243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

[Cascade Precision]

Spun a new barrel on my sons rifle this week. Shilen 8 twist chambered for 243.

The intent is a good hunting rifle and tactical match rifle. He does not shoot a whole lot, but I do, and I will likely shoot this more than he does. I have read differing reports on barrel life with this chambering. However, the price was right and I wanted to build a 243 anyways.

My plan is 243 Winchester cases with either 105gr Berger VLD and 105gr Amax with H-1000. I am going to ladder test and find the first node that shoots good and hope for around 2900fps.

Is this (proposed) recipe something that will last him a few thousand rounds? He prefers the AR for most shooting, but for hunting I wanted a decent cartridge.

Thanks.

 

[bward]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

Probably not. It's not a hot load, but 3,000 rounds out of a 243 is unlikely if you have high accuracy expectations.

 

[Cascade Precision]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I figure his accuracy expectation is going to be moa at 600 yards.

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

My last Remington factory barrel lasted less than 1000 rounds shooting a "not so hot" load over 87 gr varmint bullets. On the other side, I have a friend that shoots screaming hot loads over 58 gr bullets and has almost 2500 thru it with no issue. That barrel is a Bartlien though.

 

[dzlfarmboy]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I have around 500rds down mine so far and the lands have moved .025 and it is extremely accurate. But I shoot 20-40rds in one sitting shooting steel. But I'm guessing I'll get 1500-2000 of 1/2 Moa accuracy out of it. 42gr of H4350 pushing a 105 Berger hybrid @2950

 

[Lt. Arclight]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

More like 1000 before you see a big drop in accuracy. You will,without a doubt, see substantial throat erosion by 1500.

 

[TannerGun]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

Punch it out A.I.- you'll run the 105s hotter, and I'm not sure how many people around here subscribe to this idea, but many believe that the 40 degree shoulder will actually benefit barrel life, due to case design subduing gasses being spit into the throat and chamber.

But then again, if you're gonna' be losing brass in a comp, it might be a PITA to have to fireform a bunch of cases.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

There are guys shootlng the 6 SLR with H1000 that claim to be getting 3000 + rounds. Good thread on Accurate Shooter you might want to check out. H1000 seems to be the key. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

Regards,
Paul

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I run 45.5 grains of H1000 with 105 Amax and Lapua cases. This has been my load from day one of this barrel (Brux 1-8) and it has worked very well for 1200 rounds. The throat hasn't really moved enough for me too change my seating depth and the accuracy is as good as it has ever been. I usually put 50 rounds through it a session and my sessions usually only last maybe 45 minutes max so I don't mess around. The barrel and can get hot very often and that hasn't seemed to hurt accuracy at all. I have no doubts that I will get 2500 or more rounds out of this barrel before I even consider swapping it out unless this barrel just out of the blue falls on its face. Velocity from a 27 inch barrel is 2990 FPS BTW.

 

[KevinU]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: bolt fluter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">There are guys shootlng the 6 SLR with H1000 that claim to be getting 3000 + rounds. Good thread on Accurate Shooter you might want to check out. H1000 seems to be the key. Good luck and let us know what you find out.

Regards,
Paul </div></div>

Paul,

maybe you meant the 6 Comp Match, not the 6SLR?

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

Kevin,

I stand corrected, it is the Competition Match. Seems like the SLR doesn't quite have the case capacity to run H1000. Another senior moment. Crap!

Thanks for getting me squared away.

Regards,
Paul

 

[shoot4fun]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

BTW, it was not throat erosion that did my factory barrel in. I felt patches "pulling" in a certain place during cleaning. When I inspected with my bore scope it was easy to see why; there were three chunks of the rifling missing about 1/2 way down the tube.

 

[arborpro]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I used to (and at times still do) shoot .243 Winchester in a sloppy Win M70 push feed during our summer high power league, when it was still affordable to shoot that over a 223. the club only has a 300 yard range. My rapid and slow fire load for 300 yards is 37.5 IMR 4350 shot on a MR 63 (600 reduced) and the LR-P (1000 reduced) all shot with a SMK 107, will have no problem keeping the rounds in the center.
During the typical summer league you can expect to shoot almost 2000 rounds. I shoot 40.5 of IMR 4350 for matches at full 600 and 1000 yards . so if you you throw in the state regionals and the state championships and some team matches your are adding another 500+ rounds or 2600+/- total and you are going to want to re-barrel. it will become a confidence issue when you throw off call 9s at 600.
Shooting high power generates a lot of heat (88 rounds with 2 rapid fire strings) you will experience throat erosion fairly quick in the life of the barrel. I usually set my barrel back a couple inches after 1300 rounds or so to extend the life with good results. Lucky for me my buddy has a lathe and a reamer on does it for beers..

Arborpro

 

[6brshooter]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I have 2 savages with 243 1-8 twist, a 26" brux and 28" LW. Both are 1-1.2k rd down the tube. I shoot 43.5&43.0 gr of h 4831sc behind105 vld hunting Bergers. This load averages 3000 fps in both barrels. Shot a .369" 5 shot out of the lw barreled rifle a couple days ago, so accuracy is still there. I have a remage rifle with a 24" criterion that shoots 107 smk & 42.0 gr h4350 at 3150fps. My tikka has a 25.5 Krieger, with 42.5 gr h4350 and 107 smk does 3100.

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 6brshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I have 2 savages with 243 1-8 twist, a 26" brux and 28" LW. Both are 1-1.2k rd down the tube. I shoot 43.5&43.0 gr of h 4831sc behind105 vld hunting Bergers. This load averages 3000 fps in both barrels. Shot a .369" 5 shot out of the lw barreled rifle a couple days ago, so accuracy is still there. I have a remage rifle with a 24" criterion that shoots 107 smk & 42.0 gr h4350 at 3150fps. My tikka has a 25.5 Krieger, with 42.5 gr h4350 and 107 smk does 3100.</div></div>

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: arborpro</div><div class="ubbcode-body"> I used to (and at times still do) shoot .243 Winchester in a sloppy Win M70 push feed during our summer high power league, when it was still affordable to shoot that over a 223. the club only has a 300 yard range. My rapid and slow fire load for 300 yards is 37.5 IMR 4350 shot on a MR 63 (600 reduced) and the LR-P (1000 reduced) all shot with a SMK 107, will have no problem keeping the rounds in the center.
During the typical summer league you can expect to shoot almost 2000 rounds. I shoot 40.5 of IMR 4350 for matches at full 600 and 1000 yards . so if you you throw in the state regionals and the state championships and some team matches your are adding another 500+ rounds or 2600+/- total and you are going to want to re-barrel. it will become a confidence issue when you throw off call 9s at 600.
Shooting high power generates a lot of heat (88 rounds with 2 rapid fire strings) you will experience throat erosion fairly quick in the life of the barrel. I usually set my barrel back a couple inches after 1300 rounds or so to extend the life with good results. Lucky for me my buddy has a lathe and a reamer on does it for beers..

Arborpro
</div></div>

The OP is not simply asking what barrel life can be expected with a .243 but what barrel life with certain conditions (H1000 and 105 Amax) people are seeing.

 

[arborpro]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

Varmint Slayer
My mistake, i guess his results will be dramatically different with the 105 and H1000.
Thanks for the tip.

 

[JGorski]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: ogreshooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I figure his accuracy expectation is going to be moa at 600 yards. </div></div>
Should be doable, my factory 6mmREM shot a 3.5" group @600 last year with 105Hybrids.

 

[6brshooter]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

4831sc is just slightly faster burn rate then h1000. The difference between one 105 bullet and another105 is slim as far as barrel wear goes. Heck same brand barrels with same specs wear different also. Basically if i was shooting105amax and h1000 my rd count would just be a guideline for op anyway. My telling the op what my findings were with another 105 bullet at 3000fps is just a guideline also.

 

[varmint slayer]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: arborpro</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Varmint Slayer
My mistake, i guess his results will be dramatically different with the 105 and H1000.
Thanks for the tip.</div></div>

No worries brother. Just thought I would point that our before this thread got too overrun with barrel life numbers not related to his question.

 

[JWV]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

I don't think you would see significant gains over other 105-107gr class bullet powders running at a similar velocity. At that velocity though you should see appreciable gains over a hotrod load. IE. 2000ish based on shooting conditions. If I am not mistaken the 243 can drive the 105s in the 3100+fps range when loaded to max in a 26-28 inch barrel. If he isn't going to shoot it a lot he might as well boost it up a node or two and take advantage of what the 243 offers!!!

 

[A10XRIFLE]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

In 6mm Creedmoor were shooting them at about 3100 FPS and the barrels are all going about 2800 rounds. Thats pretty consistantly with 10 shooters and 15+ barrels last year. they go another 1000 after a 1" setback, so 3800 per stick, thats not too bad.

Some of the guys are running them at 3000 FPS now so after this year Ill know if that makes and real difference.

 

[JByrd]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

solid data str8 from the man, i trust that!

 

[raptor99]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

George, what are they using for a load?? H1000 or H4831 or something else? Thanks!!

 

[PowerstrokeOBX]

Re: 243 barrel life with 105 gr and H-1000

Probably H4350