nef 243 cal problems that were corrected

[jbirdwell]

 hay folks,  just to let any one know that is having problems with accuracy with a 243 20" barrel that they need to decrease the veloisity of there load or slow it down and give the bullet enough time in the groves of the barrel. I now an grouping consistently 3 shot 1/2 " groups at 100 yards with 80 gn seirra ssp and 65 gn v max and imr 4831 40gn for 80gn and 41 for 65gn . thanks to all you folks on this site for the help. three shot are your going to get and then the barrel is going to move and throw off your group . I have tried it and three shots and your done for atleast 20 min. But as a single shot user, we should realize that 1 well placed shot should be all it takes.  thanks

                        jim

[stimpylu32]

Jim

I have one of these monsters and i have found the same thing , my best so far has been right at 1" so this is good news , i have got to go pick up a box of the V-Max monday and give them a try with your load . thanks for the info .

I am wanting to use mine for a long range groundhog gun so i'll only need 1 or at the most 2 shots .

stimpy

[trotterlg]

That's a new one on me, if a bullet spends more time in the barrel is will be more accurate, guess I need to leave that round chambered overnight so the first shot will be the most accurate of the day.  Larry

[FLNT4EVR]

Larry, I don't know if it would hold true for cartridge arms, but in muzzle loaders with shallow riifeling a projectile that is pushed to fast will actually skip over the grooves and take on little or no spin at all.

[stimpylu32]

The rounds for my CCW gun spend 2 or 3 weeks at a time in the cyl. , they may be to the point that they are so slow that they may never get out the barrel . 

Jim

I know what you mean about slowing down the loads , some of my best groups have come at well below max vel. and the 243 SL is a prime example , the faster you push the loads the faster the barrel will heat and the groups open up .

stimpy

[jbirdwell]

to trotterlg . I had thought the same thing ,speed up the round and your accuracy should increase. I have spent a great deal of time reloading for longer barreled riles,  24 to 26 " , and this seemed to be the norm, but with this short barreld 243 I was getting worse with speed and an old reloader friend of mine said to slow it down and see what happens . In this case I incrased my accuracy and have two rounds that very close to the same at 100 yds . By spending alittle more time inthe barrrel. i suspect its letting it spin better and lets the bullet stabelize. I dont  know whats up but it works on my rifle and have read on this site where other folks were having problems with there 243 short barrel .
    to the people that set this site up, thanks for the spell check, I dont know how to use it yet but i will figure it out.

[MnMike]

I wonder if this is because the rifling on the Handi is shallow. That is what I have been told.

mike

[Mac11700]

Every rifle will have a velocity node where the harmonics of the barrel is producing the optimum accuracy with any correct diameter bullet...The 20" thin contoured barrels do move quite a bit and if it is consistent where it is throwing the bullet going from cold to hot...then you have other options besides reducing velocity......If the barrel is heating up and is listing more to 1 side or up or down going from cold to hot... decreasing the velocity sometimes works..but not in all cases...A few other thing that could possible work as well as reducing your velocity....is doing a pressure point in the front of the forearm with a couple of business cards like Digger has done or even a refrigerator magnet like Quick is trying ...or you could do a full RTV bedding job like I did on my 270's..or even trying one of the Decelerator dough nuts on the barrel like I tried on a Weatherby bolt gun...all 3 will change the harmonics of the barrel which will shift the point of impact by changing the position the barrel is in when the bullet is exiting the bore,and could help tighten up the groups...You might even be able to increase the velocity then to where you wanted it...Just a thought...

Mac