.243 to .243AI

slug1977

CGN Regular
Rating - 100%
22   0   0
Location
cold lake
Wondering where and approx. How much I would be looking at to have a .243 reamed to .243 AI? Or would it be better to go to 6x284? I have a surplus .243 with a 22inch barrel . Might be best to spin a new 26 inch barrel on prior to going bigger to get more speed. Anyone have any thoughts?
 
Corlanes has a reamer, it's about an hour job I was told so you'd be looking at a couple hundred depending on who you use. .243AI seems like a very decent improvement on its parent, sooner or later I'm going to be working with it. I already have a die set that wasn't so easy to track down...
 
You don't gain a lot of velocity going AI on a .243 but you do end up with a better case and reloading benefits. If the action is long enough the 6mm Remington AI is even better.

For best headspace results a previously chambered barrel should be set back at least 4 thou up to a turn or two...

I should add, I have both reamers but my shop is closed until August...
 
Last edited:
Corlanes has a reamer, it's about an hour job I was told so you'd be looking at a couple hundred depending on who you use. .243AI seems like a very decent improvement on its parent, sooner or later I'm going to be working with it. I already have a die set that wasn't so easy to track down...


guntech is right, very little if any difference in velocities, even with a bit more powder in the case.

Even the 6mm Rem doesn't give you much more velocity, other than with heavy/long bullets and IMHO it's not enough to worry about.

He lists the benefits to the cartridge case itself.

The one thing it can do, is clean up a sloppy chamber, which may improve accuracy if the reamer is ground to tight specs.

I've done this "upgrade" with 243 chambered rifles that have long or worn throats. Some of those older Rugers were really bad. Setting back the shoulder a couple of threads and re cutting the chamber with the 243AI reamer usually brought accuracy back within acceptable and sometimes excellent parameters.


Bores will only burn so much powder. It's the initial pressure curve that will increase or decrease velocities. Increasing a powder charge by 10% doesn't mean you will get a 10% increase in velocities. It could mean you get a dramatic increase in initial pressure spikes as you reach the saturation point.

Once you reach that saturation point, pressures spikes become higher but velocities don't increase noticeably in proportion.

That being said, the 243AI is a worthwhile upgrade IMHO, if only for better results from the reloading aspect.
 
In my brief experimentation velocity gains were pretty small, 100fps or so with a 105grn bullet. The incredibly long case life with relatively minor upkeep is definitely the biggest bonus IMO.
 
OR a 240 WBee with a 8 twist ! : Proper headstamped brass then TOO ! RJ

I had both. Gibbs was a little faster, but that may have been the gain twist barrel. I've never understood the worry about proper stamped brass. The only places I know where it's a concern is some African countries upon entry. - dan
 
Yet you couldn't skip past this thread without offering your irrelevant and condescending opinion...

Those that get worked up over 60 fps of velocity are akin to the Puds that shave their pubes and then claim their wiener grew longer....
 
Wondering where and approx. How much I would be looking at to have a .243 reamed to .243 AI? Or would it be better to go to 6x284? I have a surplus .243 with a 22inch barrel . Might be best to spin a new 26 inch barrel on prior to going bigger to get more speed. Anyone have any thoughts?

Are you planning to mag feed? What action will you be using?

enjoyed a wide range of improved cases and even designed a couple... lots of positives and some negatives

Jerry
 
Why would anyone want an A.I. anyway? ;)

I know you are commenting sarcastically but it really is about more than speed. I don't have experience with the other Wildcats mentioned but saying the .243 AI is just an attempt at making your #### bigger is really, really ignorant.
 
Back
Top Bottom