I just had to.......

[HTDUCK]

While shopping with the wife today I just had to buy a rifle.
NIB Weatherby Vanguard in .243 for $319.00

So, point me in the right direction fellas.
Never loaded 243 before.
Thinking 100 grain bullets for deer.

On hand : H380, IMR4350, RL17, RL19, RL22, Varget

Also ?
How hard is it to form 243 brass from 308 cases?
Have about 1500 of those but only 20 actual 243 cases on hand.
Can I just run them through a 243 sizing die and trim them ?

Thanks,
Howard

 

[Guest]

Nice deal, Howard! Where'd you come across that?

As for powder selection with the 100gr bullets, slower is better. RL19/22 or IMR7828 may be the best choices. The 4350s work, as well, but you may give up a little velocity.

 

[SJB358]

Not sure about sizing the 308 cases Howard, but RL22 and RL19 are pretty awesome with the 100 grain bullets. My son's load is built around RL19 and 100 grain PT's. Runs about 2900 and is very mild and very accurate. Pretty sure I could squeak more out of the rifle, but so far, haven't needed anything more.

Good luck, you'll like the little 243. Pretty fun rifle and very versatile too..

Cartridge : .243 Win.
Bullet : .243, 100, Nosler PART SP 35642
Useable Case Capaci: 49.323 grain H2O = 3.203 cm³
Cartridge O.A.L. L6: 2.710 inch = 68.83 mm
Barrel Length : 20.0 inch = 508.0 mm

Predicted Data for Indicated Charges of the Following Powders.
Matching Maximum Pressure: 63000 psi, or 434 MPa
or a maximum loading ratio or filling of 110 %
These calculations refer to your specified settings in QuickLOAD 'Cartridge Dimensions' window.
C A U T I O N : any load listed can result in a powder charge that falls below minimum suggested
loads or exceeds maximum suggested loads as presented in current handloading manuals. Understand
that all of the listed powders can be unsuitable for the given combination of cartridge, bullet
and gun. Actual load order can vary, depending upon lot-to-lot powder and component variations.
USE ONLY FOR COMPARISON !

156 loads produced a Loading Ratio below user-defined minimum of 90%. These powders have been skipped.
Powder type Filling/Loading Ratio Charge Charge Vel. Prop.Burnt P max P muzz B_Time
% Grains Gramm fps % psi psi ms
--------------------------------- -----------------------------------------------------------------
Alliant Reloder-25 110.0 49.7 3.22 3036 100.0 62910 14550 1.020 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 102.0 48.4 3.14 3033 99.4 63000 15043 1.028 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N560 103.8 48.2 3.12 3024 96.8 63000 15253 1.023 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Magnum 106.0 51.6 3.34 3021 97.8 63000 14997 1.017 ! Near Maximum !
PB Clermont PCL 517 106.4 51.6 3.35 3020 97.8 63000 14983 1.017 ! Near Maximum !
SNPE Vectan SP 12 106.2 51.6 3.34 3020 97.9 63000 14964 1.017 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 108.3 47.9 3.10 3017 97.3 63000 14827 1.012 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 7828 SSC 102.5 47.9 3.10 3017 97.3 63000 14827 1.012 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate MAGPRO 103.9 50.2 3.26 3008 95.4 63000 15239 1.030 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-22 104.1 47.8 3.10 3005 98.4 63000 14755 1.027 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5/NP ~approximation 104.1 47.8 3.10 3005 98.4 63000 14755 1.027 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA15 104.1 47.8 3.10 3005 98.4 63000 14755 1.027 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2213 103.4 47.5 3.08 3003 97.2 63000 14656 1.010 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester WXR 106.8 48.0 3.11 3003 98.3 63000 14757 1.028 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AP 2214 107.2 50.6 3.28 2990 97.5 63000 14442 1.010 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2209 100.4 45.4 2.94 2973 98.2 63000 14022 1.014 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R905 105.3 47.5 3.08 2973 96.8 63000 14337 1.026 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder-19 100.9 45.9 2.97 2968 98.3 63000 14084 1.022 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H414 91.2 43.8 2.84 2968 99.3 63000 13826 1.029 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester 760 91.2 43.8 2.84 2968 99.3 63000 13826 1.029 ! Near Maximum !
Ramshot Hunter 96.4 45.3 2.93 2966 99.7 63000 13751 1.028 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP5 NT ~approximation 107.0 49.6 3.21 2962 95.1 63000 14302 1.015 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP14 ~approximation 101.6 46.2 2.99 2961 98.3 63000 13977 1.023 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S365 98.0 44.3 2.87 2960 100.0 63000 12860 1.038 ! Near Maximum !
Alliant Reloder 33 110.0 55.0 3.56 2954 92.5 57432 15757 1.069 ! Near Maximum !
Norma URP 96.1 43.2 2.80 2952 100.0 63000 13257 1.033 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP19 ~approximation 96.1 43.2 2.80 2952 100.0 63000 13253 1.033 ! Near Maximum !
Norma MRP 2 110.0 50.0 3.24 2952 96.9 57902 15035 1.071 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N570 110.0 52.7 3.42 2952 91.2 56368 15914 1.076 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N550 93.3 43.4 2.81 2951 100.0 63000 13388 1.037 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 ~approximation 98.9 45.0 2.91 2949 98.1 63000 13741 1.021 ! Near Maximum !
Raufoss RA4 98.9 45.0 2.91 2949 98.1 63000 13741 1.021 ! Near Maximum !
Norma 204 95.8 45.0 2.91 2949 98.1 63000 13741 1.021 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 4350 99.5 43.3 2.81 2947 100.0 63000 13250 1.050 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 106.1 46.9 3.04 2942 96.5 63000 13798 1.020 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4831 SC 102.0 46.9 3.04 2942 96.5 63000 13798 1.020 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4831 100.8 43.9 2.84 2933 100.0 63000 12975 1.041 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S385 101.0 46.4 3.01 2933 99.0 63000 13515 1.041 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP4 NT ~approximation 96.5 44.6 2.89 2928 99.2 63000 13315 1.033 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R904 99.7 44.7 2.90 2922 97.3 63000 13390 1.022 ! Near Maximum !
Winchester Supreme 780 99.4 47.6 3.09 2920 98.2 63000 13344 1.027 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP7 NT ~approximation 91.0 41.7 2.70 2917 99.5 63000 12782 1.011 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S070 95.8 43.1 2.79 2917 99.4 63000 13137 1.038 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N165 106.3 47.8 3.10 2917 98.7 63000 13170 1.032 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H4350 98.5 43.8 2.84 2917 99.0 63000 13077 1.024 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4350 96.7 43.7 2.83 2916 99.0 63000 13056 1.024 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S071 110.0 47.3 3.06 2916 99.7 62795 13183 1.057 ! Near Maximum !
Accurate 3100 110.0 47.3 3.06 2916 99.7 62795 13183 1.057 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon Hybrid 100V 98.6 43.4 2.81 2915 100.0 63000 12258 1.032 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R907 93.8 41.8 2.71 2902 99.0 63000 12930 1.030 ! Near Maximum !
Vihtavuori N160 106.4 46.4 3.00 2902 97.2 63000 13118 1.025 ! Near Maximum !
Rottweil R903 91.1 41.0 2.66 2902 100.0 63000 12280 1.048 ! Near Maximum !
IMR 4007 SSC 90.8 41.9 2.71 2902 99.0 63000 12921 1.030 ! Near Maximum !
Somchem S355 91.4 40.6 2.63 2899 100.0 63000 12280 1.040 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon H1000 110.0 49.5 3.21 2899 96.3 57365 14094 1.055 ! Near Maximum !
Lovex S065 94.8 42.2 2.73 2898 99.8 63000 12691 1.037 ! Near Maximum !
ADI AR 2208 90.3 39.8 2.58 2897 100.0 63000 12250 1.020 ! Near Maximum !
Hodgdon VARGET 90.6 39.8 2.58 2897 100.0 63000 12250 1.020 ! Near Maximum !
Bofors RP3 NT ~approximation 92.6 41.8 2.71 2895 99.8 63000 12460 1.021 ! Near Maximum !

 

[HTDUCK]

Dubyam - Academy Sports and Outdoors.
They had 25-06, 270 and 7RM for the same price but there was a hole in my line up.
Needed a short action between 22-250 and 308.


Scotty thanks!!!!!!

Forgot I also have RL25 and H4831SC in the cabinet too !!!! :mrgreen:

 

[SJB358]

Dubyam - Academy Sports and Outdoors.
They had 25-06, 270 and 7RM for the same price but there was a hole in my line up.
Needed a short action between 22-250 and 308.


Scotty thanks!!!!!!

Forgot I also have RL25 and H4831SC in the cabinet too !!!! :mrgreen:

Let me know details and I'll run them too Howard.. I bet you'll have a short work up though..

 

[HTDUCK]

Thanks but RL25 and H4831 are already there !
Dang RADD
I haven't even shot the 22-250 I bought yet (been too busy duck hunting) and now I have 2 projects to tinker with.......
Gonna be a fun February here.
West Texas Sandhill crane hunt to end the season on Feb 1-3 then off to the range.....

 

[FOTIS]

Sweet deal .

try H4350 my best powder. 90 grain AB. About 44 grains. Got me under 1/2" and 3200 fps in a 24" tube.

 

[JD338]

Congratulations on the 243 Win.
IMR 4350 was my go to powder for the 95-100 gr bullets.
39.0 grs IMR 4895 and a 70 gr was the "club load" as it shot well under MOA for 7-8 fellas.

JD338

 

[CatskillCrawler]

Is that a S1 leftover? Either way, that's a great buy. No wonder you couldn't let it pass. Good luck with it!

 

[RiverRider]

HTD, I formed a bunch (500) of .243 out of .308 and although it was a PITA it could have been worse---but only in one respect.

For safety's sake I turned the case necks after necking down. I don't recall just how thick they were after necking down or how far over spec they might have been, but at the time I thought neck turning was necessary and did so. After all that work I was not about to take a chance on necks splitting prematurely so I invested more time and effort in annealing all of them. These cases happened to be once-fired 7.62 NATO and I also had to do something about the primer crimps, and that was another PITA. It was one long, drawn out project and before I finished I was asking myself why I hadn't just gone shopping for .243 cases and put up with the wait (this was all during the component scare of 2008).

About the only thing that I can say might have made it more labor intensive would have been the necessity of using an intermediate sizing die (like 7mm-08) or a forming die, but it wasn't necessary. I learned the hard way about this extra complication when I tried to form 6mm-284 out of .284 Winchester cases. To my credit I only crushed two case necks before deciding I should make use of the wonders of the internet to find out why it wasn't working.

So, there are the pitfalls I have already fallen into for you. I doubt there could be more, I usually find them all. :mrgreen:

 

[DrMike]

Congratulations on finding a sweet deal. You've done well.

 

[HTDUCK]

HTD, I formed a bunch (500) of .243 out of .308 and although it was a PITA it could have been worse---but only in one respect.

For safety's sake I turned the case necks after necking down. I don't recall just how thick they were after necking down or how far over spec they might have been, but at the time I thought neck turning was necessary and did so. After all that work I was not about to take a chance on necks splitting prematurely so I invested more time and effort in annealing all of them. These cases happened to be once-fired 7.62 NATO and I also had to do something about the primer crimps, and that was another PITA. It was one long, drawn out project and before I finished I was asking myself why I hadn't just gone shopping for .243 cases and put up with the wait (this was all during the component scare of 2008).

About the only thing that I can say might have made it more labor intensive would have been the necessity of using an intermediate sizing die (like 7mm-08) or a forming die, but it wasn't necessary. I learned the hard way about this extra complication when I tried to form 6mm-284 out of .284 Winchester cases. To my credit I only crushed two case necks before deciding I should make use of the wonders of the internet to find out why it wasn't working.

So, there are the pitfalls I have already fallen into for you. I doubt there could be more, I usually find them all. :mrgreen:

As it turns out I once had a 243 that my son shot for a few years.
It shot factory ammo acceptably well.
Seems I gave that brass to Creedmore and he still has it.
Agreed to let me have it "indian give it"

Now to scrounge up some glass !!!

 

[cloverleaf]

Howard,
you made my deal of the day look good. Put a Savage 243 om Lay-away today for $380.00 What was I thinkin' :| CL

 

[Guest]

Just about a perfect match for coyotes and deer from a 243Win, IMO:

http://www.cameralandny.com/optics/vort ... per6-20x44

Notice the Wide-Plex model for $279...