moose2 wrote:

Hello Vince, Interesting reading about your exploits to get your .243 to shoot tighter groups. Like alot of other folks I've been down that road a few time myself. I take it that this rifle probably has never shot very tight groups with any bullet, powder combination. One can spend alot of time and powder trying to develop a load for a rifle that that won't shoot very accurate to start with. I'll take the liberty here to throw in my 2 cents worth of what seems to work for me in a situation similar to yours. First off is trigger pull. What's yours? Alot of rifles have trigger pulls in excess of 6 lbs. 1.5-3.0 would be a much better range. Alot of rifles are forend sensitive to pressure. Need to play around with the torque on the action screws. In the case of one of my Rugers, placing a small piece of tablet cardboard under the barrel on the forend make all the difference. If that doesn't work, then I take a dremel tool to the stock and free-float the barrel. What's the condition of your barrel, does it copper foul alot or is it copper fouled. If you bought it used, it may require a good copper removal. I've found that correcting these three items have dramatically improved my groups. Good Luck with your project.--tr

Gidday Moose2. Thanks for the advice mate.

My rifle was purchased new and to date has shot magnificently. Thumbnail size groups at 100m using Hornady 70 gn bullets. I have decided to step up to the 80gn Remington PSP for better terminal performance.

Haven't had a problem with fouling....I clean thoroughly using Sweets and finish up with Nycolube oil.

I haven't done anything to the stock.....some would say leave it alone. The stock is the last thing I will look at. The first will be the change of load.

I did notice that the trigger had a bit of creep in it when I was squeezing it very slowly, maybe that is part of the problem....will have a look at that.

I have the figures for the torquing of the screws that attach the stock to the action....will have to check that as well.

I really think that the problem lies with the new load...and me of course. I will reshoot using the old load to check that nothing has gone astray with my rifle.

Oh well, as frustrating as it is, it is still enjoyable and fun trying to sort it out.

Cheers, Vince

Vince, sounds like your .243 is capable of shooting good groups. That eliminates alot of tinkering with the rifle itself. It just maybe that it won't shoot the Remmys all that well. Sounds like you're on the right track as far as load testing. Hope all goes good for you. In the past when I've had a particular bullet that wouldn't perform as I wanted, I wound up using the remaining ones for fouling loads and went on to another bullet to try.
Your're right, it is great to get out and just shoot. Been doing that all day myself. Have a good one!--tr

I have never had very good luck with the ladder method. You got the same kind of groups that i do with that method. I do better working with grouping individual loads and making small changes to find the "perfect load" combination.

PaulS wrote:

I have never had very good luck with the ladder method. You got the same kind of groups that i do with that method. I do better working with grouping individual loads and making small changes to find the "perfect load" combination.

Gidday Paul, how are you mate? I am beginning to think that what you have said is actually the best way to go, which is basically what I am moving towards now. The Ladder has guided me towards a load, which I feel is what it is supposed to do, and now its down to the fun part....loading "heaps" of different loads and shooting them....

I have just had a look at the trigger group, but I am a little loather to strip it and play with it...warranty concerns there. It is a litle grotty which may account for the "creep" so I will just clean it thoroughly to ensure there is no crud in it, grease it and see how it goes. May take it to a gunsmith one day to have the action smoothed, but then again use should do a bit of that anyway.

My stock doesn't have the bedding block built in and they tell me that torquing of the screws isn't critical, so long as they are reasonably tight. I know that the Fibreguard stock and Sub MOA version requires 62'lb of torque both front and rear so I will look at using that figure as a start point.

Had a look at bedding pillar kits on the net but I will have to check to see if fitting this will void warranty. The other option is to purchase a Fibreguard stock....very expensive here in Australia.

Oh well, this is a big part of the enjoyment of tinkering and shooting....getting things to work the way you want them to.....can't think of a better way to spend a lazy afternoon.

Cheers, Vince

Well, after doing "the sums" and deciding on a load from the "Ladder" testing data I loaded up and went out to the range with high expectations. I spent the next couple of days with a sore nose after falling flat face first onto it.....none of the loads worked ...bastard!!!

Back to the drawing board. Sat down with a mate who is very knowledgeable and rehashed everything. We had a look at the Vanguard first and came to the conclusion that the mounting screws weren't tight enough and the front one MUST be tightened first. Also, if I want a nice crisp trigger I will need to either get the Weatherby trigger tuned by a gunsmith or, my preferred option, buy a Timney Trigger.

I revisted the load and decided on 38gn 2208 (Varget) behind the 80gn Remington PSP. To cut a long story short, after giving my self a quick revision on the basics of firing a shot I proceeded to put down some groups. Ended up with consistent .57" groups at 100m (and thats with a very creepy trigger).

Well thats where I am now. Happy with the Vanguard, except for the trigger, and happy with the load. All I gotta do now is save $AUD200 for a Timney trigger.

Cheers, Vince

Soooooooo did Santa bring you a trigger for Christmas......... ??

1895ss wrote:

Soooooooo did Santa bring you a trigger for Christmas......... ??

Oh I wish mate, but no , no trigger. My lovely wife bought me a set of electronic digital scales....only problem was they are kitchen scales and only weigh ounces and grams....we are working on that now.

The Timney trigger is $AUD200 out here and that is out of reach right now....damn I hate being a pensioner......so we decided to have a look at the Vanguard trigger. I got my Fine Arkansas stones out and had a look. Found some marks that would account for the creep so very gently went to work on them. It feels much better now. Time will tell.

Cheers, Vince

Hello Vince,
I have been registered for a while , but slow to find my way around.
Just noted your saga with new projectiles. Just spent the same amont of time doing about the same thing with the same things.
Tried 2209, 2213SC.RE22 and WIN 760, there may have been others.
The groups did not improve.
But the best pattern I got was the one when I placed the balance of the packet of projectiles on top of 80grns of black. Felt good too getting rid of them.
As with all reloading it taught me to stick with quality components.

Gidday tikkat3...how are you mate? From your list of powders used I am assuming you are an aussie like myself?

Choosing a projectile can as frustrating as it is satisfying. Best part about my search for a .243 projectile is the ones I have settled on, because they shoot well, turned out to be the cheapest. I'm a happy man.

Cheers, Vince

Glad to hear you have it working well.
Yes, I like to support the local manufacturers.
The 90grn HP Taipans are one of the best groupers for me, but I am finding it near imposible to get any so I have gone to the 85grn Sierras which shoot nearly as well.
Haven't tried 2208 yet but from what I have been reading it will be.