.243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

[BgBmBoo]

Hi gang.
I am looking for some input on what charge weights folks are using in their .243's,107 SMK's and/or 115 DTAC's and RL-17 powder.

I have not been able to find much published data. I have a jug of it and would like to try it out. I normally use H4350 for the heavies in .243's. But I will be using a short(er) barrel (25") and thought maybe the RL-17 would help get the velocity up a bit.

So any min and max charge weight range or again....just what folks are using for these bullets and the RL-17 powder.

Thanks a bunch,Stan

 

[GO-FASTER]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

I run it in my standard .243 with the 105 A Max.tested from
41-44 gr. around 60 deg. 400 ft. elev. 26" barrel
my load is 43.5 g. F-210 2.830" oal 3150 fps with new brass,shoots 1/2" or better at 100 yd.
I would start low .5 gr. was a big jump in fps

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

Good to hear. Thank you for the info. I was planning on starting around 42gr. But now I think I will drop it down a bit and work up.

Take care,Stan

 

[308sako]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

deleted in protest

 

[rwest309]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

For mine

42.0 grains of RL 17 with 107 SMK yeilds 3010 out of an 8 twist shilen

39.1 grains of RL 17 with 115 dtac yeilds 2900 from the same gun in lapua brass with wolf primers. 41.8 grains is max load for my rifle with the dtac/rl 17 combo. Shot a really nice .188 five shot group with this recently. 7-9 fps es is fairly common.

 

[jrbet83]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

Good input guys, but fps means little if you don't state your barrel length. Distance off the lands should also be stated, because a load safe at .020" may not be into the lands.

 

[rwest309]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

22 inch shilen select match with seated .020 off.

 

[jrbet83]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rwest</div><div class="ubbcode-body">22 inch shilen select match with seated .020 off. </div></div>

Wow, that's screaming for a 22". How's your pressure?

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

Wow...that speed from a 22" tube? I was worried about getting in the 2900+ fps range out of a 25" Kreiger.

Take care,Stan

 

[308sako]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

deleted in protest

 

[rwest309]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

As far as pressure, I am about a grain and a half under max for my rifle with the 115 load. No evidence on the primers or brass thus far.

I was amazed to get over 3000 with the 107's in a 22 inch tube also. My smith did everything but beg me not to cut it that short but I did it anyway. Neither one of us could believe our eyes when it passed the 3k mark. I was pretty pleased with the results. It is fairly hot down here in se NM so Im not too worried about higher temps affecting it. I doubt I am ever going to be anywhere hotter than this.

 

[rwest309]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

stan you should have no problem getting 2900 out of a 25 inch tube and RL 17. You could probably do that with RL 25 H1000 or Retumbo. I saw the RL 17 as my only option to spit the 115's fast enough to work in an 8 twist and fortunately it works.

Shows green on JBM's stability calculator at

 

[ALMAORFE]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

I'm running RL17 with the 115 JLK's right now. I was running the DTAC's hbn before at 41.7 with a .005 jump. Now with the JLK's I'm running 40.5 gr jammed. The Dtacs I got to close to 3100 the JLK's I'm running at just around 3K. 26" Bartlein. By the way the JLK's have a much better BC. Even though they are slower by 500 they are already .3 mil flatter.

 

[BgBmBoo]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

All great info gents. Thanks a bunch. My barrel is a 1:8 twist but it sounds like it is not going to be a problem getting to the velocity I am after with the RL-17. Heck... I think I will try some H4350 just to see. I have 16 lbs of it and need to do something with it.

Take care,Stan

 

[308sako]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

deleted in protest

 

[ALMAORFE]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

Stan, a fyi, 4350 was a no-go for me. at 2900 it started showing a ton of pressure and ruined a bunch of cases for me. I know a lot of people run it with success so by all means try it but watch for early pressure.

 

[rwest309]

Re: .243 and RL-17 with 107 SMK's & 115 DTAC's

Here is a 5 shot group at 100 from my 22 inch shilen
39.1 grains rl17 115 dtac wolf primers lapua brass .020 off 2895 fps that day

I dont know about the powder fouling issue but I guess a smidge more accuracy would be okay. Only problem is I dont know if I can shoot any better than that.