243/105 AMAX/H1000 results

[remingtonman_25_06]

Finally got in a bit of shooting the other day with my 243 and some 105g amaxs out at Jmads.

I have 3 powders on hand to try H1000, H4831sc, H4350. Goal is consistent 1/2-3/4 MOA at 2900-3000fps from my 24" bbl. Started with H1000 since Jakes 243 seems to love it with the 105/107s at about 47-47.5g at 3000fps. Jake was kind enough to get me out to the range and help me out getting everything situated so someone with a broken knee and on crutches could do some shooting!! Shoulda seen my make shift seat lol. I almost fell off couple times and done some more damage to my knee. The standard seat is a nice big wooden log, but it wasn't tall enough for me because I cant bend my knee much if any at all yet after 3 weeks. So we look in the back of Jakes truck to improvise and we find a little wooden square block of wood and a spare tire. Put the little wooden block on the big log, then put the tire up on the little square log, ha ha it was great. What a guy will do to shoot...

I loaded 3 loads, with 3 shots each at 45, 46, 47g. Rifle is a Rem700 ADL S/S w/Leupold vx3, 6.5-20x50 LR. Am using Win Brass and WLR primers, OAL of 2.785" which is about as long as I can go and still function. I made a dummy round to see where the lands were and with this combo its at about 2.830" which is to long to function. This puts me roughly .045" off the lands which isn't a great place to start with the amaxs in past experiences. I'm gonna try seating them another .040" deeper, and then another .040" deeper with the 47g load and see what happens. I know it can tighten up a bit... If anything, I'll take consistent 1 MOA with that combo as a repeater if thats the best it'll do. Still makes a cheap/fun LR plinker.

The weather wasn't cooperating once I got there. The wind kicked up and it started raining. I had 3 loads to test with H4831sc but it was getting pretty bad, decided to save them for another day. Good thing is, the 9 1/8" twist Rem seems to be stabilizing that bullet just fine. I didn't think itd be much of a concern but sometimes ya never know.

Results at 100 yards, 3 shot groups.

 

[SJB358]

Looks like your loads are coming along. Hope your leg heals up well. I can imagine you were getting a little anxious to shoot! Scotty

 

[baltz526]

I think your groups will shrink with magnum primers, and H1000.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

Oh I've been frothing at the bit to just get out of the house, let alone shoot!

What makes you say a mag primer with H1000? Not opposed to trying it maybe, but I see no real need for a mag primer in a 243.

I've used them in my 25-06 a time or two, but never noticed or gained any real advantage to them over a standard primer.

I also have Fed210s I can try, or CCI 200s, Which i'll probly try before a magnum version. Bad thing about the Feds is im down to my last 400-500 and I haven't been able to find them locally for years..Only thing I can find is Win and CCI. So I'm debating even wasting the time and effort to develop a load with the Feds since I wont be able to find or get them locally.

I'm gonna tinker a bit more with powder charge, may go up .5g to 47.5, see what that does. Then I'll just start playing with seating depths before I start switching primers.

 

[kendog]

Very limited experience with my new .243 but things look good with rem 9 1/2 primers.

 

[frankm]

Remington Man,

I've found 48 grains of Retumbo with CCI 250 to shoot very good in my 243 Rem 700 VLS. It is a 26" barrel and getting 2950+ with it. Work your way up but I did alot of research and found guys over at OCW forum promoting it as sub-MOA load all the way to 1000 yards.

I've rang steel up to 900 yards over at Parma Idaho range with it. Haven't tried it yet beyond that range but sure it's capable with that .500 advertised BC. I've found the high BC bullets sometimes shoot better groups relatively at 300 yards than at 100. ie: 3/4 inch at 100 and I've shot quite a few 1 1/2 inch groups at 300....!!

Good Luck.

 

[JD338]

Remmy,

Glad to see you out shooting. I think I would try a different primer. Maybe a mag primer might be worth a try.

JD338

 

[Mountain Goat]

IMR 7828ssc is a real sleeper with heavy bullets in the 243. Much of the target crowd gravitates to the Hodgdon lineup due the the advertised extreme properties, but I've loaded for several 243's, and 7828 was always a top performer. You could have done much worse. Those loads are looking good so far and have littlel to complain about.

 

[remingtonman_25_06]

I do actually have a bit of Retumbo as well, just seemed a bit to slow, but hey its worth a try. I also have a few CCI 250s, notice again your using a mag primer, any reason to it? Just initial load work up or did you switch over to it?

Anyone have any experience with the amaxs shooting off the lands at all?

If I can get them going 2950-3000 at 1/2-3/4 consistently I'd be really happy.

It shoots the 70g nbts 1/4-1/2 moa (with minimal work up, gotta love nbts!!) so I know the rifle is fully capable of my accuracy goal. Got 4 powders to try extensively, try to find sweet spot off the lands, and maybe a give the CCI 200 and 250 a try if the WLRs aren't working out. I'm a Hodgons extreme powder guy myself anymore.

 

[Songdog]

I've found that when case capacities reach 90%+.... I go to a mag primer.... regardless of the case. Just seems like I get more uniform ignition, and the velocities are more consistent over a broader range of temps.

If you think about it.... powders like Retumbo, Magnum (hence the name), RE-25, H1000, etc.... were designed for "magnum" type calibers, and "magnum" primers. Used to be, that the "slowest" powder anyone would use in a .243 or .25-06 (et all) was 4831.... and that powder typically responds just fine to standard primers. But now.... there's a trend toward powders that are several ticks slower in the same cartridges.... without a corresponding switch to a little hotter spark.

Let the powder and rifle dictate the primer selection.... and all will be right with the world.... unless you're a coyote.

 

[6mm Remington]

Nice shooting for a crippled guy! You might have to figure in standing on your head with your tongue turned to the left to compensate for the gravitational pull of the injured hoof (foot) turned the other direction in your shooting! :lol: :mrgreen:

I too what suggest at least trying the magnum primer's, but backing off the charge weights a bit and working up. I use Magnum primers in my buddies 270 Win with 130 gr. Partitions and H4831SC with a load that fills the case. I also used that same powder with magnum primers in my 280 with 140 gr. Partitions and H4831SC. It seemed to make a difference and the velocities were real consistent.

 

[baltz526]

Over the years i have had loads with slow powders, with the velocity i was hoping for but found it a challenge to get groups under 1 1/2" with standard primers. like the fed210, cci200, WLR. By switching to a Magnum rifle powder, normally a CCI250 due to local availability. and retesting the same powder charges, Groups have improved in most cases. I have seen a few loads show pressure signs so work up. not a fix all but it sometimes works.

 

[frankm]

Remington Man,

My load with Retumbo and CCI 250 is 2.810 COL and with the Stoney Point I "touch" the lands with 2.840 so I'm jumping about .030 and having good results. Also, at 2.810 my shells function through my mag; barely...!!

As an FYI I started with the CCI 250 when using Retumbo based on other folks results who found their groups and SD's tighten up with the 250 over the std 200.....

Good Luck, I think you'll be pleasantly surprised.

 

[2ndtimer]

Sorry to hear about your knee. Hope it heals well and your rehab isn't too painful.
I am going to try some 100 gr Nosler Solid Bases with Accurate MagPro powder and Fed 215 primers. Both my Stevens and Sako .243's have 1 in 10" twists, so I have no plans to try anything heavier. I am hoping to get over 3000 fps with MOA or better accuracy, although realistically, I may have to drop down to the 95 gr Ballistic Tip to get there. I know the Stevens can do it with Accurate Data 86 powder with the 95 gr Ballistic Tip, but the Sako has a slower barrel. I will let you know.