Neck size .243

T

tlsdad

Inactive
Gentlemen. Rcvd a new Browning X-bolt chambered in .243 for Christmas. Picked up a bag of Winchester brand .243 cases and set about loading Hornady 75 grain Vmax over 36 grains of Varget (min load). COAL 2.650.

Off to the range. Fired beautifully...no problems or obvious indication re pressure. After examining the fire-formed casings i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile. When making some inquiries, some are teling me that that my brand new rifle chamber to too tight and that i have a problem!!?? Following up with some internet research has suggested that this "neck issue" is a not unusual for .243 and not a problem. So...im looking from input from you old timers and experts....with thanks.
 
NHSHOOTER......was just examinaing cases...deciding weather i should fls or just neck size. Discovered the neck was still small enough to seat a bullet.
 
Since I read your post I just checked some fired 243 cases that have yet to be resized, they too seem to be good to go without resizing and they were fired from a 2 yr old weatherby S2 that has been fired at least 500 times.
 
I usually neck size my 243, 22-250 and 223 until they chamber too tight, then I full length size. Its funny that your talking about a x bolt though, I too just got a new one in 7-08 and the chamber is tight but it is one hell of a shooter. Headed out to shoot it again today, getting some nice tight groups , 1/2" 3 shot groups at 100 yds..
 
Light loads/bullet cause the case neck not to expand fully.

Happens with reduced loads also.

Common to other cartridges also.
 
So 243wnxb....thank you for the information. I appreciate it as Im new to .243. So...do you fls or neck size??
 
Redding type S FL sizing bushing die.
Redding_1.jpg
 
"i note that necks do not need to be sized and are tight enough to accept a new projectile"

Under no circumstances is this OK. If the neck has no room to expand to release the bullet, this affects the pressures of the load. Barring a legitimate precision cut chamber/neck that requires matched brass, the fired case should allow a bullet to drop or be easily pushed into the case.
 
You should have checked the new brass for length, trimmed as required, only, and chamfered and deburred to start with. New brass is not ready to load without sizing.
"...I'm new to .243..." Isn't any different than any other cartridge. Mine's partial to IMR4350 and heavy bullets. Your Browning probably will too. Has a 1 in 10 twist.
Even if you have a neck sizing die, eventually, you will have to FL resize. Meanwhile, you need to resize, but it's one way or the other.
 
You can get 243's anywhere from 55 gr to 107's, So I would say he is saying the heavier side, I say it depends on what you are going to be shooting, paper? Varmints? Deer. My Vanguard really likes 70 gr sierra match while my Hawkeye likes 85's..Try em all and see what works best for you, that is the fun of reloading, you have many options.
 
I have learned that any time you have a fired cartridge that will not allow you to push the bullet easily into the mouth there is a problem. If it is a standard load (not a light load) then there isn't enough clearance in the chamber and you need to turn the necks to fit. There is a point at which a cartridge will fire without over expanding the neck and the case can be reloaded without sizing... for a period of time. I have seen bench rest shooters that tune their cases to do this. They start by turning the neck to make sure it is concentric and then sand or steel wool the inside of the neck for fit. They get a limited number of reloads out of these cases before they can no longer be used. For a rifle that uses "off the shelf" ammo this is a dangerous situation as it can produce very high pressure peaks that will slowly destroy your gun from micro-fractures in the chamber.
 
243

I am loading 41 gr of IMR 4350 behind 100 gr Sierra BT, and getting 1/2 MOA out measured to 200 yards. Also 46 gr of IMR 4350 behind 70 gr Nosler BT, AND EQUAL MOA. Rifle Remington 700 SPS Stainless, Leupold 3.5-10 Vari X 3 scope. Both below current maximums.
 
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