.243 Win question

tlo7mm · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 3:35 am Post subject: .243 Win question

I am looking at gearing up for reloading for .243 Winchester real soon. I was curious if anyone has resized .308 brass to .243 and what are the concerns of doing so?

I have avoided resizing brass from one caliber to another (IE 30-06/.270, .223/.222 etc) in order to avoid not mixing them up however in this case I have no intention of acquiring a .308 (never liked em and don't want one. Personal preference) and I have a fair amount of brass I have dug up for one. I would say if I found one for a steal I might buy one but then sell or trade it.

I am also interested in everyone's personal pet load and what you may use it for?

tikkat3 · Super Member Joined: Jul 30, 2006 Posts: 800

85 grn Sierras HPBT and H4350 nothing liked them rabbits to medium pigs
95 grn BT's and H4350 I liked these but the Sierra grouped better

It was a Weatherby Vanguard not sure on the twist but it didn't like 100-105 grn pills

Vince · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 5:41 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

Never made .243 from .308 as .243 brass in relatively cheap.

Loads...I use Aussie powders, but 37.5 grains of Varget and either a Remington 80 grain Soft Point or a Hornady 87gn HP. Experimenting with Benchmark 8208 (another Aussie ADI powder) as well.

chambered221 · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 6:14 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

Possible problems include necks becoming to thick, they will either need to be reamed or neck turned. The formation inside the neck that's referred to as a doughnut. If that happens it will need to be reamed out, also possible for it to return after further resizing. Depending on the process and other variables it's possible to not set the shoulder back far enough for easy chambering. You may need to anneal the brass after forming. Some will advise doing it in steps ..... 308 to 7mm08 to 260 then 243.
Most reloaders tend to shy away from military brass, to thick and harder to work with.

As far as recipes go I can't give advise there because I'm shooting 6mm Remington, but I can tell you there are a lot of excellent .243 bullets out there.
If you can't get Nosler B-Tips to shoot you probably got other issues.
That 85gr Sierra HPBT is definitely worth looking at.
The 87gr Hornady V-max showed me some serious potential but I never got back to developing a load for it.

SingleShotLover · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 6:40 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

I agree with Chambered about the possible problems using brass other than originally made for the .243. Whether it is true or not, the .243 has a reputation of unexpected pressure spikes. I have had three over the years without a problem of any sort, but I don't try to load super hot anyway. I do know that one of the most accurate long-distance (under 500 yards) rifles I have owned was a .243 in a Ruger V/T. Find the right brass, the right load and bullet and have a ball!

gelandangan · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 4:31 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

+ 1 must ream neck after resize..
IMHO not worthed.

hunterjoe21 · Posted: Sat Dec 13, 2014 9:44 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

I tried resizing 308 into 243 once, when I first started reloading and didn't fully understand the intricacies of the craft, 243 brass was difficult to find but 308 was cheap and everywhere, especially Federal "match". It didn't work for me.

My current 243 load is an 85 gn. Sierra HPBT Gameking over 38.2 grains of Varget. It shoots .5 inch groups from my Remington 700 ADL, and kills groundhogs, coyotes, and feral cats DRT. Since I'm in a "shotgun" state, I have no idea what it might do to deer sized game.

PaulS · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 2:53 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

The neck thickness and whether you have to turn them will depend on your chamber. Try loading a dummy round (no primer or powder) and chamber it. If it chambers without effort then load a few ronds and fire one. Check to see if you can slip a bullet into the mouth of the fired case. If you can then you don't need to turn or ream the necks. If a bullet won't go in then you need to ream or turn the necks just enough that a bullet will slip into a fired case. If you ream or turn too much your accuracy will suffer - so take it slow.

For best case life you will want to anneal the necks before and after the sizing process and have minimal clearance for the case neck. (no more than 0.002" in diameter)

slimjim · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 7:59 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

If you like monolithic bullets, the 80 gr Hornady GMX expands well and holds together. The 80 TTSX is a close second. Both of these bullets shot sub moa for me near max with Win 760 powder without even trying. I've also tried 85 TSX and 90 Etip but this gun couldn't group them less than 3 moa no matter what I tried, powder or COAL.

Elvis · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

mate of mine has a T3 that does tiny tiny wee one hole groups no matter what he feeds it. I would almost be tempted to hunt with it even though its only a two for free rat gun Very Happy

slimjim · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 9:02 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

Elvis wrote:

I would almost be tempted to hunt with it even though its only a two for free rat gun

you are taking the lead on funny there, Elvis!

dhc4ever · Posted: Sun Dec 14, 2014 10:27 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

You should hear that line with te kiwi accent........

tlo7mm · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:28 am Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

Thank you all. I was considering a Hornady SST in 95 gr but I am not sure yet. I'm still feeling my way out. I actually expected the answer that I got about resizing .308 to .243 but I had to ask to see what you folks said. I have asked in the past about resizing .223 brass to .222 rem and found similar issues with neck trimming and It sounds like more work then it is worth in the long run as both .222 rem and .243 win are readily available.

chambered221 · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:44 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

Dad uses the 95gr. SST in his 6mm Remington for whitetails !!!
I don't think he's ever recovered a bullet. Straight through every time, even on hard angling shots.
Compared to the 95gr. B-tip it definitely penetrates more.

Dawgdad · Posted: Mon Dec 15, 2014 12:53 pm Post subject: Re: .243 Win question

For coyotes the 58 gr. Vmax with around 44 gr. Varget is the ticket. seat them at 2.565" . DRT bang flop performance.

That bullet has also worked real well with many powders in the .243. I get sub MOA from the 58Vmax and H414, IMR4064 and IMR8208XBR.