Well I caved, down the hole I go….

[sierracharlie338]

I got my Tikka 243 AI back from rechambering and started fire forming with Hornady brass. Loaded 10 with 4831sc at my coal, I started at 2 grains below max and started shooting. First 4 that shot were 1 big hole, fifth shot was about .75” out. I was only able to chamber 6 of the 10 rounds I loaded. Aside from the not chambering issue I was pretty happy with accuracy and velocity consistency 2868 fps. Switched to Peterson, dropped a grain and continued. No issues chambering and accuracy continues to be acceptable, haven’t shot a group on paper since the first 5, but I was able to stack shots on top of each other at 491 prone with both a bipod and off back pack. Velocity at 44 gns is 2814 but less consistent I assume due to case fill. 108 eldm View attachment 664279

That’s a crispy looking shoulder my dude! I’m running 44.5 right at 2900 with the 105s

 

[fshaw]

Nice rig. I have a couple .243s and glad to see people still choosing them. It’s always served me well.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Taking the 243 back out in the morning for some more testing. Really enjoying this thing.

Got a Tikka 223 for my kiddo and working on getting it prepped and ready to run. Will be shooting the 77tmks

 

[sierracharlie338]

Not a bad outing. Found a decent load for the rifle running about 2900 with the 105 and minimal load work up. Bottom left impact was from a different target. Will run with this until I get through all the virgin brass.
Definitely need a new scope because the POS vortex shifted zero from last range trip just sitting in the office.

Still hate the stock and will be ordering a bravo this week.

 

[Reddish]

Well, my T3X 1-8 .243 will arrive this week. I tried really hard to talk myself out of it, but that only lasted til I found a good deal.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Well, my T3X 1-8 .243 will arrive this week. I tried really hard to talk myself out of it, but that only lasted til I found a good deal.

Nicely done!

 

[wyosam]

That’s a crispy looking shoulder my dude! I’m running 44.5 right at 2900 with the 105s

Seems like 105s out of a 243 should be several hundred FPS faster than that. Those seem more like 6 Dasher speeds?


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[sierracharlie338]

Seems like 105s out of a 243 should be several hundred FPS faster than that. Those seem more like 6 Dasher speeds?


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It’s not a maxed out load. And the rifle has only 50 rounds through it currently. I did a half ass load dev and found a decent velocity and ran with it. I plan to replace this barrel in the future because I’m not a fan of pencil barrels and would like a little more meat for a suppressor. Just testing out a factory Tikka before I make it a custom off the action.

 

[gbflyer]

View attachment 675366

Not a bad outing. Found a decent load for the rifle running about 2900 with the 105 and minimal load work up. Bottom left impact was from a different target. Will run with this until I get through all the virgin brass.
Definitely need a new scope because the POS vortex shifted zero from last range trip just sitting in the office.

Still hate the stock and will be ordering a bravo this week.

That target is upside down lol. Good shooting!


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[sierracharlie338]

That target is upside down lol. Good shooting!


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Was in a hurry and clearly not paying attention when I stapled it up there. Sat down at bench and was like oh well lol. Couldn’t walk back down til after I shot anyway since it was a public range.

 

[sveltri]

Shot the first few for load dev: 243 Imp, 108 eld-m, H1000 (49, 49.5, 50) Tikka 22" barrel shot count 112, 100 yds. I loaded 2 ea at the weights above, ave velocities were: 49-2972, 45.4, 22.7; 49.5-2994 only 1 shot recorded, forgot to arm the garmin; 50-3051, 20.8, 10.4. I'm probably going to load 10 @ 49.5 and see how it groups. The hole marked "X" is from a previous session.

"

 

[General RE LEE]

View attachment 675366

Not a bad outing. Found a decent load for the rifle running about 2900 with the 105 and minimal load work up. Bottom left impact was from a different target. Will run with this until I get through all the virgin brass.
Definitely need a new scope because the POS vortex shifted zero from last range trip just sitting in the office.

Still hate the stock and will be ordering a bravo this week.

If this is a hunting rifle, you can make small tweaks but sub MOA is good to go on an deer sized vital to 600-800 yards. You can kill a lot of critters with that load.

 

[eric1115]

Shot the first few for load dev: 243 Imp, 108 eld-m, H1000 (49, 49.5, 50) Tikka 22" barrel shot count 112, 100 yds. I loaded 2 ea at the weights above, ave velocities were: 49-2972, 45.4, 22.7; 49.5-2994 only 1 shot recorded, forgot to arm the garmin; 50-3051, 20.8, 10.4. I'm probably going to load 10 @ 49.5 and see how it groups. The hole marked "X" is from a previous session.

"View attachment 676893

What was your COAL? 2.9ish?

I'm super excited, my Tikka .243 AI rechamber should be back from the smith in the next week or two.

I was hoping to hit 2900-2950 with 108 in a 19" barrel with H1000, looks like I should be right there.

 

[sveltri]

What was your COAL? 2.9ish?

I'm super excited, my Tikka .243 AI rechamber should be back from the smith in the next week or two.

I was hoping to hit 2900-2950 with 108 in a 19" barrel with H1000, looks like I should be right there.

2.8333 puts the boattail/bearing surface right at the neck/shoulder junction. I am right on the lands.

 

[sierracharlie338]

If this is a hunting rifle, you can make small tweaks but sub MOA is good to go on a deer sized vital to 600-800 yards. You can kill a lot of critters with that load.

For sure. This isn’t a tack driver and I don’t expect it to be. It will be plenty sufficient for what I want to do with it.

 

[sierracharlie338]

Shot the first few for load dev: 243 Imp, 108 eld-m, H1000 (49, 49.5, 50) Tikka 22" barrel shot count 112, 100 yds. I loaded 2 ea at the weights above, ave velocities were: 49-2972, 45.4, 22.7; 49.5-2994 only 1 shot recorded, forgot to arm the garmin; 50-3051, 20.8, 10.4. I'm probably going to load 10 @ 49.5 and see how it groups. The hole marked "X" is from a previous session.

"

Pretty good speeds it seems. Interested to see what else you come up with.

 

[CBB1]

Those numbers seem higher than I expected. I know Improving gives additional powder capacity but does it change the pressures the gun can tolerate?


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[sveltri]

Those numbers seem higher than I expected. I know Improving gives additional powder capacity but does it change the pressures the gun can tolerate?


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Same powder charge in larger capacity case reduces pressure, I should be approx 10% below max pressure. However, I am out of room for powder without having a compressed load. I get the tiniest little crunch at 50, that said a drop tube would eliminate that.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

Just did a bunch of testing with my 8 twist t3 243 with 108s and H4350/H1000. Ended up with 41.3 H4350 with Starline brass and CCI 200s (2916fps, 5.9sd). Could've squeezed another 50fps out of it with H4350 or 100fps with H1000 but 41.3 H4350 was the clear winner.

 

[Mulyhuntr]

Shot the first few for load dev: 243 Imp, 108 eld-m, H1000 (49, 49.5, 50) Tikka 22" barrel shot count 112, 100 yds. I loaded 2 ea at the weights above, ave velocities were: 49-2972, 45.4, 22.7; 49.5-2994 only 1 shot recorded, forgot to arm the garmin; 50-3051, 20.8, 10.4. I'm probably going to load 10 @ 49.5 and see how it groups. The hole marked "X" is from a previous session.

"View attachment 676893

Interesting. I was at 3000fps with 48gr H1000 and 3050 with 48.7gr in a standard 243 chamber with 22" barrel. Garmin as well.