Site Needs .243/.243AI Loads & Comments

[South Pender]

I just ran across this thread and haven't read all 9 pages, so, if this has been discussed already, my apologies.

I'm wondering whether anyone has tried the small primer .243 brass from Peterson Cartridge Co.:

https://www.petersoncartridge.com/243-win-srp

With the smaller primers (and presumably smaller flashholes), can accuracy be improved with this brass?

 

[Dale700]

My personal favorite 243 load is 44.5 H4350 with a 80 gr. Nosler BT using Winchester brass pockets trued flash holes reamed and Winchester std primers.
I load a .010 jump and use a Hornady lock n load oal gauge and seat to a 2.280 length at 3100 fps .

 

[lgwatson]

Hey guys, it's time to crank out another Cartridge Guide. These are a big job--requiring many man-hours. But readers sure do like them. The .308 Cartridge Guide has racked up over 19,000 pageviews!

We hope to release a .243 Cartridge Guide soon.

You can help by providing 'pet loads'. We need powder weight and brand, bullet weight and type, primer type, brass type, cartridge OAL,or seating depth). It's also very helpful to have chronograph data,fps) and some comment about accuracy.

In addition, we'd like to hear your reports about preferred powders, primers, and brass. I've shot the Remington, Lapua, and Norma, and the Lapua was my favorite but Norma was pretty good.

The more input we get from users, the better the article can be--so please consider contributing.

Thanks,

Mr. Moderator :comp:

.243AI load #1:
43.0 gr IMR 4831
CCI primer
Lapua brass (fireformed)
87 gr Berger VLD Hunting Bullet (bare)
.055 Jump
Lilja 3 groove 9 twist, 26"
3293 fps avg, 17 ES on a Magnetospeed chrono
4 rounds .91 at 300 meters

.243AI load in another rifle #2:
42.8 gr H4350
Win primer
87 gr Berger VLD Hunting, boron nitride coated
.040 jump
Lapua brass (fireformed)
Lilja 3 groove 9 twist barrel, 22"
3187 fps, 36 ES, 13 SD on Magnetospeed
Groups .25 and just under

.243AI load #3 in rifle #2
45.0 gr IMR 4350
Win primer
69 gr Berger FB Varmint bullet, boron nitride coated)
Lapua brass (fireformed)
3358 fps, ES 34, SD 12 on magnetospeed
Also groups at .25 or slightly better

All of the above are deadly on prairie dogs.

 

[old leghumper]

Stiller TAC 30 243 AI
Kreiger 7.5 twist 17.5 barrel
Lapua brass
DTAC 115 HBN coated bullets
47.5 grains H4831SC
2860 fps
.25" consistent groups

This gun, combo is a keeper

 

[RHux]

Tikka Hunter 55gr Dogtown SP
Federal brass prepped
CCI 200
IMR 8208
COAL 2.485
42.5 gr
FPS 3755
ES 33
SD 12
1/2”x1/2”@100yds.
STD 243Win

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

See post # 161 for Spec's on, my Tikka T-3 in .243 Win. cal.
Loaded, 43.5 grains of, VhitaVouri N-160 powder with, both the 87 gr. Horn V-Max and 87 gr. HVLD Berger's, CCI 200 Primers, COAL of. 2.710, Rem Brass and Forster BR Dies. Velocity with, 87 gr. V-Max = 3,070 - 3,090 FPS, groups sizes around, 1/2 MOA +- ES was not great for, some reason ! But, they shoot plenty good enough for, Coyotes !
The more expensive, 87 gr. HVLD Bergers, did NOT, disappoint ! Velocity was, a consistent 3,130 to 3,140 FPS with an ES of, 10 -11 FPS ( same charge ). I've not shot it, a lot yet, but got a few, 3 shot "Cloverleaf's' so far at, 100 yd's and my son shot 5 into, a .277 CTC group. I shot 5 at, 200 yards and it was, a SUB 1" dia, group on, a windy, freezing COLD, day! The point of impact with, both Bullets is very close even at, 200 but, son will make a Tape for the HVLD's to "Dial" for Deer / Antelope after, "proofing" bullet trajectories at, longer ranges. You "could" probably go with, a lil' more Powder per VV data but, use Caution! Accuracy, is more important than, speed, to me !

 

[searcher]

Factory Ruger M77 Varmint
Case: Lapua
Bullet: 58 V-Max (moly coated)
Primer: Federal 210M
Length: 2.168" (per Hornady measuring tool - not OAL)
Powder: 41.6 grns. Reloader 15
Velocity: 3,282 (69 Degree temp)
Accuracy: 5-shots .078" MOA
I worked this up and while not too fast - it is so crazy accurate in my rifle that it is my favorite light varmint load in this rifle.

 

[Bill Norris]

THIS IS .243 AI LOAD DATA DO NOT USE FOR .243 - WORK UP WITH CAUTION - YOUR RIFLE WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN MINE

Rem 700 Custom Build ODCR .243 AI .274 Neck .060 freebore 1 - 7.5 Tw. 26 " barrel
Lapua Brass loaded neck dia. .271
115 gr. Nosler RDF bullet (jam .010) seated @ 2.823 Touch Rifling @ 2.813
210M GM Fed primer
IMR 7828 SSC worked up in .05 increments from 42.5 to 44.5 (No pressure signs)
5 shot group .551 after cal. deduction Did not chrono yet

 

[SDShooter]

I'm new to Shooter Forum but not new to recreational shooting. Following this thread I've seen reference to "Free bore" and "jump". Are they being used interchangeably?

 

[esromvre1]

Ladder test was done 243 AI
50° Fahrenheit
RL 16
Federal brass
Wolf primers
hbn coated 108 Eld.

39.3 3085
39.4 3033
39.6 3047
39.8 3056
40.0 3052
40.2 3088
40.4 3085
40.6 3123
40.8 3139
41.0 3138
41.2 3136
41.4. 3152
41.6 3159
41.8 3179
42.0 3193
42.2 3189
42.4. 3214
42.6 3213
42.8. 3230
43.0. 3249

Test done using labradar chronograph
Barrel 7.7 twist Brux 30 in finish.

 

[esromvre1]

I'm new to Shooter Forum but not new to recreational shooting. Following this thread I've seen reference to "Free bore" and "jump". Are they being used interchangeably?

Yes

 

[SDShooter]

Yes

Thank you!!
Alex

 

[Zero333]

I'm new to Shooter Forum but not new to recreational shooting. Following this thread I've seen reference to "Free bore" and "jump". Are they being used interchangeably?

Not really, but are of the same subject.

Freebore is the amount of barrel with out rifling right after the case mouth and before where the rifling begins. The more freebore the farther out you can seat the bullets with out jamming them in the rifling.

Jump, usually said like "20 thou or 0.020" jump, or whatever other number,,,.. means the bullet has to travel 0.020" before it contacts the rifling.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

Tried the New, Winchester StaBall 65 Powder in, a .243 Win. Tikka T-3, SS 22.4" 1-10 twist, Fact. bbl. Bullet, Hornady 100 grain BTSP COAL 2.675, Primer Fed 210 Match.
MY findings; Seems to me that, the Hogdon Data was, a bit "light" for the Powder charges vs Velocity, IN MY Gun, using the 100 grain Hornady bullets, vs the Speer Bullet that, THEY show. MY rifle started producing "ok" ( 1/2" @ 112 yds ) groups at, 41.5 grains of StaBall 65 but, the Velocity was only 2,850 - 2,860 FPS ! So, I went higher on the Powder charges and found that, 43 grains shot "good/ OK " ( 1/2 to 3/4 MOA on, Hot 90* / Windy, Days ) at, 2,975 ave FPS ( One Gr., OVER Maximum, Per Hogdon Data WITH, SPEER bullet). Hogdon does "show" 43.1 grains as Maximum with, the 108 grain Horn ELD-M bullet and since I'm "looking" for slightly over, 3,000 FPS, I will go up another 1/2 grain to 43.5 grains, in MY rifle to obtain this, speed for Mule Deer, Antelope and to practice Steel Plates. I saw NO pressure signs at, 43.0 grs and feel "comfortable" going, higher.
IMO, StaBall 65, Meters PERFECTLY and Burns pretty Clean, I like,.. IT ! The 100 grain Horn does NOT group as well as my Berger 87 HVLD Load with, N-160 ( post #167 ) but, they are, tough & cheap, PLUS Ackleyman11 says that, they are "great" for, Big Mule Deer ! As ALWAYS,.. use Caution "working up", loads !
FINAL Load= 43.5 grs Staball 65 with, the 100 gr Hornady BTSP @ 3,025 - 3,035 FPS CAUTION, This Load IS, above, Maximum chge per, Winchester / Hogdon Data but, I'm gettin' 1/2 MOA +- groups with, THROWN charges.

 

[Idaho-Lefty]

EDIT to above post, on StaBall Powder and 100 grain Hornady BTSP's,.. Upon further testing, for some reason, I'm getting POOR 200 yard groups ( High Temp's, 90+ degrees / too much speed for bullet "Harmonic's" ?? IDK ) with, the 43.5 grain load of StaBall powder, so went back to, the LOWER Charge of, 43.0 grains. AGAIN, work up,.. CAREFULLY ! 41.7 grs of StaBall at 2,865 FPS shot great at 100 and 200 yards, as did, 43.0 grains at 2,975 FPS ( NOW, MY Max load ). A Mystery to me but,.. Accuracy Trump's speed, in my book !

 

[Bill Norris]

THIS IS .243 AI LOAD DATA DO NOT USE FOR .243 - WORK UP WITH CAUTION - YOUR RIFLE WILL BE DIFFERENT THAN MINE

Lapua Brass
107 gr. Sierra HPBT
42.0 gr. H-4350
CCI BR-2
.010 off the lands

3 & 5 shot groups 1/4 to 3/8 consistently

 

[SeabeeKen]

Hey guys, it's time to crank out another Cartridge Guide. These are a big job--requiring many man-hours. But readers sure do like them. The .308 Cartridge Guide has racked up over 19,000 pageviews!

We hope to release a .243 Cartridge Guide soon.

You can help by providing 'pet loads'. We need powder weight and brand, bullet weight and type, primer type, brass type, cartridge OAL,or seating depth). It's also very helpful to have chronograph data,fps) and some comment about accuracy.

In addition, we'd like to hear your reports about preferred powders, primers, and brass. I've shot the Remington, Lapua, and Norma, and the Lapua was my favorite but Norma was pretty good.

The more input we get from users, the better the article can be--so please consider contributing.

Thanks,

Mr. Moderator :comp:

I have developed a good amount of data with a number of powders and bullets in 243 AI. It is on a spreadsheet on my Mac (if I haven’t lost it). Is there an email where I can send it? Pm me and I’ll get it out if you’re interested. You should also have my email of file and if so, just email me.

 

[Rule 243]

I'm a new guy here, never shot any rifle competition but I've shot a lot of handgun competition. However I do have about 50 years of reloading experience.
I had a heavy barrel Remington 243 BDL that now belongs to my oldest Grandson, it's a very accurate rifle with the right loads.
The barrel is a stock Remington 24 inch with a 9.25 twist.
The load that rifle likes best is 44.6 grs of IMR4831 with a Nosler 95 gr Ballistic Tip, Remington 9.5M primer, Remington Brass that I uniformed the primer pocket depth and flash holes.
The OAL measured from the bullet tip to base ( didn't have a comparator back then ) is 2.685, case length trimmed to 2.035.
Accuracy for 5 shots at 100 yards is 0.330 pretty little clover leaf. Sorry I don't have all the chronograph information on that load anymore but it was checked using a Pact chronograph set 10 feet from the muzzle.

Fast forward to my new rifle, It's a Remington 700 SA that's been blue printed supports a Shilen stainless 26 inch select match barrel, 8 twist, chambered in 243 AI.
MDT XRS chassis with a Trigger Tech trigger set at 1.25 pounds.
I'm still developing loads but one the rifle seems to like real well is 45.5 grs of IMR 4831 with a Berger 95 gr Classic Hunter #24570 OAL 2.240 measured at the base and the ogive, Remington 9.5M primer, Remington brass primer pockets and flash holes prepped the same as above.
Velocity 3232, SD 3, ES 7, checked with a Magneto Speed chronograph.
Shooting 5\8 inch at 100 yards.
My load development has slowed way down because the public range I go to has no shade and I'm not fond of shooting with the sun cooking me and my rifle.

I hope everyone has a good day and thanks for letting me join the group.

 

[Rule 243]

Got up early this morning to head to the range to try a new load in my 243 AI.
I posted the gun information in my previous thread so I won't bore everyone with it again.
The load I shot today was a Sierra 85 gr BTHP loaded on top of 47 grs of IMR 4831, PMC brass, primer pockets and flash holes uniformed, Remington 9.5 primers, OAL measured at the ogive and base is 2.025.
Velocity average is 3328, ES 29, SD16.
Group size is 0.720 shot off a bipod, I will do more testing with this load especially at longer ranges, it does show promise.

Everyone have a great day.

 

[Rule 243]

This will be my go to load for my 243 AI.
44 grs IMR 4831.
Barnes 105 Match Burner #30206
Remington Brass, primer pockets prepped to same depth flash holes uniformed.
CBTO 2.205 .030 off lands.
Remington 9.5M primer.
Velocity 3050 fps.
Accuracy at 100 yards .290 inch.

Best Regards to all.