243 Catbird

[AndyD]

Anybody have any experience with the 243 Catbird? Got my donor 110 30-06 and been wantin to build a hot rod wildcat out of it. It's been between the 22-284, 6-284, and 243 Catbird. Never heard of the Catbird till yesterday; I must say its blistering fast and very accurate from what I've read about it.

[stomp442]

Why not just go with a 6mm-06 Ackley improved? Basically all this is except the catbird has a 35 degree shoulder instead of a 40. The 40 degree should give a bit more capacity and give you all the benefit of a true Ackley case. Just my thoughts.

[bootsmcguire]

You could go with something even hotter. The 6-WSM or the 6-SAUM. I have the 6-WSM myself and so far I have gotten 105 A-Max's up to 3650 safely, and still got a couple more powders to try. So far I have yet to find a load that shoots over 1MOA at 100yds and most have been hovering at .5MOA and under. Best load put 1st 3 shots into .167" with all 5 into about .4"

Gotta agree with stomp442, the 6-06AI should be a much better bet than the Catbird. I have no experience with either, but since they are so close you might as well go 6-06AI and gain a bit more room and steeper shoulder.

[AndyD]

Yeah makes sense. I've been researching the 6-06AI and it's got a few fps on the catbird. I have also been looking for load data on the catbird and was able to find very little. Think I may go with a Pac-Nor barrel for starters. They are a little cheaper and have read they shoot great. I want a bull barrel for it but unsure how to order it. I'm new at all this, so I don't exactly know what I need to do barrel wise.

[scope eye]

I have a 6mm-06AI and shoots unbelievable, from a 26" 12 twist I can shoot 105gr amax's at 3600 fps plus, and 58 Vmax's 4600 fps plus,
actually I got the 58s going a lot faster than that but will only admit to 4600+. lets just say there's 60gr + of Varget involved.

Dean

[AndyD]

Man that's fast. I've read other loaders would rather go with a blown out 270 case with 40 degree shoulder. I mean a factory 270 and 06 case are pretty much the same if I'm not mistakin.

[squirrel_slayer]

I have a 6mm-06AI and shoots unbelievable, from a 26" 12 twist I can shoot 105gr amax's at 3600 fps plus, and 58 Vmax's 4600 fps plus,
actually I got the 58s going a lot faster than that but will only admit to 4600+. lets just say there's 60gr + of Varget involved.

Dean

man every time I read a post from you, you make me want to build a laser like that. some of the numbers I see are flat out insane! curious have you shot anything over 5k ft/sec that the bullet didn't just vaporize after leaving the barrel? i'd like to see what a 58gr v-max@4600 does to a critter. bet it just get's beamed into the next realm.

[AndyD]

Fastest 2 guns are my 22-250 and my 338 lapua mag I wish they could get up there lol. But yeah I want a laser myself to hunt and shoot with.

[AndyD]

I know what a 225 barnes ttsx out of my 338 will do to a deer and a possum though.

[scope eye]

man every time I read a post from you, you make me want to build a laser like that. some of the numbers I see are flat out insane! curious have you shot anything over 5k ft/sec that the bullet didn't just vaporize after leaving the barrel? i'd like to see what a 58gr v-max@4600 does to a critter. bet it just get's beamed into the next realm.

Slayer the secret to not vaporizing is a slower twist, then you can send them as fast as you want and still get a tight group, I have four rigs that are capable 5000 FPS, my 220 swift AI 16 twist, my 22-243 14 twist and my 300 RUM, with a sabot and 55gr Vmax 105 gr of Varget registers 5540 fps on the chrono, the fist two shots were tight but the third was a flier, I only did that to see if it could be done, but I don't really want to waste a 300 RUM barrel on that, my 300 Win Mag will also send them over 5000 fps with 88gr of Varget.

Dean

PS: Lasers are a different approach to shooting, that you never get bored with.

[scope eye]

Andy a barnes TTSX 160gr with a full case of RL17, will put you in the high 3000 just shy of 4000 FPS ask me how I know.

Dean

[AndyD]

Oh I believe it with the 160s. A 338 lapua mag isn't slow by any means. I've only been reloading about a year and still learning. I have always went by the manuals for reloading. Like with the barnes 50gr VGs for 22-250; the load data only has 2 powders. I just don't know what powders will go with what.

[scope eye]

This is a good article on to much twist.

http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2013/07/over-stabilization-of-bullets-why-is-too-much-spin-a-problem/

Dean

[scope eye]

Slayer you will appreciate this if you like lasers, that 300 RUM with a 110gr Sierra or 110gr Vmax and with 105gr of Varget, sporting a 26" 12 twist exit the barrel at over 4600fps, they don't start dropping until past 500yards, I have on many occasions asked other folks to shoot it, or if no one is available have shot it with out looking though the scope, just so I could watch the jetstream, I assure you, you have never seen anything like it, it's quite the sight to see, everyone I tell this to say what a waste, until they see it then they say screw hitting the target just keep sending them down range,LOL they only down fall is you only get a little over 60 rounds with a pound of powder, OUCH
when I used the powder drop it seemed like it emptied have of it every time I lifted the lever, now that I have a chargemaster it seems like it churns for 15 min before I hear that beep, I guess that's the price you have to pay.

Dean

[squirrel_slayer]

cool thanks i'll give it a read. might have to add it to my list of wants. I like the idea of a fast 22 or 6mm the rum sounds like a bit much.