I HAVE USED A SAKO FINNBEAR IN 270 FOR YEARS NOW BUT A MINOR BACK INJURY BECOMES PAINFUL AFTER A FEW DAYS IN THE SCOTTISH HILLS.I ONLY NEED A 243 AS I SHOOT MAINLY ROE DEER ,FOXES AND ODD RED DEER. I FANCY A 20"SAKO OR MANNLICHER IN 243 STAINLESS SYNTHETIC(WHEN IT RAINS IT RAINS).I HAVE NEVER OWNED OR USED A SHORT BARRELED RIFLE AND AS I RELOAD I WONDER DOES THE BRL LENGTH PROHIBIT THE USE OF SLOW POWDERS SUCH AS RE 19 AND RE 22.I INTEND TO USE 70G FOR FOXES ETC,85G SPEER ON ROE AND NOS 95G PART'ON RED.CHEERS ROB T

Bob, the 20" barrel shouldn't be a problem at all, you will lose maybe 100 fps but hunting what you are shouldn't see much difference. Depending on your shooting ability and yardage you could shoot a .222 Remington which would work also, it would give you more accuracy and less weight and recoil. Good Luck

I agree with reload. I have a Rem 660 in 6MM Rem, and it has a 20 inch barrel. It is true that you lose some velocity, but I can get 3000 fps with a 100 grain bullet. The best powder for it has been Norma 204. The denseness of the powder is an advantage since the bullets have to be loaded relatively deep because of the short action.

If you like the 20 inch barrel go for it. I don't think you will be able to tell the difference in the field for your type of hunting.

With careful loading you will be able to get about the same as in my 6MM Rem. I would start with powders of the burning rate of 4350.

My main objection to the short barrel is the muzzle blast, and not the velocity.

Jerry

RobT:

I concur with the other gentlemen. As a reloader myself, I can tell you from experience tho, that using RL19 or 22, You need the longer barrel to burn all of the powder, otherwise you lead to throat erosion.

I prefer to use RL 15, and have been using it for quite a while in a 243 barrels from 20 inch to 26.

For reduced recoil also, check out an older Lyman Manual, #47 should have it listed, but Loads using RL 7. It is even a quicker powder and will reach its pressure wave quicker than RL 15 or the others. Therefore it will be much more efficient in the shorter barrels.

Another group to try is IMR 4895, or my other favorite 4064, or 3031.

These will have less recoil than the slower powders, and you use less, so you can shoot more per pound of powder. Accuracy is excellent with all the ones I have mentioned in my 6mms.

Good Luck

Rob T
My wife used an 18" Rem Mod 7 in 243 for several years. [I was using a mod 7 in 308]. She killed several Deer and Antelope out to 275/300 yds with no problem. She always shot reloads with 42gr. of IMR4350 and either a 100gr Sierra spz, or a 95gr. Nosler Partition. That rifle shot very small groups at 200 and 300 yds. We both used a 243 No1 22"bbl also. We never had any problems killing game with the 243.