Anyone have any powder suggestions for a 20" .243 loaded with 105 Berger hunting VLDs?

I'd like to get 3000 fps if possible. Temperature sensitivity is a concern, as is SD/ES and accuracy.

This barrel was getting 3175 fps at 26" with H4350. The same charge in the shortened barrel is running 2900.

Thanks

It is what it is. Don't think There's a powder which is going to give you that 100 FPS in a barrel that short. If your accuracy is good with H4350 at 2900 FPS, stick with it. Deer won't miss that 100 FPS.

I considered this point, too. I'm not even sure about the accuracy since the barrel was shortened. I just ran 3 rounds over the magnetospeed to check velocity.

H4350 is the only powder I've ever used in .243 so I wasn't sure if any of the other powders were faster in shorter barrels.

Keep using that H4350.

Give RL26 a try.

My buddy has a ~20" 243 that was a 60's? bench rest gun. It was his uncles, and I ended up with all the loaded rounds, bullets and powder that he got with the gun. He used H380 powder if I am remembering correctly.
I pulled one down, weighed everything and wrote it down so we could duplicate the load in the future but I dont have that info handy. I have NOT fired it over the chrono so I have no idea of its velocity. I will try and find that info, maybe you can get some use from it.

Jason

I believe I use IMR 4350 in my 6mm Rem. It's close to H4350, but not the same. Some people claim it's THE powder for 30-06, 270, and 243. I use it in many guns now, more than my favorite, Varget, which would likely be another good choice. I believe I also bought some RL-22 but I haven't loaded it yet.

Dave has spoken

It's gonna be hard to get to 3000 fps with that heavy of bullet , and that short barrel. You might lower the bullet weight and find something
That would work.

I'll be running a 5" Thunderbeast as soon as I receive the ATF blessing (check cashed 09-18-18). I'm hoping that'll add a few FPS. That's also the reason for the 20" barrel.

Thanks everyone for the replies.

I was going to suggest IMR 7828, but dang... nearly 3200 ft/sec with a 105 grain pill seems to be mighty hot for a 243. I am running 107 match kings outta my 26" barrel at 3000, and I thought I was doing something. 4350 nor re22 didn't cook them quite as hot as IMR7828.... but I didn't try to compress the loads too much. And neither produced really tight groups for me at 100 yds with my rifle. My 1000 yard load is 44gr of 7828 outta peterson SRP brass. Will shoot cloverleaves at 100 yds, shoot decent groups at 1250, and is running 3000 ft/sec. Maybe I need to revisit the 4350? I think I was using IMR though, and not Hodgdon's offering.

My son has a ruger american compact that I think has a 20" bbl. I have him well above 3000 with 87 gr vmax, and at 3000 with 100 grain pro hunters using IMR 4064 and H380.

I have a box of 105 bergers for my long range rifle that I haven't tried yet. How sensitive are they with seating depth? I hear they can be a bear to dial in...

The hybrids aren't too bad. The VLD's can be more sensitive to seating depth.

I reviewed my data. The 100 gr prohunters out of my boys 20" ruger American is running 2850. Sorry for misleading you. When not planning for long range shooting I usually do not try to max out velocity. If I'm getting good accuracy any acceptable velocity to make the bullet perform is fine by me. Most of the time, though, I've found a full case typically gives me good accuracy, and by default, a decent velocity.

Might try Ramshot Big Game. It worked wonders in my 19” barreled 7-08. After trying several different powders I was about ready to re-barrel it before a friend gave me some big game to try.