Looking to build a new rifle......any thoughts on .243 AI??

S

scramjet_86

New member
I've got a Rem. 700 short action that I'm using for the basis of a new rifle project. I want a caliber that I can hunt varmints (coyotes, groundhogs, etc.) with as well as kill deer and antelope reliably. I know that there are a number of cartridges that fill the bill for this but I have been looking at the .243 AI. I know that some of you on here own this caliber, so I was just wanting to get some input. As with most topics you find on the internet, I've read a lot of good things and a lot of bad things. A few questions: What reloading dies to you guys use? What kind of barrel life would I be looking at under normal conditions? What twist rate with what bullets are you guys running? I would like to keep my options open in terms of bullet selection, however most would be in the 70 to 100 grain range. Also, where can you find good load data? Any help, pros, cons, etc would be apprectiated. Thanks!
 
Here is some information
http://www.6mmbr.com/243win.html

My 243AI has a 1/10 twist barrel and was hoping to take it antleope hunting this year didn't work out I'm still working up loads.

My plan was just to use this rifle for antelope some LR pd shooting. So far I like the 243AI it's alittle faster than I figured been shooting 80/87gr bullets and I've shot afew 100gr.

Before moving to Co we lived in Calif and 243 was my go to rifle for alot of years and I have to admit never took it elk hunting. My first antelope here used the 243.

I like to say I worry about barrel life but I figure if I wear a barrel out I've had fun shooting the rifle. I like the 1/10 twist barrel so I didn't look at another twist for the 243AI. I'd think you be happy it.
 
Originally Posted By: scramjet_86 A few questions: What reloading dies to you guys use? What kind of barrel life would I be looking at under normal conditions? What twist rate with what bullets are you guys running? I would like to keep my options open in terms of bullet selection, however most would be in the 70 to 100 grain range. Also, where can you find good load data? Any help, pros, cons, etc would be apprectiated. Thanks!

scramjet, I run the Redding 3 die set. I also load standard 243's for FF'ing using the AI dies also. I could get by with just an FL die set if I had too.

Barrel life- I don't know? My 243AI has ~600 rounds through it now. I've not been too hard on this rifle and so far I haven't had to start chasing the lands. I'm hoping it'll at least hold MOA for 2500 rounds, but we'll see. When this barrel is done it'll get replace with another one chambered in 243AI and twisted the same.

Twist- I went with 1-9" on mine and finished it at 24". That twist will do up to, and including, the long 105VLD type bullets, I haven't yet tried anything lighter than the 75Vmax in my rifle.

Load data- Just open up your reloading manual and take a look at the 6mmRem data. The 6mmRem and the 243AI have about identical case capacities. Reading up on 6mm data will also give you an idea of speeds you'll be able to achieve.

Pro's- you can still run any 243 factory loads in your rifle. Your basically duping 6mmRem balistics without any of the drawbacks of trying to squeeze a 6mmRem into a short action, especially if your running long bullets. No case trimming. You do gain a little speed over the SAMMI 243.

Con's- None for me, though some people look at FF'ing as a con. I've never considered it a con; what I mean is that I don't consider putting rounds downrange in any rifle a bad thing.

I also wanted to add this, I would make sure to talk to your smith about his reamer. If you do end up wanting to run a bullet like the 105Amax make sure that you'll still be able to get to the lands at an OAL that'll allow you feed from your magbox. Running long high BC bullets actually causes you to need to have a shorter throat, though at first thought you would think the opposite would be true. Throat it wrong and your stuck single loading them due to the long OAL. While that might be fine for some, I want them to feed from the magbox and a singleshot is of no interest to me. That's just me though.

It'll knock the snot out of deer for sure. I've killed them with the 75Vmax, 90grSSII, and 105VLD so far. It'll do for woodchucks too, my farthest shot on a woodchuck was a little over 900yds, with witnesses. Though he did make it back in his hole, so maybe it doesn't quite count.
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Good luck and I think you'll like the 243AI.
 
I run a 1/9 Hart on my 243AI, 26in. long. I shoot 90gr. Bergers mostly with an occasional 87gr. V-max or a 105 Berger. I don't shoot extremely hot loads and get lazer accuracy and hopfully long barrel life. I haven't tried the light stuff,wasn't what I built it for.
 

Scramjet,

I've shot both the .243 Winchester and the .243 Ackley quite a bit. Both are excellent cartrdges. The Ackley version will give you an added 150-200 fps and the cases will seldom need trimming ... that is a deal made in Heaven.

I wrote an extensive feature article on the .243 Ackley Improved several years ago. All of the data and opinions are absolutely honest and not tainted with commercial interests. If you can find a Varmint Hunter Magazine, Issue #30, April 1999, you will find the article on Pages 35-47

Warning: When I wrote, my average article was 4,500 to 7,000 words, but it takes that to tell the whole story about a cool custom rifle and a fabulous cartridge, like the .243 Ackley Improved.

Steve Timm
 

I have done some of my best long range varminting with a .243 AI!!!
My rifle is built on a Praire Gun Works action,Holland recoil lug,Hart 1-8 twist barrel 30" long, Jewel trigger set at 6oz,a Paul Rueban f-class laminate stock with adjustable butt and cheek,it's topped with a Nightforce 12-42 NXS.I use Redding comp dies.The rifle really shoots 107 grn Match Kings into tiny groups,the 105 a-max will shoot almost as well.
The rifle has just over 600 rounds thru it with little firecracking,I suspect it will last for a while yet. Lots of load data around on the net,if you do decide to go the ackley route you WILL NOT regret it!!!!
R
 
Thanks for your input guys. I'm pretty confident that I'll be chambering my new rifle in .243 AI. I'll talk a little more with my gunsmith about reamers and what not, I know he has already talked some with PTG. Hopefully I'll have the rifle built and running right for my trip to Wyoming this fall.

Has anyone tried the 90 gr Swift Scirocco's in this round for deer sized game? I've had great success with these bullets in my .300 Win, just wondering if the same holds true for a 6mm pill. Thanks again!
 
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