243 Win, 20" Barrel, Load Recommendations (hunting)

[Hornseeker]

I am getting a gun set up for my daughter (of which, I'm sure I will use too! :)

It was a "standard" remington barrel, on a 700. It was 24" and I had it cut to 20. I "assume" its a 1:10" twist? Anyhow, I"m looking to push the Barnes 85 grain TSX's out of it...

Was planning to use H380 or maybe BLC-2, but was wondering if at 20" I should use something faster?

Any idears??

Thanks much!

 

[40X Guy]

I just went thru this with my 11 year old son and his model 7 .243 with 18 inch barrel. I got the info here on site. I am running 85 grain Nosler partitions in his rifle. Using 31 grains of H4895 seated to 2.650. Shot rifle yesterday, and the reduced load makes him very happy and the accuracy was very good. Yes you want to run a faster powder than usual. I started him out with 55 grain BT's and 41.5 grains Varget powder, but recoil was excessive and he was getting fireballs out the muzzle.

If you are not looking for reduced power loads, and want to get em up to speed without fireballs, you could probably try BLC-2, H380 may be a tad slow in a 20 inch barrel. Other powders to possibly try might be H335, the aforementioned H4895, and IMR 4895.

Frank

 

[Hornseeker]

Thank you Much!!!

I know you guys are probably using ear protection all the time, but at 18" is the muzzle blast fairly obnoxious?

 

[Hornseeker]

Do you remember where the thread is where you guys discussed this already??

???

 

[40X Guy]

Do a search under ".243 Kid Loads" here in forum.

Frank

 

[Hornseeker]

I'm not necessarily looking for a reduced load. What I am trying to figure out is, should I use a faster burning powder like H380 or BLC-2 instead of something like 4350 or 4831, in order to get full consumption in the 20" barrel. I dont know that its necessary to worry about in a 20" barrel or not, was just hoping to find someone whose messed around with it a bit...

Thanks!

 

[40X Guy]

Yes, you will have to go faster burn rate to use all the powder in the shorter tube. I have not tried faster powders yet for full power loads, but the aforementioned powders should get you up and shooting.

Frank

 

[Hornseeker]

Hodgdon lists some loads for an 80 grain bullet with the BLC2... I should be able to try it with an 85 shouldn't I? Maybe cut back a 1/2 grain for starters? (from min)..

They have an H380 load listed for an 85... I'll work with that one too. Finally, they also list a 85 grain 4895 load, which is the fastest of the 3 powders I posess right now... That should get burnt up pretty good before it leaves the barrel!!!

Thanks

 

[bigedp51]

Hodgdon youth load

Bullet Hornady 80 grain
H4895 - 28.5 grains - 2704 fps - 31,100 cup

http://www.hodgdon.com/PDF/Youth%20Loads.pdf

Go with the H4895 loads, even at the starting load of 35 grains the 85 grain bullet is going 3015 fps.

http://data.hodgdon.com/cartridge_load.asp

 

[Scott Harris]

H4350 is the standard 243 powder. H4895 is the recommended youth powder for light loads and is quite a bit faster....that should work well in a shorter barrel. My 10 year old uses an 85gr Sierra with 32.0g H4895.

 

[Hornseeker]

Cool...I will give the 4895 a go, as well as the H380 and BLC2.... Whichever works best....will be my powder!!!