55gr bullets in a 243

[STRANGE1]

Reloading newbie here in need of advice.  I recently loaded some 55gr bullets for my savage 243.  They are tumbling and/or coming apart before they reach the target 100 yards away.  My recipe used is: CCI primers and43 grains of IMR4895 loaded to an OAL of 2.46".  That should put velocity right around 3800fps.  I know that length is short for a 243, but I don't feel like i could go much longer and get the bullet seated properly.  Is the long jump to the rifling damaging the bullet, have I loaded them a little to hot (max recommended is 44gr), or is the ~1 in 9" twist rate of my barrel too fast for the bullet?  Any recommendations?   Thanks.

[billy_56081]

Try em on paper at 10 25 50 and 75. I don't think they are tumbling or coming apart. The twist may be a little fast, but the velocity is low enough they should hold together.

[STRANGE1]

I am getting keyholes (if they hit paper), some are hitting the ground 10-15 yards in front of the target.  I am finding a few small pieces of copper jacketing about 25 yards in front of the shooting bench.

[McDerry]

The keyholeing screams to much jump to the lands.  But the shed jacket screams "Its the twist rate".  Time to find a thicker jacketed bullet or a slower recipe.

[billy_56081]

Are these ballistic tips?

[2ndtimer]

Are you shooting the Nosler overrun 55 gr spitzers?  They are really short, and if your barrel is long throated at all, it will be a long distance to reach the lands.  I also have heard that they are a pretty thin jacket.  I have tried mine with Accurate 2015 and had soot coating the cases, even at maximum loads.  I will try some with a slower powder and see if I can at least get the chamber to seal.  I am planning on using some IMR-4064 and Ramshot Big Game to see if I can get better performance with mine.
I have read that these bullets were designed for the 6x47 cartridge which is popular in Australia for shooting kangaroos.  Maybe they have shorter throats in their barrels.  I sure hope I can find a decent load for my .243 Win.  Otherwise, I will have about 900 extra bullets laying around.

[billy_56081]

Try miking them. Who knows maybe .224?

[STRANGE1]

The dogtown bullets from midway, made by nosler.  and yes, they are very short.  I believe the long jump is doing too much damage to a relatively thin jacket.  at least i only have 94 left to play with, not 900. 

[Luckyducker]

S1, My S-I-L tried 55 grain Nosler BT in a Ruger M77 All-weather I sold him that has 1/10" twist and it just didn't work, so he tried some 58 grain V-max and they shoot about .5" at 200 yds.  I think the really light weight bullets are better shot in the slower twist barrels for the 6mm bores.  With that 1/9" twist you may have to step up to a 70 grain bullet but I don't know that from personal experience, I am just thinking out loud.

[jabey9210]

I shoot 55 grain nosler ballistic tips with CCI primers and 45 grains of h4895 with absolutely no signs of pressure I also have a 1in 9" twist and with a 24" barrel I am getting 3975 fps and still shooting 3 shots under and inch at 100yrds and I seat to a O.A.L of 2.650 the rule of thumb for seating depth is to seat the bullet equal to the diameter of caliber so take the length of the bullet which in this case (according to nosler) is .810 add it to the length of the case which for a 243  is 2.045" which equals 2.855" inches then subtract the caliber of the bullet so 2.855 minus .243 equals 2.610" so that is the rule of thumb for safe seating depths. With the 55 grainers I would just try to seat them out a little farther to see what she does I haven't had any problems seating mine out at  2.650 without crimping and have shot well over 500 of them loaded to those specs. But then again these are nosler ballistic tips not dogtown's which I have heard are made by nosler so maybe the jacket on the dogtown's are just too thin.

[jabey9210]

I also found various reviews that all say the dogtown's are good and accurate as long as you don't push them too fast so maybe you are just pushing them too hard.  Here is some review's


http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2097629


http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-567975.html

[jackruff]

I've had good results with Nosler 55 grain ballistic tips in my 6mm Remington (Ruger M77) using from 40 to 41.5 grains of IMR 4064.  No evidence of any tumbling - right on target (inch low) at almost 300 yards and deadly on a beaver at fairly close range.

[STRANGE1]

These bullets are really short, there is no way I can get near a 2.65 OAL.  I measured them this morning, they are fight at .595"; with only .15" inside the case to seat the bullet, I have an OAL of ~2.5".  I have loaded half a dozen with the minimum charge of 40gr, which should bring the velocity to around 3600fps.  Hopefully I will get to shoot them this evening and see how they do.

[chutesnreloads]

Try micing the diameter of the bullets.I suspect if they are truly keyholing they are less than .243 diameter.In two different rifles charges on the lower end of recipe were the only ones that gave any decent accuracy with the 55 grain bullets.

[hillbill]

that is a pretty light for caliber bullet, short and fat aint the way to go.

[Darrell Davis]

Read about the Nosler Balistic Tip 55gr bullet in .243 dia a few years back, so decided to give them a try in my old RUGER "Flat Bolt" 243.

I have had not bad issues, fliers/keyholes etc., still but just haven't finished up the tests.

The boolit shows some promise, but have yet to see high velocity and really good groups come together.

However, that old 22" barrel with the 55gr bullet showed me the first over 4000fps load I have ever seen from any of my rifles.

The rifle has always been a very good shooter, but could be getting a bit tired by now.

It is, however, worth a bit more testing before I throw in the towel on this bullet.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot

[STRANGE1]

I grabbed 4 random bullets from the box; all four measured .2425 diameter, two weighed 54.9gr, two weighed 55.2 gr.

with only .15" inside the case to seat the bullet, I have an OAL of ~2.5".  I have loaded half a dozen with the minimum charge of 40gr, which should bring the velocity to around 3600fps.

I managed to get all six on the paper with this recipe.  two three shot groups measuring ~ 1.3 and 1.7 inches.  Next question, since I am already at the minimum recommended load, how can I get the velocity down a little more?  Is it safe to go a little under?  Maybe 39gr instead of 40gr?  or should I be shopping for a different brand of powder?

[Darrell Davis]

It is not a problem to load "reduced loads"  PROVIDING you use the correct load AND powder.

H4895 is safe to reduce as per the makers recommendations which are available on their web site as I recall.

I seem to remember the percent of decrease, but without being sure of the facts, won't go there.

One thing I have done for reduced load levels, is to use the Lyman cast bullet info and use mild loads listed in their info.

As I said, check out Hodgon info for percentage of decrease for reduced H4895 loads.

Keep em coming!

Crusty Deary Ol'Coot