.243 Ackley Improved

sabotagefront

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Looking at trading for a Remington 700 in .243 ackley improved. I know there isn't a whole lot of "improvement" over the standard .243 case but the price is right so I think i'm gonna pull the trigger. Does anyone else shoot this caliber and if so what kind of performance are you getting out of your reloads? Also what is your prefered method for fire forming brass?
 
You do not say what your intentions are for the rifle.

My goal was to be able to shoot the heaviest bullets I could, up to the 105gr VLD. If that is your plan, be sure it is a 1:8 twist. Also, be aware that depending on how abused it was, the barrel will be gone anywhere from 800-1500 rounds max. The lower number if used for competition or prairie dog shooting.

I would not buy a used 243 Ackley without having the throat examined with a borescope to be sure there is some life left in it. A Remington is relatively expensive to re-barrel. You would be looking at close to $600 and possibly more and fairly lengthy wait times unless you have an excellent gunsmith close to you who is experienced on working with match rifles.

There are members on this forum who had a custom 243 Ackley barrel made for their rifle with a 9 twist and a throat that was slightly too large in diameter, and the result was that the rifle could not shoot any boat tail bullet accurately. Some of the Remington contours are not fit for setting back the chamber and cutting a new one. If you go with the 3.5" straight section followed by a straight taper to the muzzle then one has more options in future. Remember the throat is first to go with the muzzle second.

So decide what you want to do with it. 65gr Vmax at 4000fps ? Or 105gr VLD at 3000fps ? For the heavier bullets it also helps to have enough barrel length (26" vs 22 or 24").

For fireforming, load your new brass with a "normal" 243Win charge. It can even be a "hot" 243 Win charge. You need enough pressure to properly form the case, so weak charges are out. For me it is 41gr of Hodgdon H100V powder under a 95gr Berger VLD and it shoots to 1/2 MOA. It is my hunting load until I get together a big enough batch of fireformed brass to start load development with 105gr VLD's.
 
I am shooting 105 Bergers in front of 50.5 gr H1000 and getting 3170fps. If and when I rebarrel I will probably go with .243SLR. however I do like the .243 AI and it shoots good. The .243SLR gets the same performance with a little less powder; has a different shoulder and neck and the turbulence point is different I'm sure.
 
I have bounced around the idea of rechambering my Remington 700 Varmint .243 to a .243 AI, but I looked up the .243 SLR and it really interests me. I like its long neck and sharp shoulder, looks like it would be a real winner out of my 26" heavy barrel.
 
He is shooting 105 Bergers and he told me that he is getting the same performance as I am with the .243AI. I can find out specifics if you would like. He is sold on the .243SLR. He is anal about these kind of guns and isn't easily satisfied. Have you ever seen anyone with 20,000 loaded rounds for their rifles?
 
He is shooting 105 Bergers and he told me that he is getting the same performance as I am with the .243AI. I can find out specifics if you would like. He is sold on the .243SLR. He is anal about these kind of guns and isn't easily satisfied. Have you ever seen anyone with 20,000 loaded rounds for their rifles?

Wow that's impressive. And not being a smart *** but yes I've seen others with 20,000 rounds for their rifles haha.
 
I just rebarreled a Savage model 11 to 243AI, I went with a McGowen 30 inch 1 in 8 twist and have just started fireforming by using Prvi Partizan factory loads. They shoot fine in my rifle and give me nicely formed AI brass.
 
Jud96, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but here is the data on the .243SLR.He is shooting 38.4 gr. of 8208 behind a 105 Berger and getting 3150 fps. He also has tried 4350 and thinks it might work better than 8208 but likes the way 8208 flows. He is a gunsmith and has built 4 of these guns. One guy is shooting 115 Bergers and is shooting out to 1400 yds. with it. All of the guns work really well. Most are built on BAT actions and Krieger barrels.
 
Jud96, sorry I didn't get back to you sooner but here is the data on the .243SLR.He is shooting 38.4 gr. of 8208 behind a 105 Berger and getting 3150 fps. He also has tried 4350 and thinks it might work better than 8208 but likes the way 8208 flows. He is a gunsmith and has built 4 of these guns. One guy is shooting 115 Bergers and is shooting out to 1400 yds. with it. All of the guns work really well. Most are built on BAT actions and Krieger barrels.

Thanks for the info! I would plan on shooting 87gr V-MAXs with 4350. Does he know if you can rechamber a .243 WIN for the cartridge? Also, what barrel length did he use to achieve those velocities? Thanks
 
26" barrel. He mentioned that he thought one rifle was getting 3200fps. I suppose it would depend on the barrel contour. The .243SLR is straighter walled than the .243 Win. so no reason it couldn't be rechambered unless the stem isn't long enough.
 
26" barrel. He mentioned that he thought one rifle was getting 3200fps. I suppose it would depend on the barrel contour. The .243SLR is straighter walled than the .243 Win. so no reason it couldn't be rechambered unless the stem isn't long enough.

Okay thanks. I've also got a 26" barrel, so may see similar results as he has if i decide to rechamber. What worried me was that the .243SLR's shoulder design would be too short to rechamber in a .243 Winchester.
 
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