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I've a few questions for you guys about a rifle I'm cobbling together.
1) What are you 243 A.I. guys using for dies? I'm looking at the 2 die Redding set (neck sizer and seater). Will I want to have a body die, or will touching the shoulders be completely unnecessary?
2) For those of you that have had 700 barrels punched out, are you having them set back to kiss lands from the mag? Looking at some 243 Win dummies with 105 A-Maxes, it seems that a 2.8" COAL leaves the base of the bullet right at the Neck/Shoulder junction.
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Redding FL dies and LCD. The FL die is for bumping the shoulder every few loadings, which does need to happen, LCD for neck-sizing, and the Redding seater works for me when it comes to bullet seating. Yes, set back a thread, punch AI to kiss the 105AM at mag-length. An OAL of 2.813" kisses the AM for me, and the junction of the boat tail and the bearing surface sits right around (just a hair under) the neck-shoulder junction of the brass. An OAL of 2.820" might be perfect for lining up those two reference points. If on the cheap, a take-off 700 barrel in .243 can be worked to a pretty decent outcome. If screwing on a premium tube anyway, I'd skip the crap and go right to a .260 if you plan on using the rifle a lot on game larger than deer. Not that the .243 can't handle it, just that the 140AM type bullets might be a bit better choice for the task of elk/moose/bear. Both of these pics are at 2.813"
Last edited by Jordan Smith; 01/18/13.
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Jord, someone graciously offered me an SS 24" 700 tube that's already been punched out A.I.
I'll have my smith check where it's at in accordance to lands/mag restraints when he puts the sucker on there, and if it doesn't jive I'll ask if he can set it to a kiss at 2.815", so my loaded rounds sit around 2.810".
You're using IMR 4350, correct? I was thinking 78282ssc as a first thought, but if 4350 will do it...
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BTW... those loaded rounds are absolutely dead sexy.
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Sweet! That's a nice fella, whoever it is! Why load your ammo 0.005" shy of a kiss? Unless it shot better that way, of course, but there's no reason not to start at the start... Yup, 43.5gr of IMR4350 for around 3113fps on the chronograph, but my drops match the data for 3157fps. I have lots of 7828ssc, but I also have about 8lbs of IMR4350, with nothing but the .243AI to use it in. So far, I can't really ask for more than IMR4350 gives me, except for maybe 100fps more velocity Absolutely great accuracy, pretty good velocity, and I haven't noticed any real temperature sensitivity in this application. Once that IMR4350 gets burned through, I'll likely try H4350 or even H4831sc. I'm sure 7828ssc would work wonderfully, as well.
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Just in the last couple months I've found my A-Maxes like jumping .005", but the 105s could be totally different. You can bet I'll start at the start and kiss 'em... grin I only lean 7828ssc because of my obsession with consolidation, and getting down to 3 powders for all of my reloading would be spectacular ... although I use 4350 in the 25/06, as well.
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This is going to be THE year of the .243 AI...
If I were smart enough, which apparently I'm not
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I'll have my smith check where it's at in accordance to lands/mag restraints when he puts the sucker on there, and if it doesn't jive I'll ask if he can set it to a kiss at 2.815", so my loaded rounds sit around 2.810". Tanner, As long as the tube headspaces properly, I wouldn't worry about mag constraints on a factory tube. If it's too long, it'll have to be set back, and the new reamer run in again, and/or use a throating reamer. Also, many rounds down the barrel at this point is tough on reamers. Just throwing money down a [bleep] hole. Plus, you want it under 2.800" so you can chase the lands. Burn it up, and you'll have brass for the new tube. But then at the rate you've been moving, it'll be down the road and you'll be on to the next adventure before you know it.....
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Thanks aalf. It sounds like there's around 200 rounds on this barrel, which doesn't seem to be too bad, but I'm sure you're right on the reamer thing... I'll see what the Dr. says. Hey, as long as I keep the action it doesn't count as tripping it And I won't say you told me so on that 6.5 Lapua.... grin
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It's not like I'm callin' the kettle back or anything.....
The big brown truck just dropped off my new toy/project/LR plinker.....
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You should be able to massage about 0.020" of headroom in the mag box to chase lands if you throat to kiss the 105AM at 2.815". Go to AICS mags, and you won't even have to concern yourself with mag length- just throat to seat the bullet's BT/bearing surface junction at the base of the neck...
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Spill your guts!
I just bought 800 105 A-Maxes for 18/100 so they better 'effin' shoot.
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WHY CAN'T I FIND A DEAL LIKE THAT?!!!
I hate you.
I pay about 50% more than that, when/if I can ever find any!
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You should be able to massage about 0.020" of headroom in the mag box to chase lands if you throat to kiss the 105AM at 2.815". Go to AICS mags, and you won't even have to concern yourself with mag length- just throat to seat the bullet's BT/bearing surface junction at the base of the neck... Or a Wyatts....it'll be at the smith's
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You should be able to massage about 0.020" of headroom in the mag box to chase lands if you throat to kiss the 105AM at 2.815". Go to AICS mags, and you won't even have to concern yourself with mag length- just throat to seat the bullet's BT/bearing surface junction at the base of the neck... Or a Wyatts....it'll be at the smith's Yup, just get it done all in one shot while it's there...
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WHY CAN'T I FIND A DEAL LIKE THAT?!!!
I hate you.
I pay about 50% more than that, when/if I can ever find any! I honestly don't know how I found the deal, but I bought everything they had. I just spent the money I made from selling my 178s... Laughin'. Would a Wyatt's be a pretty easy install and function well with a BDL Bottom metal?
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Would a Wyatt's be a pretty easy install and function well with a BDL Bottom metal? I run one on my 260...works just fine, and it'll go to 2.995", give or take...
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Based on the comments of several very trusted individuals, including a couple of well-respected guys from the 'fire, Wyatt's doesn't seem to have the same quality and fitment as the AICS BM's, such as the Atlas...*hint*
My AICS mags are 2.920" with the re-enforcing plate installed (more of a concern for military applications), and 2.995" with it removed.
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