243 Reloading Setup

[Fireflyfishing]

@Cubby, I didn’t say it’s unusable nor is it imprecise. It is not durable…fact. I fill my freezers too…not using Hornady brass…or bullets for that matter.

 

[Weldor]

Me too but most of my hunting is out of state nowadays, so I haven't dabbled much with copper. My 3-4 attempts with copper bullets over the last 15 years has been frustrating.

I think was 2011 I got some decent groups with Hornady's GMX. I see they have a new one now. My 308 at the time liked them all sub moa at 100. Killed a cow bison with it ,worked like a champ.

 

[colegeiser51]

Since you are just starting out, I don't think you would go wrong by just getting a set of Lee Reloading dies. They are cheap and don't have the bells and whistles of micrometer seating adjustment, but they just plain work. But if you plan on getting into the reloading hobby and running with it, then I would say get a decent set of redding dies.

 

[Natebonebusta]

My 243 with 85-100gr pills is fond of imr-4350. Shooters World, before they became expensive, provided excellent results with Long Rifle and Precision rifle.

 

[Xstang77]

I think often people get mixed up on all the hype of great brass, for me I've shot lots of the hornady brass and it worked great for me but I don't hotrod any of my rifles just mild reloads to get the job done. I'm getting 5-6 reloads on the same brass. I'm willing to bet that a good amount of reloaders out there can't shoot well enough to tell the difference in brass IMO. If you already have winchester just sort out 50-100 pieces and go to town.

I agree with this and follow the same policy.
My RP brass works fine in 243,I mostly sort my brass for different loadings but that's more so for testing.
Minute of small varmint accurate at 250 yards is more then good enough for me.

 

[bigsky_hunter]

108 eldm, h1000 or h4350, new lapua/starline/Peterson brass would be my starting point.

41.3 h4350 with the 108 in starline brass is a tack driver in my 1/8" twist tikka.

What primer are you using in this combo? Thanks

 

[Mulyhuntr]

What primer are you using in this combo? Thanks

Cci200

 

[ZAK13]

I've had good luck with Nosler BT's and Hornady's SST, bur have since switched to the TTSX and Hornady's GMX/CT bullet. they work great for me.

 

[Wrench]

Peterson brass is great. I have been trying to see how many firings it takes to rattle the pocket on my 6xc and it looks like it'll be in the 20's.

Hornady seating dies can suck and rcbs dies are now made in china. Redding or lee collet is where my money would go.

The slide gets hung up on uber bc....but I have a 10tw 243 that I just fed good old 85gr Speers to and took it to our 1k line and it shot very impressively. Don't go too long for your twist.

 

[wind gypsy]

I’m not sure the 95 LRX will stabilize in many traditionally twisted 243s, make sure you’re barrel has enough twist for it.

I’d probably start fresh with lapua brass but your existing brass should work fine too. I wouldn’t mix and match headstamps. The lapua route just eliminates variables.

My favorite die setup for the money is Forster FL dies with necks custom honed to avoid overworking brass. You would need to figure out what loaded neck diameter is with lapua to have honed to the right dimension. I typically get Forster micrometer seating dies too because they are a fair bit cheaper than Redding.

 

[JayDK]

I’ve got a few different die brands. I’d argue that for basic dies, Lee dies are as good as any. As a matter of fact, I prefer Lee’s separate seating and crimping dies to the combined die.

I don’t have a problem working up accurate loads with one brand or another.

 

[Felix40]

I’m not sure the 95 LRX will stabilize in many traditionally twisted 243s, make sure you’re barrel has enough twist for it.

I’d probably start fresh with lapua brass but your existing brass should work fine too. I wouldn’t mix and match headstamps. The lapua route just eliminates variables.

My favorite die setup for the money is Forster FL dies with necks custom honed to avoid overworking brass. You would need to figure out what loaded neck diameter is with lapua to have honed to the right dimension. I typically get Forster micrometer seating dies too because they are a fair bit cheaper than Redding.

He said 1:8