450Bushmaster.net

Ok, so I was resizing some 243 brass tonight and happened to look at some win and fed factory ammo I had left and found something curious.

Box on left is win super x 80 gr soft point oal=2.658
Box on right is fed 100 gr soft point oal=2.570
Got curious about the difference so I pulled the bullets and measured how far they were seated into the case. Win bullet was seated aprox .240 and fed bullet was seated aprox .500. Figured may as well weigh the powder since it's junk anyway. Federal cartridge contained 39.0 gr of a short cut cylindrical powder and with an advertised velocity of 2960 fps seemed normal. Winchester cartridge on the other hand held 51.2 gr of a ball powder. Filled clear up to and just into the neck. Now I see why the bullet was only seated in. 240, as to not compact the powder. But, nowhere can I find any load data published to put 51 gr of any powder in a 243. Now I know they're shootable, only got a couple left, was just wondering what powder would they be using to have to stuff that much in there?

Unobtainium 446! Seriously, I think the manufacturers have some powders that have not been released in canister lots.

Did a bit of research... Speer reloading Manual #10.
243 Win.
80 Gr. Spire points.
Powders....
MRP
And
785
Will try to get a picture for you
You MUST use magnum primers.
These are MAX loads and old data.
I found only one more manual that had
an 80 grain loaded that hot and that was
Hodgdon manual #26
Using a MAX load of Reloader22 @ 50 grains.
I would stay away from these loads as there are tons
of different powders to play with.
Go with Modern Data.
Nosler Manual #6 does not show any loads for 80 grain bullets
Over 47 grains and those that do are using magnum primers and are MAX loads.

Yeah, in no way trying to replicate this load, I catch this ammo on sale and shoot-em-up as plinking fodder them reload them for my varmint gun. Just couldn't understand that much powder crammed in there. Got eight left in that box, may try to bust the cherry on my chrony next time out and see where they are at. Never used a chrony before, so it should be interesting.

Chronys are great tools that most of us spend our time trying not to blow up.

Re: Chrony....just remember that at the very close distance from muzzle to chrony, the boolit is going to be around 2 1/2" below point of aim. Although I've never heard of anyone actually shooting their chrony, I'd imagine it could happen under the right circumstances?

I did see it once, guy was load testing some 338 magnum and flinched into it a little too much. Must have been a bad day, by the time he got to his feet he had thrown the gun at the chrony as well.

As a side, what is an appropriate distance from muzzle for say, standard rifle calibers and of course the 450?

Generally, 10 feet...check the owner's manual, of course.

My remote cable is about 14' long so I keep mine about 10-12 feet out. Fortunately I haven't blown mine up..yet.
But there was that refrigerator incident.....
I'm sure we have a couple of guys here that could tell you stories about Chrony kills...

There are some admitted chrony killers on other threads on this board. I have used my chrony once and managed to shoot one of the steel supports that holds up the shade. Bent it about 30 degrees, but aside from the shade falling off and the chrony twisting a little, no damage done. Replacement rods were only $7 (plus the same for shipping) for 4.

Anyway, put your chrony 10 to 15' out per your owners manual - farther for larger calibers with more muzzle blast. I use a relatively light camera tripod to hold mine up. As noted earlier, be sure you are shooting above the chrony body. You will not see the chrony or the rods through your sights if you are using a scope.