243 Twist, Shilen Ratchet barrel??

[lwink]

I'll be looking to shoot mostly 105 Amax's, 107 SMK's, maybe try out some of the Bergers in the 100+ grain as well. I'm assuming that I need to get an 8 twist, is this correct or can I get by with a 10"? Also, I've been looking at Shilens Ratchet rifled 4 groove barrels if I get an 8 twist. Any experience/reviews worth reading out there either here or elsewhere? This barrel will be 26", I assume that is an ok length as I want to keep the weight down a little bit -- ballistically with these bullets would it really be worth getting a 28" tube or will the 26" suffice? Will be shooting to 600 yards and in I would guess (but you never know what you might need to shoot at... ;D ) Let's hear some info on the length, twist, and Ratcheted barrels by shilen for a 243 win...

[Fjold]

I just ordered a couple of 6mm blanks with 8" twists, one finished at 25" and one at 28". For the 100 - 107 grain match bullets (which are a lot longer than the 100 grain hunting bullets) you are going to need a 8" twist. The 26" will work great out past 600 yards, I shoot 26" barrels in 22.250, 243 and 6.5x284 out to 1,000 yards.

[Dennis]

Fjold, are you happy with your 6.5x284 @ 1000yds? How are your groups? What is your exact load data?

[Fjold]

Fjold, are you happy with your 6.5x284 @ 1000yds? How are your groups? What is your exact load data?

I couldn't be happier with it. I've shot two sub 5" (10 shot) groups with it this year and have shot 199 - 6X in competition.

I'm shooting the 142 SMK with 46 grains of H4350 seated .007" off the lands, using Lapua brass and Federal 210M primers. This gives me 2790 fps at the muzzle of my 26", 1:8.5" twist Krieger. I had my chamber cut to the minimum body size with a .298" neck diameter. I use a seperate decapping die and a Redding S Type sizing die with a neck bushing sized to give me .003" of neck tension with a loaded neck diameter of .096".

[Dennis]

I would be happy with your 6.5x284!

[lwink]

Thanks for the info fjold -- I ordered my barrel today. It will be a 26" Shilen 4 groove ratchet rifled 8 twist chambered in 243 Win. Won't be here till April, but I'll make sure and post some info on how she shoots when it arrives!

[Dennis]

OK: I have a VLP 243 9.25twist factory barrel.

I am going to change the barrel, I havn't decided which one.

Should I put a custom 243 barrel (26" 1-8"twist) on the VLP, or should I explore possibly putting a 6.5x684 or a 6.5x47L? I have even considered a 260.

I am wanting a nail driver 600 to 1,000 yrds. I have a Remmy 700 223 Varmit, what's my possiblities with this gun if I wanted to change, caliper wise? I would change this gun and buy a Savage VLP 233 with a 9" barrel, I shot one, it's a fine gun out of the box!

[82boy]

lwink
If you want to shoot the 105 a max , 107gr and 108 bullets you may be able to get by with a 1 in 10 twist, but you would be better off with a 1 in 8 twist.

I have a Shilen ratchet twist barrel on my long rang rifle and I love it. Mine is chambered in 6x47 lapua, and is a #7 contour at 29 inches long. Every bullet I have shot out of the thing shoots great. So far I have shot 107 SMK, 108gr Berger Bt, (These shoot about the best) 108 JLK, 105 Lapua Senars, 108 BIB flat backs, (Wow they shoot good too) 115 tubs dtac, 105 A max, 95 gr Starke red mist, and 95 gr SMK. At 100 yards the barrel will constantly shoot 5 shot groups that will measure in the .3 (or better) area. (with boat tails.) At 600 yards the gun is deadly impressive, I had some 3 inch 10 shot groups. The gun shoots just as good at 900 and 1000 yards.

So far I can not prove the theory that the different smaller mark on the bullet cause it to be less affected by the wind. I also can not prove that there is less stress and deformation on the bullet, or that it places less heat on the bullet. The barrel is easy to clean, and I am very pleased with it. It is a hummer, and one of my best shooting barrels.

[Dennis]

Patrick,

I just came back from the range! I handloaded some 243 rounds using Sierra 107 smk's. I found a load you posted several months ago for a VLP 243. I put four shots in the same hole. Amazing!

I am also working on a perfect load for 50gr Nossler Balistic Tips. Getting close, but not quite there.

Nossler Balistic Tip 55 grns shoot perfectly out of the 243.

Thanks for all the help.

Dennis

[BKirk]

I'll bite what might the link for this load be? Or what is the load I have searched and can't find it.

[Dennis]

SIERRA BULLETS: 107GR HPBT on the lands 0.000
IMR4350 39.5 cci primers

Nossler Ballistic Tips: 55GR NBT’s Varget 41.5grns CCI primers
2.156 COAL using Ojive guage, 2.616 COAL without the Ojive guage

Still working on the 70gr NBT's, very close.

[BKirk]

Thanks for the info, that is out of a 1:9.125 twist? That is good info.

[Dennis]

Yes, definetly need more info like this!

[curiousaussie]

G'day,

Have got a 8 twist ratchet rifled 243AI Shilen bull barrel that shot 0.3's from the first shot with 3 different types of bullets.

You won't be disappointed.

Matt