Load Development Ruger Precision Rifle .243

[jdmecomber]

Well after practicing for over a year and developing this RPR .243 into a long range shooter, I was able to test it out on a Washington State Spring Bear. I really wanted to shoot something at long range but it just didn't work out. I did however shoot a really nice bear for Washington possible B&C at only 147 yards 105 vld hunting. My first shot knocked the bear to the ground. I am a pretty fast shooter . I probably didnt need to shoot anymore but, I did put 3 rounds total into the bear. One of the bullets went through hitting the heart, lungs and exciting with about a 1" hole. I had another bullet hit high on top of the shoulder and and I found some fragments in the opposite hide. I will know more about it when I debone the meat.

 

[jdmecomber]

The ruger and the bear

 

[buckfvr]

For reference, Joe is 6'4 and 270++

 

[WildRose]

Congrats.

 

[buckfvr]

So........we are to the point where we start to develop a load for the .243 I put together. The purpose was to see if we could build one in a similar price point as the Ruger Precision.

The basic rifle includes a NightForce 20 moa steel rail since the RPR comes ready with the integrated rail.

I started with the Savage stainless varmint action from NSS. I added the upgrade for the barrel nut and recoil lug, rather than just using the ones it came with. In order to stay close to the Ruger price wise, I had to manage the purse a tad bit on the barrel and stock. For this reason, I got the Bell and Carlson M40 style stock with the full aluminum bedding block and the barrel channel that fits heavier contours. I also added the Karsten adjustable cheek pad and painted it to match the stock.

This allowed me to get a stainless match grade drop in Savage .243 7.75 5R Benchmark barrel , heavy varmint for savage, about #7 contour for Bench mark.

Since I put this together myself, there were some incidental tool expenses, but I termed them as incidental because I will use them again, many times over.

SO there you have the basic rifle very near the 1400 dollar mark.

 

[buckfvr]

For the rest of the rifle options, I used Vortex precision matched rings, SWFA level, and a NF NXS 5.5-22x56 mil/mil scope. Also the Harris bipod, and soon DarkEagle 10rnd mags. I forgot to mention, APA Gen 2 Little B muzzle brake.

 

[buckfvr]

Now about the test......its not about trying to best the RPR as Ill be extremely satisfied if it shoots as well as the Ruger.

The up side of this is so much of the testing from the RPR carries over to this rifle. I have much closer starting points as well as powder and charge options that we weeded through already.

I will stay within safe parameters of load manuals of course, but I will try and focus on testing powders with in velocity nodes, as in comparing powders at the same velocities so long as it is safe.

I will try and keep track of not only grains of powder, but velocity as I move up in charge weight. I know we all do this anyway, but my emphasis will be for the comparison of powders at the same velocity.

I try to avoid compressed loads and figure that while testing powders which are close in burn rates, I should be able to do the velocity uniforming for actual group testing....I hope.

SO..pretty straight forward test, my guess is since we did so much sorting for the RPR, this rifle will be a breeze by comparison.

So please follow along as we get this done, if you're interested.......It is a real comparison to show an option to buying a box gun, even one as great as the RPR. My opinion is, with a decent understanding of basic mechanics, mechanical aptitude, and a few tools, anyone can put their own rifle together and use the components they like........ease of doing this is all on Savage. I support the barrel nut. R

 

[buckfvr]

Another thing........I will be starting out with brand new freshly uniformed Lapua brass. When we did Joes RPR, we used the same brass but didnt uniform it until we were part way through the testing, trying to get that last little bit of performance out of things.

Ive turned necks and ran them through the bushing bump neck sizer die, plus checked primer pockets and flash holes. Ready to go, weather not presently cooperating.............

 

[jdmecomber]

I was over at Russ' place mounting the new Vortex Golden Eagle onto my Ruger. I am thinking about getting into a little Fclass and before getting all the expensive gear. I want to try it out a few times. Anyways. Russ had the 1400$ custom build sitting in the shop. I was shooting my ruger and the accuracy has seemed to fade some. So after about 500 rounds. We decided to give it a full cleaning. I haven't shot it after cleaning it yet. We still had the target up and Russ mentioned he had 5 rounds left if I wanted to try his gun. I said sure why not. We didn't have any orange dots left on the target so I aimed at the center of the number 6.

I fell a little bad shooting the best group with his new gun. .
5 shots 100 yards. .282 moa

Picture included

 

[roninflag]

nice group . what gun and load??

 

[jdmecomber]

The previous page has all the details on the build.

 

[buckfvr]

So the whole of that story is I have been shooting reluctantly in the wind with a mix of results, nothing I would take to the bank.

I shot 15 rounds the night before Joe was over, again mixed results, so I decided a deep scrub followed by conditioner and a pass of the bore snake to remove anything the patches may have missed.

Joe took 5 shots on the fresh barrel and there was no cold bore flyer or anything, just a pretty fine 5 shot group. That will motivate me to get on with it and try to improve on that group, but who knows.........wasnt that long ago Id have considered that a finished product.

 

[jdmecomber]

Yesterday at russ' place the ruger was printing about .6-.7 moa. I checked my notes and have 508 rounds through it. It had a full cleaning yesterday. I mounted the new scope yesterday and shot off my porch prone at 238 yards. It shot a 3 shot group at .34 moa. If you do the no cleaning approach, just keep an eye out for the groups opening up. The cleaning appears to have brought back the accuracy

 

[buckfvr]

Day before....................