20" Barrel For 243??

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Is a 20" barrel with 10 twist a good choice for the 243, or would I get better results with something longer.
I'm looking at a couple of different light weight 243s with a shorter LOP but both are 20" barrels.
I'll shoot 70gr. BTs mostly, but would use heavier bullets occasionly.

Thanks.........Charlie
 
CharlieBgood,
I think you would have a very good calling rig. I recently made the mistake of looking at a Browning "Micro Hunter" in .243. I even held it in my hands and brought it to my shoulder. What a beauty! A coyote callers dream. They had 580.00 price tag on it, and I had a tough time walking out of there without it.
 
I have 2 Remington Model Seven's with 20" barrels - one in .223 and one in 7mm-08. I had to have them after shooting a friend's in .243. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif I have also had the LOP's shortened to 12 3/4" to fit me.

I love the lighter weight and quick handling of a 20" barreled rifle!
Both shoot well under MOA - when I stay away from caffeine!

me!

337452.jpg
 
I had a Ruger Stainless-Synthetic Ultra Light in .243 Winchester with a 20" Barrel. Man that Rifle handled like a dream and shot quite well also. Compared to my current 22" Ruger Stainless-Synthetic .243, the Ultra Light with the 20" barrel lost from 50 FPS to 100 FPS with the different loads I have chronographed in both rifles. I used Federal Premiums (70gr. Nosler Ballistic Tips & 100gr. Sierra Spitzer Boat Tails) in the 20" .243 with quite good success. I took 2 Whitetails with the 100gr. loading and 1 Coyote with the 70gr. loading. None of these animals knew I was using a short 20" barrel.

Larry
 
I have a Savage with a 20" barrel and am very satisfied. From the bench it will hold 3/4 MOA with:
100gr. Sierra SBT .008" off the rifling
50.5grs H-1000
Fed. 210 Match Primer
Rem Brass
This load produces an even 3000 fps from this rather "slow" rifle.
 
Rich.......The Micro Hunter is one of the two I'm looking at. I'm also considering the Vanguard Sporter Compact. I like the fact that the Browning has an adjustable trigger and is bedded and floated at the factory.
My main concern is accuracy with the 20" barrel. I don't really care about loosing 50fps as long as it shoots straight.
By the way. They are $541 at BudsGunshop.com.

Thanks.........Charlie
 
My Wife's very first rifle was a Ruger U.L. in 243. She still has this rifle and I consider it one of my favorites. This rifle is over 20 years old has a 20" light weight barrel on it and it shoots 75 gr. speers, 85 gr. sierra, and 100 gr. Hornady or Nosler part. bullets extremely well.
You will love a 243 in this configuration.
Tuco
 
Hi Charlie!

The lightweight .243 in a 20 inch bolt is a smart choice.

I own an AR, 2 700's (221 FB, and 223), owned a 22-250 Howa, 270 Rem (700), shotgun etc, etc.

I also have an old Ruger RL (ultra light)I purchased in 1985 in .243 Win. Gun weighs under 7 pounds with its fixed 4x scope. When I have a week off of work to hunt 'yotes in the fall, this is the gun I pick every time. Easy carrying, fast handling, with plenty of knockdown power for stubborn dogs.

DSC01308.jpg


I have been experimenting with the different calibers and gun configurations for over 3 years now, and have found no combo better for New England calling yet.

Maybe the 6.8........ /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

To make it super easy, I use the same 85 grain Sierra BTHP Gameking for deer and coyotes. I have tried the 70 grain Nosler BT over a stiff load of 4064 with devestating results on coyotes. The .243 Win...... King of the Big bang flop coyote calibers.

About the only downside is short barrel life. Mines on the downside of its second barrel. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/frown.gif But the 20 inch bolt is a hard gun not to shoot alot............and man, it smokes yotes'!

You will like it...........alot. Have fun, Sleddogg /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif
 
Charlie

There are at least three of us on here that have Browning BAR 243 Lightweight Stalkers, which comes in a 20" barrel. They shoot amazingly like a heavy barrel bolt gun even though they are autoloaders. Imagine that, they are Brownings though.

One of them belongs to Law Enforement Type back in Missouri and it shoots little cloverleafs at 100 yards with Remington Accutips 75 Gr V-Max. Hopefully he will see this and post his target for you. My gun is pretty much the same except for the guy behind the trigger ain't as young or steady anymore.
 
Another picture for effect. The barrel length isn't what you need concern yourself with. Barrel quality is the key. My BAR target.
307673.jpg
 
You guys and gals better be right cause I wen't to town and ordered the Browning Micro in 243 on Friday.
If it doesn't shoot at least I have someone to blame it on!ha

Now how about some of those secret bullet/powder recipe's?
I promice not to tell anyone,,,,honest. So come on let's hear em............

Take Care
Charlie

Oh Yea,,,,sledog Thats a nice rig. I sure like those older Rugers...

 
Last edited by a moderator:
CharlieBgood, did you ever get that Hornet we discussed?

As far a secret recipes, just try that factory stuff that GC shows in his target picture, the Remington Accutip 75 gr V-Max is the same exact combination of bullet and powder.
 
Charlie,
It's been discussed here a bunch. A good search will give you plenty of reading. I like Varget for bullets 85 grains and under, H4350 for anything over that. The 75 and 87 grain Hornady V-Max are accurate coyote killers of the first order. The Sierra 85 grain HPBT is a decent compromise varmint/predator/medium game bullet. The Sierra is quite accurate too. The Hornady Interlock and Remington Core-Lokt 100 grain are good deer/antelope bullets as is the Speer 105 grainer. That's a start, but the sweet thing about the .243 are the numbers of possible combinations that are accurate and effective. Plenty of quality factory loads to choose from as well.
 
Charlie, I think you will like the weight and the way the micro Browning carries. I have a 20" 243 in the form of a Mod 70 'Classic Compact'. I got it about a year ago and the A-Bolt was a close contender. With what happened to Winchester I'm glad I got it.
My lighter weight predator loads are Sierra 70 gr HPBT Match bullets with about 40 grns of Varget. I have some of the 85 grn GameKings but have not loaded any yet since I have 3 308's that I usually pick from for deer.

Yes the A-Bolt trigger is adjustable but only down to a point. My spring guage is not real accurate but the lower limit was close or just under 4lbs. The easy fix is to put in a Timney A-Bolt replacement trigger spring. It is a no brainer with no small screws or other trigger parts to mess with. The kit is available from MidSouth shooters supply & other places($15 or so). You get a light and medium spring with each 'kit'. Since I have several A-Bolts I put a light spring in my 223 & the medium in my 308 and 300WSM. It gives you a much improved trigger.
 
Quote:
Accuracy from a 20" barrel?
A picture says a thousand words.
'Nuff said.

337453.jpg



weren't we talking about .243's with a 20" barrel? Just curious because among the thousand words this picture says is that its a .223 with Remington Express 55 grain PSP's.
 
SongDog...........I was thinking the same thing "20" 243 barrel?"? I didn't say anything for fear of creating a greater imbalance than ME already suffers. Between the cafine and large amounts of meds she is on it's a slippery slope at best. I don't want to experience the terror that the squirrls in Mo. do at just the mention of her name. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

ME.........Not that I didn't enjoy seeing that pic for the umpteenth time, what I would rather see is 1 target with 5
five-shot groups under an inch. That's what I strive for in a gun. Now go take you'r meds, and have a cup of decaff.
Oh yea, take that danged front sight off of that laminate #7, and put some blank screws in the holes. It will look much better. And leave the squirrls alone . It's breeding season, and they are denning up right now. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

Charlie
 


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