22-243 cal ???????

bulletmaker · #1 12-07-2009, 09:16 AM

Can anyone tell me if they have any experence with this wildcat cartridge?
I am think of converting my 243 over to this....From what I have read it is about the
same as my 22-250,right or wrong?

What other wildcat can be made from the 243 case that would be worth a hoot,if any...john

Saskshooter · #2 12-07-2009, 09:30 AM

Well, you could always neck it up to .30 caliber. That should be a good round.

shane256 · #3 12-07-2009, 09:57 AM

Hmmm... in a .243 Winchester case? Maybe put a 6.5mm bullet in there... or a 7mm, or a .30cal, .338cal, or even a .358cal!

338 Hammertyme · #4 12-07-2009, 10:03 AM

22-243 Middlested Reloading Data
Bullet (grs.) Powder / (grs.) MV ME Source
50 SP N204 / 51.0 4250 2006 Jim Gosnell
52 SP N204 / 48.0 4020 1860 Jim Gosnell
65 SP IMR 4350 / 45.0 3710 1830 Jim Gosnell
70 SP IMR 4831 / 45.0 3420 1815 Jim Gosnell

Very popular caliber.

Neal

bulletmaker · #5 12-07-2009, 10:43 AM

22-243 Middlested Reloading Data

I have all of the data for this cal. but am trying to figure out what twist i want and barrel length.....i see the ballistic are some better than the 6.5-284 they are using at the 1000 yard range in PA....next thing is to decide on diameter of barrel...single shot or with magazine....So I am open to some advice here as well....I have all winter to make this up....I am going to use the savage action as long as that is what i have here on hand...

tpv · #6 12-07-2009, 11:05 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulletmaker

Can anyone tell me if they have any experence with this wildcat cartridge?
I am think of converting my 243 over to this....From what I have read it is about the
same as my 22-250,right or wrong?

What other wildcat can be made from the 243 case that would be worth a hoot,if any...john

There have been many attempts to put a .22 bullet on top of a large(forcaliber) case.
I've thought of putting a 26" barrel, 1 in 8 twist for a 220 Swift into action. It would shoot the longer 70-80 grain bullets at about 3500-3600FPS. Sounds good, but kinda impractical for me since most of my shots are at game.
If I were you, which I am not, I'd put the 260 Rem barrel on. Also great for long range target shooting, and a much better game load.
I am currently waiting on a 260 AI that was an original model 700 in 223.

Try
www.eabco.com/savagebarrels.htm
Good luck

pruhdlr · #7 12-07-2009, 11:24 AM

The .243Win is an interesting round. With the proper bullets and bbl length it will shoot right with the 6.5X284. Even with a "mid-weight" bullet(80gr) it is a good deer and antelope round out to 300yds or so.

My thoughts are this........a simple re chamber to .243AI. My guess is that this chambering will move it into the "great" category as far as long range stuff w/105gr+ bullets, and into the .220Swift category for "ye seekers of the red mist",sorta thing. Especially with a long BT'ed 70'ish grained hot loaded bullet.

Take a look..... and good shootin'. -----pruhdlr

338 Hammertyme · #8 12-07-2009, 11:27 AM

I guess we should ask what the intended purpose of the caliber is?
Typically this caliber along with the 224 Texas Trophy Hunter cartridge(6 rem case) are used for preditor and varmint hunting.

Then one must decided the bullet he intends to use and for which application before he can apply the correct twist rate. Personally I use a 1 in 9 twist which works well with bullets up into the 60+ grain area as wel.l It shoots smaller bullet very accurately. A friend of mine shot a doe this year with a 60 grain partition from a 224 minicoop at 3500fps. The very large muley doe (150) shot directly behind the shoulder collapsed as if every nerve receptor had been turned off instantly. NOT one quiver.

Weight is definitely a factor: When younger and stronger I use to pack a 14 pound 6BR around in the rimrock country of Idaho for Rockchucks,coyote and sage rats. Those days of punishing myself have gone by the wayside. If is 1000 yard shooting from a bench then in my opinion there are much better calibers and bullet selections than the 22. Though the 22 caliber is definitely up to the task.

Neal

pisgah · #9 12-07-2009, 12:35 PM

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MontyF · #10 12-07-2009, 02:09 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Saskshooter

Well, you could always neck it up to .30 caliber. That should be a good round.

Laughing now! I figured a 6mm bullet would be a good choice for a .243 case.

Old Grump · #11 12-07-2009, 02:31 PM

Quote:

This cartridge was developed by Paul Middlested of San Diego, California, and is based on the standard 243 Winchester case necked down to handle .224 inch bullet. The body dimensions remain unchanged, but the shoulder angle is increased to 30 degrees, thus resulting in a longer neck (0.300 inch vs. 0.241 inch).

Forming cases for the 22-243 is a relatively simple operation, 243 Winchester cases are simply run through a full length 22-243 sizing die and trimmed to length, if needed. This is a major consideration in choosing wildcat cartridges. Case capacity of the 22-243 is about 5 percent more than the 220 Swift, resulting in velocities easily exceeding 4000 fps.

While staying on the upper end of the velocity spectrum, this cartridge gives up nothing in the accuracy department. Five shot 100 yard groups of 1/2 inch MOA are commonly reported. When planning a rifle for this caliber round, it is a simple matter to rechamber a 22-250. However, rifling twist rates should be taken into account.

If one is going to stick to lighter bullets, then the standard 22-250 barrel will not pose a problem. This cartridge excels with heavier bullets in the 68 to 75 grain range, and with them a rifling twist rate of 1 in 9 or 1 in 8 inches should be considered. The case uses large rifle primers.

http://www.reloadbench.com/cartridges/w22243m.html

bulletmaker · #12 12-09-2009, 11:24 AM

I think I have pretty much decided to make the action into a 308....All I will have to do is change the barrel and fire form the cases then...Any idea on what twist I should get...It will mainly be used for hunting...Maybe some target shooting-I will be getting a heavyer barrel for it...Does anyone know about the barrel they seel through Midway Arms.....Or should I look at a different place for the barrel...john

Old Grump · #13 12-09-2009, 04:16 PM

Can't tell you what twist you need because you don't say what bullet you want to use.

tpv · #14 12-09-2009, 04:44 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by bulletmaker

I think I have pretty much decided to make the action into a 308....All I will have to do is change the barrel and fire form the cases then...Any idea on what twist I should get...It will mainly be used for hunting...Maybe some target shooting-I will be getting a heavyer barrel for it...Does anyone know about the barrel they seel through Midway Arms.....Or should I look at a different place for the barrel...john

Did you not look at post #6?

jaguarxk120 · #15 12-10-2009, 05:22 AM

Get Ackleys book he was the king of wildcatters. In there is listed the 22 Durham jet based off of the 243.

A 30-243 sounds like it might be the ideal case cap. for 30 cal. Might make a great sniper rifle.

bulletmaker · #16 12-10-2009, 11:53 AM

well after all the 308 is based on the same case---as well as the .260-7mm 08----etc