light .243 lead load anyone?

[BigFatKen]

I posted this in Special projects and I was told to try another forum. Here is some of what I got so far.
***** my question*****************
I have been told I can't safely load light lead bullet loads, yet I see cowboy action shooters talking about 170 gr lead bullets over 5 gr 700X in their lever actions, .30-30, 38-55 whatever. I have a modern bolt. All I want to do is shoot this #$@% squirell that gets in through my cabin's chiminey. I don't want to lug in a .22 rifle and as high as he is, I don't want to try it with a handgun.

I hear about all kinds of problems. The biggest seems the percentage of error factor. e.g. a 0.5 gr over charge is 10%, while it is ok in a 55 gr .30-06 load.
This can be solved by weighing all charges. I only need a box. Is there a detonation problem?

Any thoughts?

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Ken, howdy, glad you made it over here.

Some members have extensive successful experience with the.243 and cast bullets. I'll suggest they come down to this forum for consultations, but you may also want to post your question on the "Cast Boolits" forum up above, which gets much more traffic than this one.

As with any properly-done handloading, you won't have to worry about detonation or other nasty surprises.
__________________
Regards from BruceB in Nevada

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Join Date: Mar 2005
Location: Yucaipa, California USA
Posts: 883

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Ken--

I have been shooting the RCBS 95 grain spitzer-shaped castings from my Rem 788 x 243 for almost three years now, and they DO IN rats with finality. My load has been 12.0 grains of Alliant 2400, and although I haven't chronographed these loads--I estimate they are running about 1600 FPS. These are not sub-sonic at 1600 FPS, so there's the hyper-sonic crack--if that is a problem in your environment. The loads are quite accurate, and can shade an inch at 100 yards if I do my part.

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BFK, I too shoot cast bullets in the .243Win., but my Ruger #1 doesn't care for the RCBS or Lyman flat-points at all. However, I have had excellent results with Lyman #245496, a Loverin design, with 14gr. H/IMR 4198 and 13-15gr. WC 820. The latter is a military surplus powder (ball) which can be thrown with a pistol powder measure, i.e., once you establish the charge a given rotor throws. Btw, Lee collet dies (neck size only) with cast bullets in the .243 and other cals.

[26Charlie]

BFK - yes, the 5 gr. 700-X load will do nicely with about any lead bullet - I used a similar load of 5 gr. of a flake powder no longer available, but a pistol powder like 700-X or Red Dot, with a 65 gr plain-base round-nose bullet, Lyman 245203 I think, originally designed for the 6mm Lee Navy. Mine was the short version (Lyman made the mould in two weights, 65 gr. and 105 gr.), and worked very well in the .243 Savage M99 rifle at short range. If I corrected for drop, it worked decently at 100 yds. also.

[BigFatKen]

You can't believe the number of people who have told me to stick to jacketed, don't try untested, I'll blow myself up with a detonation.
Famous authors too.
I suppected this would work, but I wanted to see someone say they did it.
ty again
Ken

[Maven]

BFK, Not even a hint of detonation after 1,000's of rounds with IMR 4227, H/IMR 4198 or WC 820 with CB's! Ironically, the only serious pressure incursion I experienced in the .243Win. was with Remington 100gr. factory loads. The rifle and I were unhurt, but the bolt face on my Ruger No. 1 was scored by hot powder gases and had to be replaced. After Ruger repaired the rifle they included a brief note saying "don't use that ammunition again." Ya think?

[BigFatKen]

Ah, oh. I bought 20 boxes of Rem factory 100 gr btsp for $9.95 from Cabelas last year. Big sale. I needed brass. The cheapest brass I saw was in $8 range, so I thought, hey got to smooth out the rough spots in bbl with something. I have gotten one misfire. Not bad. Proven deer killers. Not for defence.

My wife has a new Ruger M-77 compact rifle. Should a certain number of jacketed bullets be fired before lead is tried? I heard 200 jacketed thirty years ago until you get your best groups. I also heard avoid "fire lapping."

I picked some Federal mag primers. I read it is beter to light off 5 gr charges. Is this true? I have a Nephew driving down from big city in a few weeks. He will save me $40 on a shopping trip.

So far his shopping list of haz mat stuff is:
777 pellots for BP season and 209 primers
IMR 4198 for 45.5 gr, 100 gr jacketed full loads, and 20 gr 2000 fps reduced loads. It is in my Hornady book. Someone recommend better?
500 large rifle primers. Any brand best? I have 8 oz of 700X and pound of Hogdon''s BLC (2). I have not reloaded in twenty years.
Anything I can't think of that will cost me $20 extra later? Thoughts?

Anyone recommend a source of .243 Win lead boolits? Dozens of suppliers except Bearthooth is only I have found that has little 6mm boolits. They are not answering emails lately, I'll have to call.

Should I order .244 or .245? No micrometer. Disappeared.
Thank you again. Ya'll been most helpful.


I am trying to lose weight, so having it in my face may be good.
Ken

[slughammer]

Anyone recommend a source of .243 Win lead boolits?

http://bullshop.gunloads.com/

At the bottom of this page is a link to "THE BULLSHOP"

Dan is one of our posters here.

[BigFatKen]

I will try him. Beartooth send me an e-mail about my internet order. I emailed back a month later an still no bullets. bad service.

[Bass Ackward]

My wife has a new Ruger M-77 compact rifle. Should a certain number of jacketed bullets be fired before lead is tried? I heard 200 jacketed thirty years ago until you get your best groups. I also heard avoid "fire lapping."

Should I order .244 or .245? No micrometer. Disappeared.
Thank you again. Ya'll been most helpful. Ken


Ken,

If your wife intends to shoot light cast loads, I would just start with them. Just bear in mind two things. If you get a wild hair to step up in velocity, it would be benificial to go the jacketed route before doing so.

Second, the purpose of barrel break in today serves multiple functions. One is to burnish the bore or smooth it out. Next is to establish memory in the steel. And last is to use jacketed to perform hardneing of the bore and rifling. This is to stop throat erosion. So again, it would not hurt to do the shoot clean thing according to the manufacturer. These are usually based on the quality of steel and the manufacturing job they are using more than anything else. This explains the difference between one manufacturer and another to this process.

As to diameter, you need to see if you can borrow a couple of bullets to see if .245 will even chamber. My guess is that it will in the Ruger. So if you can get it in, it comes out the front. Then go .245. If it woun't chamber, then you have little choice.

[BigFatKen]

Thank you. That clears up a lot. I cannot imagine that these will not do in a racoon or anything that appears in the yard after deer season. These are to be her summer "yard boolits" for all 'round use and to aid in keeping her used to the gun.

[9.3X62AL]

Ken--

I have one of those compact Ruger M-77's in 223. DAMN, it shoots well! My nephew with much better eyesight than mine can do 1.1"-1.25" groups at 200 meters with it--Nosler BT 55's/ 25.0 x WW-748/WSR primer. 2875 FPS from the 16.5" tube.