge: 47.2 and 47.5
Vel: not clocked yet
ES: UNK
Group: Both charges in the 3's - 4's @ 100

Will be working more around that range tomorrow at 200 and possibly varying seating depths but the way this is shooting, I may keep the seating die set as-is.

Man, Shilen turns out some shooters! My 30 FF loads (37.4-37.5gr IMR4064 under a Sierra 85gr BTHP) went under 1".

 

[guidom]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

we are still waiting for the 6.5x47 cartridge guide. finish one before you srart another.

 

[kelbro]

Re: Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

Have to give two thumbs up to the 37.5gr Varget load too. 37.7 shot very well too. Both grouped right under .250. Going to try 37.6 this weekend.

I'm starting to really like 243AI.