reloading for 20in bbl 243

[terez]

Putting together a lightweight 20in barrel 243.

I know it'll be loud and lose a bit of extreme fps off the top but I'm building her anyway!! LOL

Looking for a proven/suggested handload to burn up the powder quicker and be effcient as possible in the 20in tube.
The barrel is a factory 20in youth sps sporter barrel as a new take off.

Will shoot whatever bullet weight/config does well out of it....shooting coyotes and other smaller varmints and possibly deer in the fall if a heavier bullet will shoot well out of it.

What twist are the 20in sps sporter barrels?

'preciate any help here....


Thanks

 

[kman300]

I have used H4350, 80gr/85gr ttsx/tsx as a deer combo with great success. Chrono'd 3150fps in my 20" barrel.

 

[rembolt]

I shoot a 95 gr Hdy SST out of my 700 compact 243 pushed by a healthy helping of H1000.

 

[Longwalker]

My understanding is that you can load for a short barrel to get maximum velocity, or minimum muzzle blast, but not both at the same time.

Maximum velocity is achieved with the same slower burning powders that work with any normal length barrel for maximum velocity. I like H4350 for that.
For somewhat lower velocity but substantially reduced muzzle blast, and higher "efficiency" of bullet speed compared to powder weight required, use a relatively quick powder. For that purpose I like Varget.

 

[c-fbmi]

I load IMR 4350 in my Ruger RSI with 80 gn bullets, same as my 22" REm, Gives best accuracy and velocity in both.

 

[saskcop]

I use the same loads in my 22" .243's that I do in my 20" BLR .243. I haven't noticed a difference in performance from either and have dropped tonnes of game with each. My preference is 100 grain partitions.

 

[rral22]

In almost all cases (pun intended) a powder that produces the highest velocity in a 24" barrel will produce the highest velocity in a 20" barrel. You will lose speed with the shorter barrel, but you will lose that speed with every powder you use, so if velocity is the goal, pick a powder that produces the best velocities in a couple of manuals, and use it. If it shoots, you are likely getting the very best you can out of that barrel.