Blaser 243 reloading

[wokkywokky]

Morning gents. Having oooed and eerrred for a while I think its time I started reloading. I currently shoot 75grn Hornady SSTs and 100gr Federal PowerShoks. Both are accurate through my Blaser and I can switch between the two with a few clicks of elevation. I will likely be putting in for a variation soon for either 308, 30-06, maybe 6.5Creedmoor. The plan is to use the 243 for foxing and small deer and the larger calibre for fallow and reds. So to start off my 243 reloading journey i have a few hundred Hornady cases which I can use or alternatively im thinking Petterson brass which looks very good. What 100grn bullet are Blaser users having success with? The choice is vast and without trying every single one it would be good to get an idea of whats working for others. I want to steer away from the explosive types of ammo like the 75grn SST. Yes they are accurate but we like to eat the small deer that I shoot so meat preservation is important.

 

[Benji53]

Try amax if you can get them

 

[PeterH]

I developed a load for a Sauer 243 using 100 gr Sierra ProHunters for a chap shooting fallow and roe and his feedback was apart from being very accurate the bullet gives very little meat damage on boiler room shots

 

[SussexSteve]

Lapua brass and 100 Sierra spitzers in my 243 blaser for deer

 

[andychas]

using the 243 for fox and small deer is an idea, though personally I go after fox with bullets that expand as effectively as possible (87gn vmax) and these aren't what you're after for the small deer with that calibre. An alternative plan could be the 85gn sierra BTHP, I found it adequate on foxes and not too much carcass damage, always accurate too. Or, just use the 243 for fox with frangible and go with the heavier calibre for deer. I use my 30-06 on roe and dont get carcass damage, just use a sensible bullet design at reasonably slow velocity (the heavy and slow approach).
Hornady brass Ive always found to be good so Id keep with that to start, and any of the calibres you mention will be great for UK species.

 

[wokkywokky]

thanks gents. im now thinking that rather than trying to split my calibres (243 and 308/30-06) selection over 3 species (fox, small deer, large deer) that i should focus on the one calibre that can do them all. for what its going to cost me to add another barrel and decent glass to the blaser I can develop a few different loads for the 243. 100grn for all deer, the right bullet with good knock down but not so explosive on expansion that I can use on the small and big deer. Then a lighter say 55grn bullet that is faster and flatter that i can switch to with a few clicks of the scope. That way i can be out for the evening and night without switching rifles.

 

[cjs66]

Hornady 95g SST. Look no further.

cjs

 

[wokkywokky]

Thanks CJS, unfortunately 5 grains short of legal for Scotland, would it work if i wrapped a bit of tape around it to make it heavier

 

[243 Stalker]

WW,

As SGArms, I also use Lapua brass with 100grn Sierra spitzers and Vit N160 in my Blaser 243.

ATB,
243 Stalker

 

[Colonel]

100gr Hornady interlock, 42gr N160 job done.

 

[Flash9919]

I load for 6 different blaser calibres...although I have to confess 243 isn't one of them (by the time you factor in time and faff it's one of the few calibres where factory's just as cheap....and in my experience you won't be needing any extra accuracy from a 243 blaser barrel!)….any way, the point is try to only bump the shoulder back about 2/1000's when you resize, any more, then you'll very likely experience the infamous 'Blaser Click'

 

[wokkywokky]

Cheers flash for the advice.

 

[BE Precision]

I load for 6 different blaser calibres...although I have to confess 243 isn't one of them (by the time you factor in time and faff it's one of the few calibres where factory's just as cheap....and in my experience you won't be needing any extra accuracy from a 243 blaser barrel!)….any way, the point is try to only bump the shoulder back about 2/1000's when you resize, any more, then you'll very likely experience the infamous 'Blaser Click'

I think you have that the wrong way around? The “infamous” click as you refer to it is from not fully engaging the second stage of the bolt. Not bumping back far enough may cause this, but bumping too far will not. Bumping to far may cause other issues, but definitely not the dreaded click.

 

[cjs66]

I think you have that the wrong way around? The “infamous” click as you refer to it is from not fully engaging the second stage of the bolt. Not bumping back far enough may cause this, but bumping too far will not. Bumping to far may cause other issues, but definitely not the dreaded click.

Yep. That's how I find it.

2-3 thou, maybe even 4 to be sure of no click. But as you say, you can also go too far.

cjs

 

[Flash9919]

I think you have that the wrong way around? The “infamous” click as you refer to it is from not fully engaging the second stage of the bolt. Not bumping back far enough may cause this, but bumping too far will not. Bumping to far may cause other issues, but definitely not the dreaded click.

Nope.....if I push the shoulder back too far i’ll Get the odd clicker.....used to fully size some rounds for a helix I had, used to go to about 6/1000’s.....never had a misfire in the helix but used to get 1 in 10 with the Blaser....I guess in truth there must be a sweet spot somewhere between 2 & 6/1000’s!!

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

I think you have that the wrong way around? The “infamous” click as you refer to it is from not fully engaging the second stage of the bolt. Not bumping back far enough may cause this, but bumping too far will not. Bumping to far may cause other issues, but definitely not the dreaded click.

Me too....... the effect of bumping too far would affect a multitude of rifles, not just Blasers.
I run all my de-primed and cleaned cases through the rifle before sizing.....those that the bolt closes on get a neck-size and the few that don’t get a full-length but I don’t think I’ve ever done anything different than follow the standard dies set-up instructions.

Cheers

Fizz

 

[BorisZ]

Hi ! Nosler Partition 100gr , Sierra GK 100gr SPBT and Geco TM SP 105gr (Blaser R8 243win, 58sm)

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

Feck...Think I’m happy with my reloading regime..... down to my last 4 of a batch reloaded in October last year so yesterday I checked the latest batch loaded in March.....



First shot, clean cold barrel, R93 using 70grn baltip, 46grns H414, CCI large rifle magnum primer in Lapua brass, ultrasoniced, annealed, neck/fl sized as appropriate, seated to 2.230” using a shootingshed comparator. 5th loading for these cases. Standing on the back bumper of my GrandVit and shooting off the roof with a pod.

Fizz

 

[Lateral]

First shot, clean cold barrel, R93 using 70grn baltip, 46grns H414, CCI large rifle magnum primer in Lapua brass, ultrasoniced, annealed, neck/fl sized as appropriate, seated to 2.230” using a shootingshed comparator. 5th loading for these cases. Standing on the back bumper of my GrandVit and shooting off the roof with a pod.

Fizz

So a lucky shot then

 

[fizzbangwhallop]

So a lucky shot then

As long as they keep staying ‘lucky’ I’m happy with that. Doing the same with previous batches over the last x years has only meant being a click or so out.
With a 75/3 thermal on top it’s continuing to knock over foxes with 10 over the last month as the crops start to come off.