I'm getting ready to start some test loads for the new 243 Target gun.

I'm so low on brass I need to start over. I prefer Federal brass with the FC stamp, but I will consider any high grade brass if it was purchased at the same time, even better if they are from the same lot. Once fired is OK, but I have had trouble with once fired brass from a Winchester rifle fitting in a Remington 700.I guess it's the shoulder being too big. Full length sizing didn't help.

I could also use a Competition seating die since I'm loading for target shooting now.

If you have a handful of bullets laying around, that would be nice also, since I'm starting from scratch.

Thanks for looking, and email is the fastest way to contact me.

geneinnc@charter.net

Gene, FL sizing usually works for any combination of shells and rifles . If your new to reloading perhaps you can screw the die down a little futher to take up slack ? Be sure and always use a good case lube.
Luck Richard Tx

Thanks for the reply. I'm pushing the 30 year mark on reloading. I'm a sticler on detail on my hunting reloads. I do everything but use a competition seater. I even use a digital scale & dump my powder to the exact grain needed. Since this is going to be a target rifle, I'm pulling out all the stops. I'll be getting a competition seater (the standard RCBS OL dies seem to vary a few thousanths). I'm moving up to an electric powder dump & scale (PACT model, just because they retune my BBK electric scale after it sits over the winter, never a charge), invested in an electric case trimmer RCBS.

The reason I'm so picky on brass is I sort cases by weight. When I first started relaoding, I had been shooting Federal Premium Nolser Ballistic Tip factory loads. I had a good supply of FC brass on hand, and since I practice a lot, it was already fireformed to my rifle. I'm just now seeing some wear on the necks, and so I'm very partial to FC brass. The problem is, you can't buy Federal Brass any more. I have tired WW, Remington & Hornady. The Remington is impossible to tumble back to a "new" look, and lasted around 5 cycles of reloading. The WW, cleaned up nicely, but the weight of the cases varied too much. The Hornady was the best of the 3, but I still get twice the loads out of Federal brass. A friend of mine has recently switched to Nosler brass and totally happy with it. Weights are almost identical too.

Below are my options"

1:The only way I can get any More FC brass would be to repeat the process of buying Federal Premium ammo for the new gun, and use it to break in the barrel, and fireform my brass. I found a good deal on some ammo with 95gr Ballistic Tips. It's like $25 a box, which is a bargain i todays market. I worked up loads on several 243's, and the Ballistic Tips have come out on top for accuracy. ( I already have some break in & test reloads using Ballistic Tips & Barnes bullets, since I had them left over.)

2: start from scratch & buy new brass, wither Lapua, Norma or Nosler.

As for the sizing, I always full length size, even brand new brass. Maybe it's just me, but I seem to get better results over neck sizing only.

I guess the only thing I don't do is turn the necks to a uniform size.

I also added a RCBS prep station, so I hope that will help a bit also.

At least I had enough sense to buy 100 rounds of FC brass for my 7mag, so I'm covered there. I rarely get to hunt, but that Winchester 7mag holds it's own with any varmint rifles I own. It went to my gunsmith brand new, and he went over every component, and added a muzzle brake. I would be using it in Benchrest Competition, but the muzzle brake knocks it out of stock class. Maybe I should take that pre 70 action & build an open gun.

Any more advice is fine.