R25 .243

Dawgdad · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 5:01 pm Post subject: R25 .243

Any one have one of these or another makers AR10 in .243? I just bought one and don't have any load data for one.

slimjim · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 5:53 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Dawgdad, why is the load data any different from a regular .243?

tlo7mm · Posted: Tue Aug 26, 2014 6:28 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Thats a very cool purchase. I want one in 7mm-08. The r25 is the only one factory manufactured for that cartridge as far as i know. I agree with slimjims statement. I cannot imagine it wouldnt need special load data.

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 4:17 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

I am concerned it may be over gassed with some of the loads I use for the bolt gun.

I may order an adjustable gas block and try to bleed off some of the excess.

Aloysius · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 4:25 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Dawgdad wrote:

I am concerned it may be over gassed with some of the loads I use for the bolt gun.

I may order an adjustable gas block and try to bleed off some of the excess.

That might help.
On my FAL and my SA-FN it also helps when I use rather fast burning powder. Slow powder will usually give much more pressure than fast at the point of the gass-port.
Now usually they recommend rather slow burning powder for the .243 Win...
maybe look for a load that uses fast powder? (and loose some velocity)

slimjim · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 5:16 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Dawgdad wrote:

I may order an adjustable gas block and try to bleed off some of the excess.

Dawgdad, I have 3 Syrac gas blocks.

www.midwayusa.com/find...uery=syrac

They have detents so the adjustment screw doesn't back out and the adjustment if along the barrel line so you don't have to take off a long handguard to adjust. On my 24" .223 with rifle gas tube, gas on and gas off made no difference in velocity. On my 18" 6.8 with mid-range, I gained as much as 50 fps. On my 20" 6.8 with rifle gas tube, I've only run it full open so far as I haven't run into an over-gassed situation yet (just getting started). One word of caution, turning down the gas reduces swipes so you can't rely on them for pressure indications. When I've gotten swipes with the gas reduced, I've definitely been over max chamber pressure.

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 8:59 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Slim, That is the one I was looking at. Thanks for the confirmation of a good product.

Aloysius - I use IMR 8208XBR in the bolt gun and get 3750fps from 42.2 grains. (Near max load - reduce and work up in your rifle)

It is a faster powder than 4064 or 4895 RE-15 Varget etc. so I hope it pans out in the gas gun too.

If I can get close to 3700 with that rifle It will be a coyote killing laser beam.

Aloysius · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 9:24 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Dd, what they normally recommend here for a FAL has about the burning speed of your IMR3031. Now theoretically .308 Win and .243 Win are simular cases, with 1 exception: that hole were all the gasses have to pass is a little smaller in the .243, so the burning speed should be somewhat lower.
I think you're going to hit the mark sooner than you're expecting. And by mark I mean the point where your question mark changes into a big smile.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 12:35 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Dawgdad wrote:

I use IMR 8208XBR in the bolt gun and get 3750fps from 42.2 grains. (Near max load - reduce and work up in your rifle) ... If I can get close to 3700 with that rifle It will be a coyote killing laser beam.

the first time you said 3750 fps, I thought typo, then you said it a second time - ah! we are in .243 land not .308.

So Dawgdad, what bullet are you using?

Dawgdad · Posted: Wed Aug 27, 2014 12:51 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

58 V-max Hornady - the great thing is no exit wounds! True bang flop performance. when you hit one in the boiler room they quiver a second then drop in a heap. No spinning No running.

Some guys are hitting 4000 fps with the Nosler 55 BT.

I called BS until I saw 3900+ on my chrono with loads that gave hard bolt lift. I backed off a grain to get 3750 and sub MOA group. Win/Win.

I can run a 75 V-max about 3400. I have some 65 Vmax that I would expect 3550 to 3600 out of.

slimjim · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 7:46 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

I know a couple 6.8 shooters that are getting barrels made in 6 by 6.8mm so they can shoot that 58 Vmax. They just use regular 6.8 bushing dies with a smaller bushing. They aren't getting 3700+ fps though its a lighter rifle to carry into the field.

Dawgdad · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 8:14 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

Side benefit from this project is I am re barreling my old .243 Mauser 98 action with a new .308 barrel. Learning knew skills! Who knew you can rent reamers ...

slimjim · Posted: Thu Aug 28, 2014 2:33 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

I've heard that guys with 6x6.8 are getting 3400 fps with the 55gr pills.

Dawgdad · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 11:40 am Post subject: Re: R25 .243

So - The R25 will be in transit soon and the new stainless steel fluted Green Mountain .308 barrel has been delivered and the reamer rental has been shipped. It feels like Christmas with two new rifles coming together this weekend.

I will need to spend a full day at the range getting two rifles broken in and some zeros and loads developed.

Aloysius · Posted: Tue Sep 02, 2014 12:34 pm Post subject: Re: R25 .243

So much luck and fun... that would scare me. Better live safe this week and don't let anything spoil next weekend for you!