Just got my 243AI reamer from Mason Precision and both of my 243 Win rifles are going to the gunsmith this weekend If anyone has data for the 243AI please post what you have since its kind of hard to find. Gonna stick with the 95 BT and 105 AMAX.

Thanks Brian

Woodycreek

Congratulations on the projects.
As a rule, AI starting loads are max loads for the parent cartridge.
Double check with your gun smith.

JD338

Let me know when you get that thing shooting. I'm looking at truning my Savage 243 into a 243 AI as soon as I get the barrel shot out. Going to replace it with a Pac Nor 1:8 so I can shoot some of the bigger stuff. I'm very interested in seeing how yours does with the 105 AMax.

Best of luck to you!

Woody Excellent choice. I am currently looking into a 243AI as well. There is a great website with a vast amount of information.
go to accurateshooter.com. Good luck. Very interested in how your turns out!

Jim,

Did you use max 280 Rem loads to fireform 280AI brass?

jmad,

Instead of shooting out the barrel, how about rechamber to 243AI now? That way you can fireform on factory barrel and keep your round count down on the new barrel.

CAhunter,

Thanks for info! I should have the rifles back by monday and hope to have some data posted by the end of next weekend.

You know I never really thought of that. That is a great idea. Saving me 100 rounds on my 243 AI barrel would get me a few more months of shooting out of it! Thanks!

Thats why i moved foward on the 243AI without the new barrel. The reamer was $100, rechamber $60, and Redding dies $100.

Woody you could always form using the cream of wheat method. Just curious what bullets you going to be trying? Powders?

95BT and 105 AMAX with Hybrid 100V

Well i just fireformed some brass and i have problems! Looks like i have excessive headspace and the shoulder has what looks like dents or waves. The datum line is nowhere near straight and has waves in it. I fireformed both brand new brass and three times fired brass. Anybody know what has happen? Did the gunsmith mess the chamber up?

need better pics, cant see what your desribing.
RR

My Nikon D40 takes great pics but not that close and i have tried every setting on the thing

Gotta press macro button on the camera, its the little flower looking icon thingie.

Tho I can see, it sounds like your not seating the bullet out far enough to "firmly" hold the case in position for proper expansion. Gotta have the bullets firmly touching the lands, firm but not jammed.

I did not look at your load data, but you need to go stout on the load, not on the weak end.

I used the malt o meal/cream of wheat method with fast pistol powder works great, cant remember the recipe, but its out there and it works.

You'll get er figured out...

Tried the "little flower icon thingie" today with no luck.

My load that i have used so far fireforming

70BT
Win brass
210 Fed primer
42.0 grains of Varget
2.72"

Woody,

From what you show, in my opinion your running lite.

I may be going out on a limb, but I have loaded for 4 different Ackleys and found that the "max" load for the parent cartridge tends to be the min/starting load for the improved case. And "IF" I were you, I wouldnt have a prob bumping that load up to 43.0 and start from there. A quick look at some 243 AI data sources backs it up. And you should be pretty safe going up to 44. Each gun is different.

Set the seating depth out to get a good 0.005-0.010 jam into the lands and I think that ought to clean up your brass pretty good. I know with my first ackley I ran into the same issues.. I just kept bumping up the charge till I got what I wanted with out psi signs..

Rod