Questions from a newbie
02-16-2009, 04:20 PM
#1
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Savoy Texas USA
Posts: 219
Questions from a newbie
I just made my first attempt at reloading and I'm not sure what my next step is. I made up 40 rounds of 243 with five different charge weights (increasing by increments of .5 gr)...I started in the center of the charge range and worked up...inspecting the cases as I went. I shot 2 groups of 4 of each charge weight. Anyway, I was under the impression that I would have one charge weight that would be clearly dominant...but they all shot descent. In the end I can't decide if the slight differences are the load or me. I'm not really a good shooter but I did manage to get three different loads to shoot in 1" or less groups (at 100yds). Not sure what the next step should be...I thought I'd make up some more of those three loads and retest. Anyway...thanks for any advice...I need it.
Oh, here's what I'm reloading...95gr BT, H4350 (40.5 - 42.5), and I'm loading it in remington brass from corelokts I have previously fired. I know the 42.5 is a .5 gr over the limit but I thought that since my barrel is shorter, the pressure wouldn't be quite as high...I checked the cases and primers and they looked just like the shorter charges. [/align]
Oh, here's what I'm reloading...95gr BT, H4350 (40.5 - 42.5), and I'm loading it in remington brass from corelokts I have previously fired. I know the 42.5 is a .5 gr over the limit but I thought that since my barrel is shorter, the pressure wouldn't be quite as high...I checked the cases and primers and they looked just like the shorter charges. [/align]
02-17-2009, 05:56 AM
#2
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Oct 2007
Location: Southeast Alabama
Posts: 1,625
RE: Questions from a newbie
I would take the best group and make that load again maybe 9-10 and see if it is repeatable. If it is you should then use the same charge but change the C.O.A.L. and see if you can make you groups even tighter. Then you got it.
02-18-2009, 04:44 AM
#3
Nontypical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2008
Location: Adirondacks
Posts: 1,305
RE: Questions from a newbie
You might be able to improve accuracy but any loads shooting under 1"@100yds sounds pretty good to me.For hunting you want to do full length resizing but if you're just looking for better target loads just size the neck.
02-18-2009, 11:37 PM
#5
Fork Horn
Thread Starter
Join Date: Feb 2003
Location: Savoy Texas USA
Posts: 219
RE: Questions from a newbie
I took my time shooting...between shots and between groups...not sure if barrel was cold. My reloads POI where a couple inches high, so I had adjusted my scope to move the groups to the center of the target...when I was done, I adjusted it back and shot a group with 100gr croelokts (factory) and that was my best group. I'm gonna load up some more and take another whack at it. Thanks for the help.
02-21-2009, 07:32 AM
#6
Boone & Crockett
Join Date: Jan 2004
Location: Eastern PA
Posts: 12,753
RE: Questions from a newbie
Voz - The .243 is a notorious cartridge case for stretching. If you load the case too many times without trimming you are going to have a case that is too long for the chamber. You will notice this when you have difficulty closing the bolt. Because the case mouth an bullet are entering the throat and you are pinching the bullet tighter in the case. This can result in excessive pressures.
You may want to consider investing in a case trimmer. The RCBS TrimPro is a good trimmer and will last you a lifetime. And besides, trimming also squares up the case mouth which will give you better accuracy.
Once the cases are trimmed to the proper length, you will need to run a chamfering tool across the inside and outside edge of the case mouth.
You may want to consider investing in a case trimmer. The RCBS TrimPro is a good trimmer and will last you a lifetime. And besides, trimming also squares up the case mouth which will give you better accuracy.
Once the cases are trimmed to the proper length, you will need to run a chamfering tool across the inside and outside edge of the case mouth.
02-22-2009, 12:19 PM
#7
Typical Buck
Join Date: Nov 2007
Location:
Posts: 819
RE: Questions from a newbie
ORIGINAL: voz
I just made my first attempt at reloading and I'm not sure what my next step is. I made up 40 rounds of 243 with five different charge weights (increasing by increments of .5 gr)...I started in the center of the charge range and worked up...inspecting the cases as I went. I shot 2 groups of 4 of each charge weight. Anyway, I was under the impression that I would have one charge weight that would be clearly dominant...but they all shot descent. In the end I can't decide if the slight differences are the load or me. I'm not really a good shooter but I did manage to get three different loads to shoot in 1" or less groups (at 100yds). Not sure what the next step should be...I thought I'd make up some more of those three loads and retest. Anyway...thanks for any advice...I need it.
Oh, here's what I'm reloading...95gr BT, H4350 (40.5 - 42.5), and I'm loading it in remington brass from corelokts I have previously fired. I know the 42.5 is a .5 gr over the limit but I thought that since my barrel is shorter, the pressure wouldn't be quite as high...I checked the cases and primers and they looked just like the shorter charges.
[/align]
I just made my first attempt at reloading and I'm not sure what my next step is. I made up 40 rounds of 243 with five different charge weights (increasing by increments of .5 gr)...I started in the center of the charge range and worked up...inspecting the cases as I went. I shot 2 groups of 4 of each charge weight. Anyway, I was under the impression that I would have one charge weight that would be clearly dominant...but they all shot descent. In the end I can't decide if the slight differences are the load or me. I'm not really a good shooter but I did manage to get three different loads to shoot in 1" or less groups (at 100yds). Not sure what the next step should be...I thought I'd make up some more of those three loads and retest. Anyway...thanks for any advice...I need it.
Oh, here's what I'm reloading...95gr BT, H4350 (40.5 - 42.5), and I'm loading it in remington brass from corelokts I have previously fired. I know the 42.5 is a .5 gr over the limit but I thought that since my barrel is shorter, the pressure wouldn't be quite as high...I checked the cases and primers and they looked just like the shorter charges.
[/align]
That powder will perform for you over a large set of conditions which is what you want in a hunting load, as you will often be hunting in extreme conditions, hot cold wet etc.
