.243 55 gr nosler seating depth

Bert223 · May 30, 2005, 11:45 PM

I use the 55 grain nosler ballistic tip in my .243, but I have to set the bullet way back into the case in order for it to not fall out of the neck when I rack the bolt or load the magazine. It is way less the the max oal stated for .243 and its way less than the recommended .010 away from the rifling that the reloading books suggest. Is this ok? It seems to shoot well (3 shots cover a nickel at 100 yards, shot it today as a matter of fact) and there's not pressure signs that I can tell. I've tried the 70 grain bullets but they don't shoot as well even though they are .010 from the rifling. Anyone have any advice?

Primered · May 31, 2005, 08:48 AM

Unless you're shooting a $3000 benchrest rifle, why mess with success?

Pete

Sturm · May 31, 2005, 04:19 PM

Bert, I agree with Primered, but I wouldn't mind see that group with 5 holes either. As long as you have good neck tension for bullet pull and are maintaining a minimum of .010" of freebore, shorter lengths are just a part of tweaking. Keep in mind that the deeper you seat, the higher chamber pressure will be with the same load and of course, you can reduce powder charge accodingly. Some folks reserve 5 round groups for varmint loads and whatever works! You are in this case, shooting a Varmint load, so why not? If you still get that 5/8" group, that indeed will be hard to beat and sometimes even with much more expensive Rifles. Someone stated in another thread that they were getting .3 MOA, but did not specify the number of rounds in the group and I believe they were talking about the .22-250. Even for 3 rounds, that's pretty accurate, but not uncommon for the .22-250. If it were 5 round groups as I assume it was, that was indeed, a fine group. Checking at longer distances than 100 yards, if you can, is always a good idea!

Zekewolf · May 31, 2005, 09:01 PM

I've loaded quite a few 55gr. Ballistic Tips in .243. The bullet length is short enough that you just have to seat them deep enough to keep the bullet secure. You can't worry about how far the bullet is off the lands with that particular bullet in .243.

I've shot some pretty good five-shot groups with my .243 with Ballistic Tips, but do get better groups from some of the slightly heavier (70gr., etc.) match bullets.

Bert223 · June 1, 2005, 12:00 AM

Cool, thanks guys. Its a 3 shot groups by the way, they create a nice triangle. As long as I works I'll leave it alone like you guys said. Can't ask for much better out of a 700 ADL with the stock barrel on it and 4-16 power scope and not a great bench and slight wind.

Zekewolf · June 1, 2005, 09:56 AM

If you're getting three-shot groups like that with an ADL, you should buy a couple of lottery tickets, post-haste!

Bert223 · June 1, 2005, 03:46 PM

Well that's after timney trigger and bedding job though. Before that it wasn't bad, but not as accurate as I wanted.

Zekewolf · June 2, 2005, 07:13 AM

That's still a fine-shooting rifle for not a lot of bucks. Just curious: Did you try adjusting the factory trigger before buying the Timney?

Bert223 · June 2, 2005, 06:13 PM

Um, no you can adjust the factory trigger on a 700 ADL from like the 80's? I didn't know that, oh well the timney is real nice

.

Zekewolf · June 2, 2005, 09:14 PM

Yeah, the 700's trigger adjusts exactly like the Timney, just no lock nuts on the adjusting screws. I also use Timneys and can get a lower trigger pull safely than with my factory 700 triggers. For hunting purposes, however, a 2.5# (easily attainable) factory trigger would probably be fine.

May 30, 2005, 11:45 PM	#1
Bert223 Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 77	.243 55 gr nosler seating depth I use the 55 grain nosler ballistic tip in my .243, but I have to set the bullet way back into the case in order for it to not fall out of the neck when I rack the bolt or load the magazine. It is way less the the max oal stated for .243 and its way less than the recommended .010 away from the rifling that the reloading books suggest. Is this ok? It seems to shoot well (3 shots cover a nickel at 100 yards, shot it today as a matter of fact) and there's not pressure signs that I can tell. I've tried the 70 grain bullets but they don't shoot as well even though they are .010 from the rifling. Anyone have any advice?

May 31, 2005, 08:48 AM	#2
Primered Member Join Date: September 24, 2002 Location: SW Kansas Posts: 41	Unless you're shooting a $3000 benchrest rifle, why mess with success? Pete

May 31, 2005, 04:19 PM	#3
Sturm Junior member Join Date: March 2, 2005 Location: Central Texas Posts: 584	Bert, I agree with Primered, but I wouldn't mind see that group with 5 holes either. As long as you have good neck tension for bullet pull and are maintaining a minimum of .010" of freebore, shorter lengths are just a part of tweaking. Keep in mind that the deeper you seat, the higher chamber pressure will be with the same load and of course, you can reduce powder charge accodingly. Some folks reserve 5 round groups for varmint loads and whatever works! You are in this case, shooting a Varmint load, so why not? If you still get that 5/8" group, that indeed will be hard to beat and sometimes even with much more expensive Rifles. Someone stated in another thread that they were getting .3 MOA, but did not specify the number of rounds in the group and I believe they were talking about the .22-250. Even for 3 rounds, that's pretty accurate, but not uncommon for the .22-250. If it were 5 round groups as I assume it was, that was indeed, a fine group. Checking at longer distances than 100 yards, if you can, is always a good idea!

May 31, 2005, 09:01 PM	#4
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	I've loaded quite a few 55gr. Ballistic Tips in .243. The bullet length is short enough that you just have to seat them deep enough to keep the bullet secure. You can't worry about how far the bullet is off the lands with that particular bullet in .243. I've shot some pretty good five-shot groups with my .243 with Ballistic Tips, but do get better groups from some of the slightly heavier (70gr., etc.) match bullets.

June 1, 2005, 12:00 AM	#5
Bert223 Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 77	Cool, thanks guys. Its a 3 shot groups by the way, they create a nice triangle. As long as I works I'll leave it alone like you guys said. Can't ask for much better out of a 700 ADL with the stock barrel on it and 4-16 power scope and not a great bench and slight wind.

June 1, 2005, 09:56 AM	#6
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	If you're getting three-shot groups like that with an ADL, you should buy a couple of lottery tickets, post-haste!

June 1, 2005, 03:46 PM	#7
Bert223 Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 77	Well that's after timney trigger and bedding job though. Before that it wasn't bad, but not as accurate as I wanted.

June 2, 2005, 07:13 AM	#8
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	That's still a fine-shooting rifle for not a lot of bucks. Just curious: Did you try adjusting the factory trigger before buying the Timney?

June 2, 2005, 06:13 PM	#9
Bert223 Member Join Date: May 23, 2005 Posts: 77	Um, no you can adjust the factory trigger on a 700 ADL from like the 80's? I didn't know that, oh well the timney is real nice .

June 2, 2005, 09:14 PM	#10
Zekewolf Senior Member Join Date: April 2, 2005 Posts: 886	Yeah, the 700's trigger adjusts exactly like the Timney, just no lock nuts on the adjusting screws. I also use Timneys and can get a lower trigger pull safely than with my factory 700 triggers. For hunting purposes, however, a 2.5# (easily attainable) factory trigger would probably be fine.