Hi Guys,

Firstly i'm new to the site (posting but not reviewing) so hello.

I have managed to confuse myself and now need some advice / views to help my understanding and thus decisions.

Having just taken delivery of a 19inch barrel R93 what are your views on using a slightly faster powder than normal to compensate for the loss of velocity due to the short barrel. I generally use 150grn TSX for most of my UK hunting.

Alternativly for the same loss in fps would a faster powder in a smaller load be more efficient burn wise out of the shorter barrel.

I am trying to minimise load developement time as my nearest range is a two hour drive away.

Many thanks.

Welcome aboard!

Contrary to what many believe, the same powders that gives you top performance in a 23-24" barrel will also be the best bet for your 19" tube as well.

Despite what the highly knowledgable Bobby Tomek feels ( and he is never wrong).. I'll still say I prefer to use the faster burning powders in a short barreled rifle.

At least on American powders, that would be RL 7, RL 10, H 322, IMR and H/4198, SR 4759, IMR 3031...

Sariel, I take it you plan to use this rifle with a moderator?

Whatever powder you settle on, it needs to be quick enough that most or all of it burns in the barrel and does not end up unburnt in the can.

I would be thinking about RL15 or maybe even something in the line of Benchmark. 48-49grs of Benchmark should burn well in a 19" 30cal tube.

The slower powders should still work well with heavier bullets but with 150's I believe the faster powders would do better.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Welcome aboard!

Contrary to what many believe, the same powders that gives you top performance in a 23-24" barrel will also be the best bet for your 19" tube as well.

BT is correct, slower powders will still give you the highest vel. & sometimes best accuracy, even in the shorter bbls. You'll get more muzzle blast, but the vel. will also be there. I like IMR4831, H4831, RL22 or IMR7828 for 180gr bullets. H4350, RL19 maybe IMR4831 for 165gr bullets. I don;t shoot anything lighter in the 06.

quote:

Originally posted by Bobby Tomek:
Welcome aboard!

Contrary to what many believe, the same powders that gives you top performance in a 23-24" barrel will also be the best bet for your 19" tube as well.

one fast test you may want to try,

take an old white t-shirt or white towel...

shoot it at a distance of 12 inches and see how much powder residue is all over the cloth....
that will tell you if all of your powder is being burned in the barrel or not...

with the slower powders, I think you'll find a lot more powder residue on it, as compared to the faster powders...

if you are using a moderator as indicated above by another member, that little bit of info from the towel may be very important to you..