Reloader 26 and 243 Win with 100 grain bullets

I saw a thread in the last couple of months that had some discussion of Reloader 26 and 100 grain bullets in the 243 Win. I have looked and looked and cannot find it, I know I'm old and technologically challenged, but the thread got me thinking of how much more I could do with my 243 and heavier pills. The velocities folks said they were getting was impressive, not hitting pressure until 46 grains of powder or more. I bought a few 100 to 103 grainers and the first one I tried Fed 210M cratered at 43 grains. No heavy bolt lift, I only shot one, didn't have my chrono set up, just starting out looking for near max load, and I think I may have found it right away lol. Cleaned the rifle, and getting ready to load another at 43 grains in a few different bullets. Wondering if anyone has had success with RL 26 and 100 grain bullets in the 243. The higher BC's, and velocities folks said they were getting really changed the little round compared to what I've been shooting. Over 1000 foot pounds of energy past 650 yards. I've never shot at anything except coyotes past 300 with the 85 grain bullets I shoot, so I was definitely interested. Looked like a big step up from the 22-250 for coyotes waaaay out there. My rifle is a Rem 700, heavy 26" barrel, 9 twist, so I should be able to get some 100 grain bullet to shoot good enough for that. Any info would be appreciated.

I run the 95gr Berger Classic Hunters with a load well north of 43grs (PM me and I will discuss in private). That gets me 2900fps from a 16"barrel. Do the math and that would be slinging them from a 26" barrel! I do not have any 100gr info as my barrel won't stabilize them

308win said:

I run the 95gr Berger Classic Hunters with a load well north of 43grs (PM me and I will discuss in private). That gets me 2900fps from a 16"barrel. Do the math and that would be slinging them from a 26" barrel! I do not have any 100gr info as my barrel won't stabilize them

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I kept going as there was no heavy bolt lift, no ejector marks, and the primers don't look any different at 46 grains than they did at 43. I was loading three different bullets one each as I progressed up in charge weight, and the groups were impressive to me with charge weights of 43, 44, 45, and 46 grains. I'm interested to see when I get near maximum what they will do with the same charge weight of powder. I'm trying to be conservative as RL 26 as you probably know is quite rare lol. I ordered a couple of pounds of Superformance as someone said they were similar, and I did find some data on it.

Following along .
I have a factory 243 to mess with also .

Rum Man

Rl26 and the 243 will = barrel burner
Been there. Although mine was a 243ai. I was pushing 105's @ 3250 also. 24 inch Barrel toasted in 400 rounds.
I was easy on it. No more than 3 shots in a string and cooler time.
It was used for coyotes and deer
Taught kids and women to shoot long range with it as it hardly kicked and was very accurate until it died.
It's on its 3rd barrel since the 26. They last 800-900 now with long strings of firing with rl16

Following this. Have R26 and contemplating an AI.

I have the rem SPS 26 inch with 9 1/8th twist and a two inch brake. You don't want to use magnum primers in a tiny case. It causes instant pressure and it's like adding a 1.5 -2 grains of power when you are chronoing rounds.

You buy slow powder for the extended pressure time. I've used all kinds of slow powders for local 400 & 600 yard paper meets

RH300UM said:

Rl26 and the 243 will = barrel burner
Been there. Although mine was a 243ai. I was pushing 105's @ 3250 also. 24 inch Barrel toasted in 400 rounds.
I was easy on it. No more than 3 shots in a string and cooler time.
It was used for coyotes and deer
Taught kids and women to shoot long range with it as it hardly kicked and was very accurate until it died.
It's on its 3rd barrel since the 26. They last 800-900 now with long strings of firing with rl16

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Are you still running the AI, and what powder do you use now? I was kind of leaning that way after I shot this one out anyway. A buddy of mine loves the 22CM's and they are quite impressive, but those long skinny bullets have to fly well. 103-105 grain 6mm pills should be lights out at distance. Same friend is in western Kansas right now shooting dove, and our chrony is with him or at his house, so I don't know the velo I'm getting, but it does seem to be accurate with the few rounds I've shot the 100-103's. I left off yesterday at 46 grains of powder, and all three bullets I have were looking good, especially for deer and coyotes lol.

highfinblue said:

Are you still running the AI, and what powder do you use now? I was kind of leaning that way after I shot this one out anyway. A buddy of mine loves the 22CM's and they are quite impressive, but those long skinny bullets have to fly well. 103-105 grain 6mm pills should be lights out at distance. Same friend is in western Kansas right now shooting dove, and our chrony is with him or at his house, so I don't know the velo I'm getting, but it does seem to be accurate with the few rounds I've shot the 100-103's. I left off yesterday at 46 grains of powder, and all three bullets I have were looking good, especially for deer and coyotes lol.

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Yes I am still running a 243ai
I am using Rl 16 presently with the 108 eh at 3238 fps in Lapua brass and a fed 210
I have used h1000, retumbo, h4831sc, rl23

RH300UM said:

Yes I am still running a 243ai
I am using Rl 16 presently with the 108 eh at 3238 fps in Lapua brass and a fed 210
I have used h1000, retumbo, h4831sc, rl23

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How's the RL16 compare with the H1000 or Retumbo? I've only loaded 243ai with H1000 or Retumbo with 105-115gr RDF's or Bergers but am always looking for greener grass.

16 gives me more velocity
I had to use a powder drop tube for 1000 and retumbo to get amounts I needed. Retumbo was a lot to lot mess for consistency in that case
I use the AI a lot in the winter. Sub zero temps are a norm. 16 gives me the best overall temp control so far

RH300UM said:

16 gives me more velocity
I had to use a powder drop tube for 1000 and retumbo to get amounts I needed. Retumbo was a lot to lot mess for consistency in that case
I use the AI a lot in the winter. Sub zero temps are a norm. 16 gives me the best overall temp control so far

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Messsged you.

RH300UM said:

Yes I am still running a 243ai
I am using Rl 16 presently with the 108 eh at 3238 fps in Lapua brass and a fed 210
I have used h1000, retumbo, h4831sc, rl23

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That's cooking pretty good. Looking at some ballistic calculators and that earlier thread is what got my attention. I had tried some 100 grain bullets when I first bought the rifle, but it wouldn't shoot them at all. Two Hornady and one Sierra all three show promise early on, and it's been my experience that usually works out in the long run.

Here's this…