243 cal. range day test

[lonewolf5347]

I had a chance to get to the range yesterday and see if the remington SPR18 likes the 105 grain SP Speer bullets and IMR 4831 and all I can say is I have to search for another bullet and powder.I also ran into another problem a few non-hits on the primer.I fixed the non-hits by removing the internals sear hammer sear spring:I went at it with wet @ dry 400 paper and now it seems to work A.O.K.
I found a few ruff spots I think put a little drag to the internal hammer this was the second range time. I went as far as changing scopes and going back to stock ironsights always had a shotgun pattern on paper with the speer 105 and the IMr 4831 powder.I know they say the IMR 4831 is the powder of choice:I here some guys like 4350,4064.
I did test the gun this past summer with 95 grain noslers and 4064 someone loaded for me and it shot excellent.
I am looking for a faster powder I only have on hand IMR 3031 @ 4895,I went to steves reloading page on the net. and he comes up with 33.9 to 35.0 grains using IMR 4895.
I see sierra using this powder in there 100 SP bullet but speer has no listing for this powder and the 105 grain SP bullet

 

[smokey262]

What is the twist rate of that barrel? A quick look at Remington's website does not show me anything about this.

It wouldn't surprise me if that bullet is too heavy for that rifle's barrel twist rate

Were the holes in the target round?

 

[NCsmitty]

It sounds like your barrel twist isn't right for this 105gr bullet. I tried to find the twist but there are differing opinions. You should use a patched cleaning rod and mark it and push it in exactly one turn then measure the distance traveled.
If it's a 1in10, chances are that's the reason it won't handle the 105gr spitzer.

I would be cautious using IMR4895 with the 105gr. It's a little too fast burning with that long heavy bullet and could cause a sharp pressure spike.

IMO, limiting your bullets to 100gr and lower will give you the best results and using your IMR4831 should be satisfactory. Personally, I would use the 95 grain Nosler Part. for a hunting load.
H4350 or IMR4350 might be the fastest powders to consider, But several powders will work.
If you haven't yet, visit the www.hodgdon.com and view the load data for your round.

Let us know how you approach this.

NCsmitty

 

[Birdhunter1]

Agreed with the above, if it is a 1:9 try a Berger 95 gr. Match VLD, if you've got a 1:10 don't try that bullet but try others in the 95-70 grain range. I have tested, tested and tested some more (5 or 6 powders) of the Berger 95 gr. VLD bullet in my 1:10 twist Tikka (resembled a shotgun pattern AT BEST) and it just will not shoot it, Berger even recommends a 1:9 twist for that bullet.
Might try an 85 Sierra BTHP or Hornady 87 Vmax with the IMR 4895 and see what you get.

 

[cliffy]

Ideal .243 Rounds

One hundred-five grain bullets are OKAY in Remington 700 9 1/8" twist barrels. The most ACCURATE bullets I've found thus far are 90 grain Swift Scirocco II bullets backed by 44.0 grains of Hodgdon H4350 powder. Sub-MOA accuracy is standard. I've just begun experimenting with 105 grain Lapua Scenars . . . results to follow in April. cliffy

 

[PCJim]

I've an Ithica LSA-55 which is a Tikka import. Not sure of the twist, but it shoots 100gr Partitions over 40.0gr IMR-4350 VERY well.

If you want to stick with those 100+gr bullets, try using a slower burning powder and varying the powder charge to see whether you can find a good recipe. The IMR-4350 burns a little slower than the 4895 you are using.

 

[lonewolf5347]

I had a chance to see how the new loads did today in my 243 cal.I did try some IMR 4350 and can say a great improvement over IMR 4831.I did also find my barrel will not shoot the speer 105 SP bullet,I did notice a few bullets keyholing on target not all that was fired but a few that could be seen.I had a few excellent groups 3 shots maybe 7/8" group from the bench I would say good enough for deer hunting but I can not settle on good enough.
I would like to stay with the 100 grain bullet but I don't want to run into the same problem of keyholing,My question will the 5 grains less in bullet weight make a difference or should I drop into the 85 to 95 grain range?

 

[moooose102]

from my LIMITED experience, keyholeing is due to to slow of a twist rate. that is what happend in my handi rifle with 75g a-maxes. i went back to 55's and the holes are now nice and round. i will say one thing for a tumbling bullet though, it DESTROYS ANYTHING IN ITS PATH, unfortunatly, it is rather hard to control that path!

 

[33rowdy]

5 less will help. But I think the 85 will be better. I think your trying to stand strong on 100 grain bullet for better knock down for deer. I think you are in a tough spot for that to work.

 

[243winxb]

Its more the length of the bullet than the weight. A round nose will work better in the 100 (Hornady RN) to 105 gr weight class with 1-10 twist. Best all around load for deer or varmint is IMR 4350, CCI BR2 primer. Sierra GameKing 85 gr HPBT number 1530.

 

[lonewolf5347]

I think I will try the sierra
85 grain HPBT
100 grain gamekings
does any one have the 100 grains gamekings length I like to compare it to the speer 105 grain bullets??

 

[1858rem]

if the heavy bullets are pushed faster, would that make them spin fast enough to stabelize?

I am looking for a faster powder I only have on hand IMR 3031 @ 4895,I went to steves reloading page on the net. and he comes up with 33.9 to 35.0 grains using IMR 4895.

do you mean a faster powder referring to burn rate or top velocity?

i have been pretty curious if heavy bullets will shoot better at the high end of velocity, but sometimes it seems more to do with the barrels harmonics since under max seems to give better results(different caliber for me though)

 

[243winxb]

Will Bullets pushed faster stabilize?

my guess is No. Not in a given caliber like 243win. You must go to a faster twist in the barrel. If you use the same bullet in a wildcat with higher velocity same twist, maybe? Remember,as soon as the bullet leaves the barrel it starts slowing down. It would become unstable at lower velocitys. Some reading on the subject from some experts here. http://www.benchrest.com/forums/showthread.php?t=59431

 

[NCsmitty]

if the heavy bullets are pushed faster, would that make them spin fast enough to stabilize?

That is generally true. If you load the same bullet, with the same twist, in a 6mm-284 at it's full potential, chances are it will be stabilized due to the increased rotational speed.

A real fix, if you want to stick with heavier bullets, is to use flat based bullets. They respond to slower twists better than the boattail bullets.
If you want to use boattail bullets, then you need to drop your bullet weight to match your twist.
Faster burning powders are not the answer to the problem.
Only a chronograph can tell you what gives you the top performance.

NCsmitty

 

[lonewolf5347]

I called sierra to day and spoke with customer service on bullet choice for the 243 cal. remington and was told this:
The 105 grain bullet needs a 1 in 9 1/4" to work the bullet of choice he said is the 85 grain HPBT for whitetail deer but he aso did state to stay away from front shoulder shots with this bullet other wise threw the bolier room is the way to aim.
I was also told to stay in the ball park with FPS around 28 to 2900 for this bullet