.243 AI Load Workup (pics)

[Verminator2]

Hey guys. I borrowed a buddies 243 AI to see how I liked it since I'm thinking about buying one. Just thought I would share some load work up. I did a ladder test with IMR 4895 and a 75 grain Vmax, running up from 40gr.- 43gr. in .5 gr. increments. All testing was done at 200 yards off of a portable bench with a bipod and rear bag. I had 3 rounds touching; 41.5, 42, and 42.5 I loaded up 5 of each and shot them at 200. I lost my target so no pics of these groups. 41.5 and 42.5 were about Moa, but the 42gr. load was .5 moa, with 3 shots in .222" I loaded up about 25 of these, shot some rabbits and a squirrel, it was nasty, sorry no pictures. I had some Sierra 85gr. HPBT laying around so I loaded up 3 rounds of 43.5,44,44.5,45,45.5, and 46 gr. of IMR 4350. Here's the pictures (finally )



I can't get the other target on here, photobucket isn't working. I'll get the rest of the ladder later. Any way I take 43.5 and 46 grains, both shot the same. Here's the target.




Shot a rockchuck today at 314 yards, destroyed him pretty good with a 75gr. V-max, I have a pic on my phone, but I don't know how to get it off I wanted to practice my bench shooting a little more as the postal shoot is coming up. I also wanted to check if my POI changed if I had or didn't have a bipod on. The first 3 shots went all over, but the next 5 did good. These were shot with a front benchrest pedestal. The next 5 did even better with a bipod on.



I went out and shot some balloons to see what I was capable of. Set them out at 500,380, and 525. First shot hit on the 500 balloon, but it took me 4 shots to hit the one at 380 Second shot hit on the one at 525. I felt pretty good about it This was in a 5 mph wind coming from about 4 '0 clock. Here's the weapon that did all this.



An HS stock, douglas barrel, and a Leupold 3.5-14 LPS scope. Just thought I would share this with you guys.

-V2

[acloco]

Very nice! Tell us more about the rifle please!!!

...and if you own the reamer, I want to rent it!

[Verminator2]

Thanks. I don't know a whole lot about the rifle. It has a Douglas SS barrel, I'm not sure which one. The stock I'm pretty sure is an HS Precision stock, looks like the ones that come on the Remington VSSFs . I threw a harris 9-13" bipod on it and a sling. He had a leupold LPS 3.5-14x50 scope on with a normal duplex reticle, very nice scope. I think it has a rifle basix or some sort of trigger in it set at about 1 1/2 - 2 pounds. That's about all I know about it, I didn't ask for any specifics. I think it was his reamer, sorry. I'm going to try some H4831 in it tonight with some 85gr. HPBT and see if I can get it any smaller than the 4350. Ran out of 4895 yesterday

[Verminator2]

I did a ladder test with H4831 and the 85 HPBT, had 3 shots under .5", so I loaded 5 of each. The first group (46.5 grains) went into a very nice .587" at 200 yards. 47gr. and 48 gr. were very bad, around 2.5 inches, with shots off of paper, so no measurements. They are the ones on the right. The bunch of middle shots are the ladder, and the tight group on the left is the 46.5 gr. load.

[Verminator2]

Went out this morning to get my drop figures. I shot from 300-500 yards. 300 and 350 stayed at about 1/2 -3/4 MOA, but at 400 yards I put the 3 shots into a .882 group I know it was only 3 shots, but I'm not going to complain 450 was about 1 1/4 MOA and at 500 I didn't compensate for wind so I didn't get any shots on paper. Here's the 400 yard group.



-V2

[Ray P]

Verminator2 ...................very nice..............but..........the bolts is on the wrong side....haha
Thanks for sharing............nice group at 400 yrds !!!!!!!
Later
Ray P

[Ryan S Albright]

I use IMR 4831 on my 80gr and up bullets and W760 for the light bullets for years I used 70gr bullet but have dropped down to 65gr Vmax bullets with W760 it is a smooth shooting load. The 243 is a great round my rifle is not picky about anything. The 243 loads easy and is easy to find a good load for. Over the years I have loaded 87gr 85gr 80,75,70,65,&60gr bullets all shot well and I have used many deferent powders. You have a great long range shooter there have fun.