Phoenix Custom 243 AI

Just got my rifle from Keith Johns at Phoenix Custom Rifles today and wanted to show it off a little. The specs are
Rem 700 action
Bartlein m24 contour
1 in 7.5" twist @ 22"
PCR bolt shroud mod
PTG stealth bottom metal
Mcmillan a5
Egw hd 20 moa base
Barreled action is cerakoted FDE and stock is PCR camo.
Here are a couple pics.
The scope and rings are loaners from a different rifle until I get my new one.





If anyone is looking for a build, I highly recommend Phoenix Custom Rifles. They have some of the best customer service I have seen and build a very nice rifle. I will put a range report up this weekend when I get the chance to shoot it.

Excellent combination.

What bullet will you be using, and do you have to fireform all of your brass?

I plan on using Berger 105 VLDs. And yes Im gonna fireform first before I work up a load.

Awesome rifle.

Walter

So I bid.......3150 fps

Gonna be awesome to shoot!

You think I could get that much out of it?
I was guessing closer to about 2950-3000 with the 22" barrel

Nice rifle Brock

What powder do you plan on running?

Walter

But it's A.I.

Fill it rounded off full with H-4350, wipe off the top with the spine of a knife, and seat a bullet. I kid, I kid.

Walter is over the 3k mark with a standard 243.

I really thought hard of going with the ai. But alas I hate case prep so one more step killed it for me.

Walter

Most likely varget if it will shoot it. I have a few pounds on hand so I'm gonna try that first.


I hate it too but I wanted to squeeze a little more speed out of the shorter barrel.

I would leave varget alone. It's way too fast for a 243, much less an A.I.

Look at h4831sc, h1000, and rl23.

Everyone else I have talked to about it has said with the 22" barrel to use a fast burning powder like varget, 4350, or RL-15.

Interesting. I would assume you would hit pressure long before you got a 105 over 2800 fps. Seems like the case would only be 3/4 full too.

Let us know how varget works out.

That's a great looking rifle!!! +1 on the Varget. Take the Hodgdon data on the regular 243 Win with a 105 bullet (see link below). It shows 2769 fps with only 33 grains of powder. If you use H1000 and bump it up to 46 grains, you yield about 2930 fps, a 161 fps gain. And this is with a standard 243 with a smaller volume of powder, not the AI case. The difference would be even greater with the AI running the faster burning Varget compared to H1000. Would Varget work in the AI round. Sure. But why would you go to the extent to fire form a hot rod AI round, and then run a powder that doesn't even come close to utilizing the AI case? That makes as much sense as a football bat. Push the AI round with H1000, R25, Retumbo for top performance. Even 4831 would be better than Varget. Just my $.02.

http://www.hodgdonreloading.com/data/rifle

Nice rifle. Is that an Australian Shepherd in the background of the first pic?

Yes it is an Australian Shepard





I'm not saying varget is better or worse than the others, I was just saying others have recommended varget. I am open to any suggestions that will help utilize the full potential of the cartridge. I will definitely try some loads with some of the powders both of you have recommended.

I tried Varget in a regular 243 with decent results but I have a 18.5" barrel. I switched to 4350 and it shot a bit better but I don't think I have ever chronograph it.

Very nice rig! Let us know how it performs!

very nice setup!

Congrats...Phoenix Customs has a reputation of assembling a good shooting rifle.

Finally got dies and bullets today so worked up a couple loads. I talked to Kieth at Phoenix Custom and he recommended Reloader 17. I couldn't find any 105 vlds in stock so I got some 115 vlds. I settled at 41 grains. At just under 42 gr the bolt lift got hard due to pressure.

I don't have a chrony to check speed but I'm not too worried about when it shoots this good

Sweet. Beautiful gun sir.

Nice.

I run 42.2 Gr of H4350 under a 108 Berger in a 22" 243. Chronos in at 3050 fps

Sweet rig.

Nice rifle for sure. How do you like the PTG dbm? There's a thread on the 'hide where a guy is complaining about loose mag fit with an 10rd accurate mag, has me curious about them.

Nice rifle.

41 grains of R17 with a 115 Berger in an AI case is fine. If you plan to use this powder and approach max loads, be careful when it gets hot, or weather conditions have moisture in the air. R17 is a double base powder, and will show pressure signs all of a sudden. And 243's are known for showing pressure, even with your single base powders. Good shooting!

I like it. I don't have any 10 rd mags but the 5rd AI fits nice and snug.


Thanks for the heads up. I don't plan on going with much more powder. At 42gr the bolt lift was hard.