Anybody have any experience with a 16 inch 243AI? It will wear a suppressor and I want it short but still want to send a 75Vmax above 3000fps.

75 gr over 3000 fps MV.

I bet it will do that with the right powder and plenty of it.

Seems like a very specific marriage of barrel, cartridge, and bullet. What are you doing with it?

i was thinking/wondering the same thing.

Some quick and dirty numbers:

From hodgdon 243 data for 75gr hornady hp, the fastest listed velocities are some where around 3500-3600fps on a 24" test barrel. The numbers I seen most for velocity vs barrel length is approximately 20-40fps per inch of barrel. Therefore, 3500 - 40 x 8 = 3180fps

- this is standard 243. I feel like I see 100fps a decent rule of thumb for ai velocity gains. <- other please correct if not.
- according to some, max velocities and/or charges listed by Hodgdon are somewhere on the conservative side

Sounds to me very doable. As per fireman, it would really depend on powder choice as there are multiple options showing less than 3300fps, which start erasing your margins and making it less likely to be above 3000fps.

My .243, 24”, was pushing the 87 gr. VLD 3200 FPS so lopping off 8 inches should still be close to 3000.

I'd be shocked if it wouldn't but the real question is are you going to start reloading because that is probably what it's going to take. I also would bet the 6 gaymoor would be close to doing what you are asking and if not a reloader would be a better option in my opinion. I feel dirty even saying that

About time Judd saw the light and came out of the closet recognizing the superiority of Creedmor rounds!

I've always said if you don't reload you might as well come out of the closet and embrace the gayness....otherwise, there are better options that allow you to keep off your knees. We know you do some of your best work from your knees

I didn't know Tim's knees went bad that way. He did get to retire at a good age, so, I guess for some, it has advantages. And to think, Tim always seems like a stand up guy.

Coyote gun. Not dead set on the AI part, but it will be a 16 inch 243. I’d rather not have to give up the 75Vmax, but if I can’t stay above 3000 FPS then I’ll drop down to the 60-65 grain bullets.

AI will get you there but you wont with a standard shoulder I do not think. We need to start reloading man.

What time do I have for that? I don’t have the luxury of sleeping until 10am and getting off work at 4pm.

You building one new?

I use a 16" 2 43 for a truck gun and hunting. I don't have any data with the 75 vmax. I've been using the 105 amax out of it. I went with a 1 in 7 McGowan barrel to make sure the new and heavier bullets would stabilize.

My last 243AI Was built with a 24" 12 twist. I used Varget and got 3860 out of the 75 vmaxs with excellent accuracy. Not sure what the 16" would do, prob negate going with the ackley all together.

I think you will get the 3,000 with a full tank of H4350 or even H414, throat life will be the issue with an AI full of powder.

Is there much/any ballistic advantage of 243AI vs 6 Creed? Wade does not reload so 6 Creed might be a better choice.

Hornady puts the 87 VMax in their 6 cm (smallest they go) with a muzzle velocity of 3210. Keeping it at 3000+ with a short barrel would be cutting it close.

I have a slow-twist .243AI now so I don't use light bullets, but when I had #1-B in .243 Win., I used Varget to push Nosler 55gr. Ballistic Tips to 3900fps+. Groundhogs were dead-right-there.

Something to consider.