243AI, is it dead in the water?

[Hawkeye Pierce]

So here is my pennies worth of opinion. I like defensive edges Terminator series.

I believe Shawn charges a dollar a case for fire formed Lapua brass. And he will sell Redding dies specifically for it at a good price. I believe he's getting decent Barrel life out of it as well because of the plus P throat and tolerances of the neck. But he is more than willing to take phone calls and answer questions he's answered all of mine so far.
this is just another this is just another Stone in the bucket of opinions. You asked for options.

 

[ButterBean]

just load an average to mild load 243 with your average bullets seated close to the lands and go plinking. The fire forming will be down easily the first time and totally finish the second time. No big deal. I took my Redding bench seater die sleeve and had my smith turn it to the AI chamber. Bought from Redding a full length bushing die. That's all that's needed. Great load. Very little case stretching after the second firing. RL23 gave me 3200FPS with 105 Bergers at .010 off. Good solid 3/8-1/2 moa. Perfect

This works as well

 

[DocDoc]

AI is designed for a .004 crush fit on the parent case. In this example the rifle should be head spaced so that there is some camming needed to close the bolt on a .243 case. That way the parent can be safely fired in the AI chamber without pushing the bullet into the rifling. The correct head space holds the case firmly against the bolt.

Unfortunately a lot AI chambers are not head spaced correctly. Someone runs a reamer into a standard barrel without taking off a thread. That leaves the chamber a wildcat and .004 or more over correct head space.

 

[Kanoeking]

AI is designed for a .004 crush fit on the parent case. In this example the rifle should be head spaced so that there is some camming needed to close the bolt on a .243 case. That way the parent can be safely fired in the AI chamber without pushing the bullet into the rifling. The correct head space holds the case firmly against the bolt.

Unfortunately a lot AI chambers are not head spaced correctly. Someone runs a reamer into a standard barrel without taking off a thread. That leaves the chamber a wildcat and .004 or more over correct head space.

I always headspace with the specific gage for each calibre, but thanks for the heads up.

 

[JMW67]

I always headspace with the specific gage for each calibre, but thanks for the heads up.

It is very really very simple I load virgin 243 brass with 41.5 gr. of imr 4350 with a 100gr sierra gameking seated into the lands and shoot this forms the brass 90 to 95 percent size with the 243 ackley die of your choice I do not trim till after 2nd firing

 

[GLTaylor]

You don't have to get a standard die to seat bullets initially in .243 brass for fire forming. I confused some folks. A regular seating die will work. So will an AI seater die.

You Do, obviously, have to get an Ack Imp sizing die made for FL sizing and shoulder bumping. I now prefer Redding Type S, bushing neck and FL sizing dies. They work great for me and I can adjust neck tension as desired.

I use a Wilson in-line bullet seater for all my cartridges. The Wilson fully supports the case neck and aligns it and the bullet during seating. Runout is basically non-existent using Wilson dies. My runout runs .0005 to .001. Way back when I chambered my first .243AI, I got a Wilson seater blank for 6mm (get them direct from L E Wilson). When your smith chambers your barrel, have him use the same reamer to "chamber" your bullet seater. From that point on you will be making perfectly concentric ammo. Nothing can move during the seating process. The bullet is held in a caliber-specific cylinder during seating and it is perfectly aligned over the cartridge case, which is held in a centered "chamber".

 

[Kanoeking]

You don't have to get a standard die to seat bullets initially in .243 brass for fire forming. I confused some folks. A regular seating die will work. So will an AI seater die.

You Do, obviously, have to get an Ack Imp sizing die made for FL sizing and shoulder bumping. I now prefer Redding Type S, bushing neck and FL sizing dies. They work great for me and I can adjust neck tension as desired.

I use a Wilson in-line bullet seater for all my cartridges. The Wilson fully supports the case neck and aligns it and the bullet during seating. Runout is basically non-existent using Wilson dies. My runout runs .0005 to .001. Way back when I chambered my first .243AI, I got a Wilson seater blank for 6mm (get them direct from L E Wilson). When your smith chambers your barrel, have him use the same reamer to "chamber" your bullet seater. From that point on you will be making perfectly concentric ammo. Nothing can move during the seating process. The bullet is held in a caliber-specific cylinder during seating and it is perfectly aligned over the cartridge case, which is held in a centered "chamber".

My plan is to use a RemAge setup on this rifle. This is especially important to me since I plan on sending multiple barrels worth of rounds down range and would rather save Smith money for beer and reloading components.

 

[Big Guy]

I'm in the process of building a new long range plinker/Varminter/antelope/deer rifle. The conundrum I'm in is I'm hung up on calibre selection. I know I'm going to build this rifle in 6mm. I'm utilizing a Remington 700 SA. I plan on shooting 115's or 105's. I'm very interested in the 243 Ackley but I'm also open to the 6mm Creedmoor and the 6x47 Lapua. Looking for opinions.

I have a 6/284 with a 26inch llja 1 in8 twist, I shoot 105 bergers It was going to be just a toy, but it is so much fun I now take it out for big game.. one shot kills on elk and mule deer, I thought only my 270. Would do that.

 

[Kanoeking]

I have a 6/284 with a 26inch llja 1 in8 twist, I shoot 105 bergers It was going to be just a toy, but it is so much fun I now take it out for big game.. one shot kills on elk and mule deer, I thought only my 270. Would do that.

I've got an uncle with a 6.5-284 and he uses it on almost everything. If I had a long action donor for this build I'd be strongly leaning to the 6-284 that's for sure!

 

[JMW67]

My plan is to use a RemAge setup on this rifle. This is especially important to me since I plan on sending multiple barrels worth of rounds down range and would rather save Smith money for beer and reloading components.

if your looking to save money do not do an ackley

 

[Kanoeking]

if your looking to save money do not do an ackley

I'm not looking to save money but I'm also aware that bbl life on ANY 6mm isn't something to preach about.

 

[Gibbshooter43]

Just 1 more vote for the 243AI... I AI'd my 243, my 25:06, and my 260 with increases of from 100 to 250fps. But what's even better is the greater ease in reloading the cases after having been fireformed. And from my experience, I've gotten very close to the same accuracy firing the factory loads in my AI'd barrel. It's all fun, and I love the appearance of the AI cartridge. Enjoy... Gibbs

 

[Kanoeking]

Just 1 more vote for the 243AI... I AI'd my 243, my 25:06, and my 260 with increases of from 100 to 250fps. But what's even better is the greater ease in reloading the cases after having been fireformed. And from my experience, I've gotten very close to the same accuracy firing the factory loads in my AI'd barrel. It's all fun, and I love the appearance of the AI cartridge. Enjoy... Gibbs

Have you had any feeding issues with your AI? What length bbl are you running for your 243 AI?

 

[Gibbshooter43]

I've had no feeding problems with 105's, Nosler Ballistic Tips, and Nosler AB's through a 24" tube. I'm focused exclusively on hunting, and shooting to determine the best loads for my rifle ( a Remington 700 by the way). 1moa (and just under on my good days) at 150 yards will put meat in the freezer.