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.243 ai

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shNateO
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
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.243 Ackley Loads
10/07/2014 Last edited 10/31/2014 by shNateO

Fire formed .243 win. brass
CCI 200's
49.1 g. of H1000
Berger 105 Hybrids .035 off the lands
3200 fps out of a 1-8" twist, 26" Krieger
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JRedell
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.3/5 this site
609 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
10/08/2014

Fire formed .243 Win Brass
CCI200
48.0gr H1000
115 DTAC
3150fps out of a 1:8", 28" Krieger
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shNateO
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.0/5 this site
754 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
11/01/2014

Fire formed .243 win. brass
200's
48 g. of H4831SC
Berger 105 Hybrids
3220'ish
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6brshooterXGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.1/5 this site
832 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
11/13/2014

Lapua brass fireformed
47.5 gr h4831sc
105 berger hunting vld at.020" off
cci br2
3280fps, 7.45 SD in 27" criterion remage

Lapua brass fireformed
47.0 gr h4831sc
105 berger hybrid .010" off
cci br2
3152fps, 5.xx SD in 23.5" tikka.

I have found that 42.0 imr4350 with respective bullet for each rifle, shoots under .4" for fireforming. Speed is 3050&3090.
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Jaxdialation
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.2/5 this site
848 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
01/07/2015

Lapua brass 95% fireformed, annealed, 115 DTAC bn

28" barrel with 7.5:1 twist
Federal 210 primer
Seated .02" from lands

42.1 H4350
3041 fps

42.4 H4350
3080 fps

Both loads were .4 MOA , but I went with 42.1
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pdogdestroyerXPrivate
Rating: 0.0/5 this site
26 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
01/16/2015

Kreiger 26 inch 1in8

Fireformed lapua brass

Cci br primer

105 amax

42.5 unsuppressed makes one hole but sticky bolt with the can on. I think i will back it off.

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SixfivesavageXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.2/5 this site
1250 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
02/01/2015

What powder, H4350?

---------------------------------------------
--- pdogdestroyer wrote:

Kreiger 26 inch 1in8

Fireformed lapua brass

Cci br primer

105 amax

42.5 unsuppressed makes one hole but sticky bolt with the can on. I think i will back it off.



---------------------------------------------
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supercorndogs
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XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.5/5 this site
2770 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
02/28/2015 Last edited 09/12/2016 by supercorndogs

Load work up across magneto speed 26" krieger .236 bore, rermington 700 lapua 95 percent fireformed brass,105hpbt nosler cc ,4000mr, cci 250, 2.78 oal

43- 2929 fps

43.5- 2985 fps

44- 3019 fps

44.3- 3028 fps

44.7- 3052 fps

45- 3080 fps

45.2- 3088 fps



fire forming load with 4000mr was 42.1g of 4000mr 105 nosler 2.78 oal, cci 250, lapua 243 brass, avg 2900fps. both 5 shot groups were under .5moa. 1-.5 1-.2

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supercorndogs
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XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.5/5 this site
2770 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
02/28/2015

RL26 from 243 ai 26 incc kreiger barrel .236 bore. 2.78 oal 105 nosler, cci250,lapua 95 percent fireformed brass

44.5-2923 fps

45-2948 fps

45.5-2965 fps

46-2986 fps

46.5-3046 fps

47-3082 fps

47.5-3156 fps

48- 3182 fps

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DogsniperXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.9/5 this site
1046 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
04/18/2015

Lapua brass
44.5 imr 4350
105 Amax
Fed 210 m
3240 fps
.25" 5 shot groups @ 200yds
Works great in 30 degree weather and below for coyotes but is to hot when above those temps and gives a sticky bolt.
Krieger 1 in 8 @ 26"
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BugholesXGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.2/5 this site
828 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
04/29/2015

My current barrel Bartlein 8tw 5R .237
Formed Lapua
105 hybrid
49.5 RL 25
3260fps
4" at 1K

Previous barrels (several) liked 46.5 IMR7828ssc with a 105/107
3220-3280fps
You could sub H4831sc or RL22 with similar charge weight
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supercorndogs
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XFirst Sergeant
Rating: 3.5/5 this site
2770 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
07/22/2015 Last edited 09/12/2016 by supercorndogs

Lapua brass

CCI 250

47.7g IMR7977

105 Nosler CC

3135fps

11 SD

tested from 45-50 grains in .5 increments.

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308220
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 2.2/5 this site
945 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
08/15/2015 Last edited 08/23/2015 by 308220
(1 vote)

Fire formed 243 Lapua brass.
46gr H4831
CCI 200
105 Amax
2.825 OAL
26" 9 1/4 Twist
3125fps
1/2 MOA results at 100 yards

47gr 4831
CCI 200
105 Amax
2.835 OAL
3185fps
.4 MOA at 100 yards.

This load hits HARD at 400 yards. Fully penetrated (not every shot) 3/8th steel at 400 yards. My 308 wouldnt shoot through it with a 175gr TMK at 2650fps. No shit. The 243AI hits were noticably louder also. Badass cartridge.

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jmauckX75 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
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Re: .243 Ackley Loads
08/21/2015

46.8 gr H4831sc
Fireformed win brass
Win lr primer
Berger 105 hunting VLD 2.83 COAL
3155 fps
26" 1-8 er Shaw bbl

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jmauckX75 MONTHS
Premium Member
Private
Rating: 0.0/5 this site
32 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
08/21/2015

46.8 gr H4831sc
Fireformed win brass
Win lr primer
Berger 105 hunting VLD 2.83 COAL
3155 fps
26" 1-8 er Shaw bbl

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DogsniperXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.9/5 this site
1046 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
08/27/2015

45 gr. h4831
Lapua fireformed brass
Fed 210m
3113.8 fps
105 amax
26" krieger 1 in 8 twist
Much easier on brass than my imr 4350 load?
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Jaxdialation
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.2/5 this site
848 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
08/31/2015

New load for 105s

Lapua brass 95% fireformed, annealed, 105 Berger VLD Target BN coated

28" barrel with 7.5:1 twist
Federal 210 primer
39.5gr H4350
Seated .01" from lands
2860 fps

I know its a light load but it shoots like a laser

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Logan76XPrivate
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19 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
12/18/2015

I was thinking of buying a 243ai barrel for my savage, it would be all new to me, first time reloading aswell.

Could I still shoot factory 243win until I got the hang of reloading?

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Jaxdialation
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XGunny Sergeant
Rating: 3.2/5 this site
848 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
12/19/2015

Yup, I hunted and did some club level competing with 243 in my AI rifle.

Once fired though and you have AI brass.....no going back ?



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Logan76XPrivate
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Re: .243 Ackley Loads
12/20/2015

Awesome thanks, since I'm new to reloading and all of this I'll probably be back to ask more questions once I get my new barrel.

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redleg606XPrivate
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2 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
01/31/2016 Last edited 01/31/2016 by redleg606

Fireforming loads with IMR 7828

26" Bartlein 1-8" twist, Bighorn TL2-SA

Lapua virgin brass

Nosler 105 cc

CCI 200

COL 2.875
  • 45g 2947 fps
  • 46g 3046 fps
  • 47g 3105 fps
  • 47.5g 3152 fps
  • 48g 3204 fps
  • 48.5g 3239fps
largest group .352 at 100 M,

100% formed at 48g, but even 45g was 95% formed.

No significant pressure signs at all (no cratering, primer not flat, easy bolt, .0005 case head expansion at max charge)

This powder does a good job of filling the case, 48.5 is slightly compressed, but no drop tube needed.

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DogsniperXFirst Sergeant
Rating: 2.9/5 this site
1046 posts this site
Re: .243 Ackley Loads
10/10/2016

https://imgur.com/a/ibnIj

My results with 105 amax
Rl26
26" krieger 1-8
 
26" Black Hole Weapons 1:8 3-groove polygonal .243 Ackley Improved (very tight chamber)

Fireform Load: 2810fps (gives good clean fully filled out formed cases, prints tiny (.1-.3MOA) groups @100yrds but made 30fps SD's. It's great to 500m but velocity spreads are kinda high to use for really long range so I didn't bother going longer)
108 ELD-M
40gn Reloader 23
.080 jump
Hornady brass
Winchester LRP

Ackley Load: 2980-3220fps (SD's were over 20fps at the bottom of that range but snugged up progressively as charge weight increased eventually bottoming out with 5fps SD's across 20rds at 45.5gn)
108 ELD-M
42-46gn Reloader 23
.010 - .080 jump (my rifle likes anything in that range)
Hornady fireformed brass, neck sized only, .003" neck tension
Winchester LRP

This combo seems to like being pushed to max or near max. Groups were all .1-.7MOA in load development until jumps were bigger than .080, then groups totally fell apart. SD's plummeted as the case volume was filled up. No pressure signs at all but 46gn is a full power load and as with all things reloading, should be worked up to.

Reloader 23 has been terrible for volumetric metering. All of the things we hate, bridging being the worst. I have to hand weigh each charge very precisely but it's rewarded with amazing accuracy and consistency.
 
Fire form load
48gr. Rl26
Lapua a brass
105 amax
Fed210m
Sd 17.5 fps r 20 rnds
5 shot groups under half inch
3280 fps
 
Last edited:
Anyone using Ramshot Magnum with 105 Hornady BTHPs? I saw a load on another site of 52 grains.

I'm using
Win Fireformed brass
CCI 200
47.0 grains of 7828 SSC
Hornady 105 BTHP kissing the lands
3050 FPS and 1/2" groups at 100 yards
 
243 ai
105 bthp
46 gr. Rl26
20" k and p barrel
1-8 twist
3051 fps with a can on
Sd 9
 
Sierra 110
47.5 gr. H1000
3060 FPS avg.
Lapua brass
Sd 8
26” 1-8 bartlien

Not pushing it but should get great Barrel life.
 
105 amax
48 gr rl26
Lapua formed
20” k and p 1-8 left twist suppressed
9959DCCA-85B3-4DE7-B0FC-5210E67639BD.jpegDB79AE67-099A-41AC-9909-1D6ABD916C79.png
 
Last edited:
I rebarreled finally, using a Swan stainless 7 twist, 26". 108eld-m @ 2973fps. Lapua 308 Palma neck down, turned, just so I can run small primer. Found a good node @ 3150s, but run it softer for barrel life. 43.4gr ADI2209 fed GMM primer.

3 barrel on 243ai now.
 
All the numbers I see posted, why not run a 6CM? At one point in time for the quality brass I could see it. Now with all the options available just seems like a lot of extra work for little to no return on effort. To each their own, not hating just curious.
 
All the numbers I see posted, why not run a 6CM? At one point in time for the quality brass I could see it. Now with all the options available just seems like a lot of extra work for little to no return on effort. To each their own, not hating just curious.

Because being different is cool. And it’s now called “6mm Winchester Improved” 😂

I have been shooting this before the 6CM came out. Seemed like a great way to launch the more ballistically optimized 6mm projos. The 243AI is my hotrod cartridge. Barrels are expendable, so is brass.
 
I've shot 243ai for 10+ years, and know it well. Also round count. If I can do 2800fps and get 3000 rounds on a barrel, I prefer that to a 2500round barrel. Also feeding. Nearly 10k rounds and the only 2 failures I remember was one being a MDT mag and one being a ARC mag. Both full of super fine grit, in the one match.

It's just that I know it, have dies, and CM doesn't offer anything extra worth changing to.
 
Winchester brass
112 match burner
Fed 210
46.3 H1000
2975 in a 26" McGowan remage

SD's in the single digits, and sub .5moa groups. Brass says it's a nice light load so I may get a reasonable barrel life. The 112s seem to really like the 2900 range, I didn't push them hard enough to find the next node.
 
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What’s everyone’s speeds with the 108eldm’s?? Trying decide if I wanna go back to a 243ai or get a magnum bolt and go with a 6PRC.
 
I can do 3030fps 26", but found a nice node and stable at 2880. Been a while since i played with it tho.
 
No 108 eldms, but 3150 is achievable with H1000 or N165 and barrel life is decent as well if you keep up with the carbon fouling. 3050 is easy with dtacs and same powder. These are mild loads. Have shot in torrential downpours with both loads with no sticky bolt or pressure signs. I have pushed 105s to 3250 but that is pushing things.

Also, a 28" barrel makes a lot of difference over a 26" with those powders. I have 115 dtacs going 3140 in a 28" with same load and same chamber as 26" info above.

No experience with 6 prc, but barrel life is going to be significantly less when running 20% more of the same powders. If you don't care about barrel life I'm sure you will get a little more velocity.