Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Got a reloading kludge I can use?

A friend asked me to reload a few cartridges for his .243 WSSM.

Having pity for someone who would choose such a ridiculous cartridge, I readily agreed - he provided dies and brass, and I had powder, primers and 100gr Sierra Pro-Hunters on hand.

My only problem is that the fat little case with such a slim neck won't fit under my powder funnel without spilling powder. I tried making a funnel out of a sheet of card stock, but the powder (IMR 4064) bridged the hole and I had several partial loads.

I dumped them all back in the tube of my powder measure until I could get to a store with the proper funnel - even though I'd rather not waste the time shopping for a single item (an hour round trip).

Anyone have a brilliant kludge I could use?

I had to Google kludge, and got this definition: "An ill-assorted collection of parts assembled to fulfill a particular purpose."

Second comment: Don't know why you're using IMR4064 when there are so many other smaller-grained powders that would work as well--or better.

Third comment: If you're only going to load a few rounds, why not just dump the charge into a scale pan, and use that to dribble the powder slower into the case, while tapping the case/funnel? That works pretty well, as long as you're not trying to load 100+ rounds.

Midway carries (or did) caliber specific funnels made of aluminum and brass. I forget the name, and mine are out of reach at the moment.
I've found them to work very well.

IIRC - Satern ?????

Why am I using 4064?
1. I found a load for 4064 that was recommended by 3 people, and it's a grain below maximum as shown in 2 different manuals.
2. I don't have the rifle with me to test loads in, so the load had to be pretty much foolproof.
3. 4064 is known for accuracy.
4. I have 8 lbs of it.

I believe that Frankford Arsenal make a funnel with interchangeable caliber specific inserts. This is what I use and I also load IMR 4064 without any problems in .257 Roberts, it should work just fine in .243. Don't pay the naysayer any attention.

Must be that evolving language thing. I’ve never heard it used except when referring to an inelegant programming solution, or sometimes a computer hardware hack.

Yes, it was use of ancient terminology, but an "inelegant solution" was exactly what I was going for.

Something that fixes the problem quickly even if it's clumsy (i.e. duct tape and zip ties), but not something you'd necessarily want to stick with forever.

Guys with my military/computer background would have picked up on it in a second.

The problem with using a kluge in the military is that once you've fixed the problem with your version of duct tape the brass thinks it's fixed forever - and you're stuck with it.

Funny...a friend of mine from the highlands of Scotland once asked to use the kludge. I had no idea what he was talking about. Evidently it's highland slang for the toilet.

Okay, then why didn't you ask the three people who recommended the 4064 load how they got around the problem?

Personally, I tend to research published loading data for loading for a new-to-me round, especially data that includes the company's accuracy results, such as Lyman and Nosler. This information is sometimes more useful than that of other handloaders, because it's shot on indoor ranges, without wind being a factor. Oh, and it's also not biased just because they have a certain powder on hand.

As an example, I am just starting to load for a .243 WSSM, an Ultra Light Arms rifle that belonged to a friend who passed away a year ago. I helped his widow deal with his gun collection, and this rifle was one I decided to buy myself, for a couple reasons. First, I have found the WSSM rounds to be very accurate, though Winchester made some strange decisions in manufacturing and marketing. Second, it turned out to be the only rifle Melvin Forbes ever made in any WSSM round.

So far my load research indicates that Ramshot Magnum would be one of the top choices for 100-grain bullets, both because it gets top velocity--often a good indicator--but also because it flows easily into even small case necks.

But whatever....

A friend of mine who was fickle in his gun choices traded into one back when they were hyped up by the shooting press. He came to me for reloading help. We found 42 grains of H4350 and 44 grains of H4831 both worked very well for 3 shot groups with 95 and 100 grain bullets. The pencil barrel then started to heat up and open the groups. Ramshot powders were unknown to me then, but today I would look to Hunter and Magnum as starting points. The .243 WSSM brass was so thick that we had trouble getting the reloads to chamber until I ground about .003 off the shell holder.

My friend soon got tired of the WSSM when he found it wouldn't do much the .243 Winchester couldn't do and traded it on an AR 15. His dies and a few brass are still in my reloading room somewhere.

The thick brass is one of the virtues of the WSSM rounds, because cases last just about forever. I haven't had any trouble with them chambering, but all rifles vary a little.

Many moons back, I was loading for my .22 Hornet (since sold) and the case would go up into my RCBS powder funnel. Had to really be on your toes to be sure all the powder made it into the case (Herco 2400).

Sitting in the doctor's office one day, I noticed the little black cone that fit on the ear light thingie!!
It fit comfortably into the mouth of the Hornet case and the big end fit over the powder dump spout!

Mule Deer -

As usual, you provide great advice and logical thinking.

However, I don't have any Ramshot Magnum, don't want to buy any, and neither my friend nor I are interested in max velocity.

Anything that can launch a 100gr .243 bullet at near 3000 fps with decent accuracy will do just fine for any deer we encounter.

Hence - we make do with what we have!

czech1022-

If I understand your original post correctly, then I have the same problem with my old plastic funnel and my 6-284 cartridges.

The photo below shows my work-around -- using a piece of plastic soda straw to link funnel and case. The red short straw piece is cut off from a Burger King straw, I think.

You might have to try straws from various eating establishments or straw vendors to discover one that fits over the neck of the .243 WSSM. It might be possible to heat the straw end to soften it for expanding over the case neck. Or perhaps you can find a close-fitting tube from another source,

Good luck.
--Bob
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I just cut some off the end of my plastic rcbs funnel for to fit my 25wssm cases

On my 243 WSSM I used the following before buying a dedicated funnel:

Piece of printer paper wrapped around the neck to form a funnel, not inside.

The RCBS screw in spout for the Powder Measure. Small rifle I think.

Small funnel for filling salt shaker, take a case and insert it into the heated funnel tip.

When I was reloading for a 204 Ruger I used a 17 cal powder funnel.

Not sure, but I "think" it was made by RCBS.

Virgil B.

Laugh if you want, but I once used a paper cone made from a file card. To make a short term fix for this problem.

I have made card stock funnels for many things in life and gunpowder is one of them. Think a bit outta the box.