.243 AR 10

D

Dirty Steve

Member
Hey folks. Looking to up my game for predator hunting. Very fond of the AR platform for all things hunting. Have experience with other calibers in large frame platforms already- mainly for whitetail hunting. Not a reloader but save much brass for some reason unknown to me yet.

Took advantage of Wilson Combat Memorial Day sale. Have a 16 in 1:10 barrel on the way along with many other bits. (Including their proprietary Intermediate length gas tube. 13.25?- Interesting.) Might even be delivered today! I do my own putting together. Have all the tools and just enough knowledge to cost me too much monies....

Looking for any interesting information people can share about ammo options. I will use factory ammo and have to see what the barrel likes for sure. Hunt 0168 has given me some great starting points for ammo. Interested in what those who use AR 10 platform have found to work well. And if anyone has specific experience with the Wilson Combat 16 inch "Ranger" 1:10 twist barrel, I sure would appreciate hearing your feedback.

I have two other Wilson Combat barrels that perform very very well.

Thanks,
Steve
 
Check out Druid Hill Armory. I haven't tried any of their .243 ammo, but I have been very pleased with their 6mm arc. I ordered some of their 7mm-08 to try this coming deer season.
 
Thank you, DoubleLungRage. I have never heard of Druid Hill. They look to have interesting offerings for .243 ammo. I wonder if they ship to New York-i-stan? Will reach out to them to confirm possibility of shipping to my area of operations. Has to be sent to A FFL so I can get back ground checked.
 
Dirty Steve said:
Thank you, DoubleLungRage. I have never heard of Druid Hill. They look to have interesting offerings for .243 ammo. I wonder if they ship to New York-i-stan? Will reach out to them to confirm possibility of shipping to my area of operations. Has to be sent to A FFL so I can get back ground checked.
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background checks for ammo? Thats effed up. do they BG check on reloading components?
 
I reload for everything, that way I always have ammo and it's always loaded with the bullet selection of my choice.
While hunting coyotes with either a bolt-action or an AR-10, I've excellent success with a 75 gr. Hornady V-Max bullet, loaded at 3400 fps. Never had a runner. :sneaky:

If I didn't reload, I would either go with Black Hills Ammo, in their Black Hills Gold version....or possibly what Hornady offers, depending on the bullet sizes they offer. :unsure:
Custom built AR-10 in .243 with a 20" barrel. After installing a 10" suppressor, I had to install an adjustable gas block to get it to cycle properly. Otherwise, it was extremely accurate and reliable. đź’Ż
AR-10 243.jpg

My other coyote rifle is a Savage Predator with a 22" barrel. Again....never had a runner with a .243.
Savage 243.jpg
 
bowhunter57 said:
I reload for everything, that way I always have ammo and it's always loaded with the bullet selection of my choice.
While hunting coyotes with either a bolt-action or an AR-10, I've excellent success with a 75 gr. Hornady V-Max bullet, loaded at 3400 fps. Never had a runner. :sneaky:

If I didn't reload, I would either go with Black Hills Ammo, in their Black Hills Gold version....or possibly what Hornady offers, depending on the bullet sizes they offer. :unsure:
Custom built AR-10 in .243 with a 20" barrel. After installing a 10" suppressor, I had to install an adjustable gas block to get it to cycle properly. Otherwise, it was extremely accurate and reliable. đź’Ż
View attachment 30470
My other coyote rifle is a Savage Predator with a 22" barrel. Again....never had a runner with a .243.
View attachment 30471
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Nice looking set ups! I got parts today! Woo hoo!
 
This is my .243 AR10 featuring a 20" Rock River barrel with standard rifle length gas and standard rifle buffer and spring. I have an adjustable gas block and tweak it when going from light 65ish grain loads up to 100gr loads. It functions 100% but must be dialed when going from one end of the weight spectrum to the other, which is understandable.

With a small bore to cartridge ratio like the .243 I decided to go 20" in order to increase the odds of it functioning properly, I suspect a 16" rifle might be challenging.

I now have a Harris bipod on it. It loves the 95gr Barnes TTSX.

 
bohunr said:
just curious....why a 16 inch barrel and not at least a 20 inch ?
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Was contemplating a 20 inch Rock River with no muzzle threads. (NYS) This build is to be an interchangeable upper due to having 2 complete rifles in other calibers already. And for compliance reasons, YES, those two rifles have pinned 5 round mags. Again, NYS.

I do expect slower speeds from the shorter barrel. I hope the Wilson Combat barrel makes up for it on accuracy. And I like the option of their Armor Tuff Cerokote. The barrel is black now instead of the bead blasted stainless. Less shine is desirable to me.

Plus, ounces are pounds. This upper should end up slightly lighter. 10's can get so heavy.
 
Bowhntr6pt,

That is a nice looking rifle. I did consider the Rock River 20 inch barrel with no muzzle threads ( NY compliance). Hopefully, I can live with my choice. Interesting to see you went with rifle length gas and rifle length buffer. I plan to keep my build carbine length. That is the way current other 2 10's are set up. I will be swapping this upper to an existing lower. Adjustable SLR block going on it. I do not plan on shooting "heavier" loads. But it is nice having options. Will be focusing on the lighter and faster end of the spectrum.

As a civilian in NYS without a badge, I can not have a can either. Strictly prohibited.
 
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i dont know about the wilson combat 243 barrels. i have a wilson combat super sniper 20 inch heavy 223 wylde 1:8 twist on my AR coyote rifle.

it shoots factory federal 53 grain v-max 1/2 inch at 200 yards when i do my part.

your 243 should be as good.
 
So, um, just had a chance to check new barrel gas hole with pin gauge set. My smallest gauge fit. 0.061. The 0.062 started but did not go in all the way. Never built any caliber before with this small of a gas hole. Scratching my head on this one. A google search suggested 0.089- 0.0935 for .243. Another search said 0.095. Dilemma. Kind of makes an adjustable gas block a waste. Anyone have real world experience to lend in this situation?
 

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I will call Wilson today to double check their build spec's. Gas port just seems way too tight. However, I am no expert. Hobbiest at best.
 

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I would go with it and try it. I have 3 243's, with adjustable gas, and you can almost shut the gas completely off and still run. Try it, and enlarge incrementally as needed.
 
When I ordered a barrel from X-Caliber they have an option for an oversized gas port for intended use with an adjustable gas block.

The .243 Winchester has a vast bullet weight range where you WILL need an adjustable gas block in order to shoot various weight bullets. What functions with the heavy bullets isn't going to work with lighter bullets.

I hand load my own and my .243 runs 100% with 65gr and 100gr bullets BUT there's a FIVE CLICK difference on my SLR gas block in order to accomplish this. More gas for lighter bullets, less for heavy loads. Powder choice will also effect functioning... I had some good groups with certain powders but they didn't generate the required gas volume for 100% functioning. My barrel is from Rock River, maybe you can contact them and ask what gas port they use on their 18" Rifle Length Gas barrel for reference.

I recommend you open the gas port to 0.100" and use an adjustable gas block to fine tune the rifle.
 
I put it together this morning. Had to remove the Armor Tuff Cerakote on the gas journal. Could not get the SLR gas block over it. Used 220 Emory cloth. Just need to put the Muzzle Device on, complete the head spacing with go and no go guages, then let 'er rip. Gas block roll pin was a tough nut to crack. Even after using my Little Crow Works reamer on that and the tube. Snapped a punch, dang it!
 

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