General powder question in Encore pistol length barrels?

[encoreguy]

Is there a tendency in the shorter Encore pistol barrels to prefer either faster or slower powders over what works in rifle length barrels, or does it matter.  I would think that faster powders would work better, but lack any experience to judge.  I will use it in .243, 7-08 and .308 for now, others to follow.

[Grumulkin]

Whatever powder works well in rifle length barrels will probably be the one to choose for handgun length barrels.

[Bullseye]

Some manuals make reference to using faster powders for better performance in the shorter barrels.  Some manuals have different powders listed in the handgun section and others use the same in the rifle and handgun section.

[encoreguy]

I would think that the slow burning powders would give more SD in a shot barrel than in a longer barrel, but again I have no experience with it.  So I guess I will just have to experiment.

[Selmer]

I have been following the lead of some other shooters and trying light Blue Dot loads in my bottleneck cartridges out of my Encore.  Everything about the loads are better, lower SD, good velocity (but slightly slower), less muzzle blast, less recoil.  I've been using them in my 22BR 12" barrel and getting 3000 fps with a 40 gr. bullet and using half the powder weight of standard powders for the 22BR.  I'll not post loads because they are not published anywhere, but do a search for them and you'll find them out there on the internet.
Selmer

[sweetwyominghome]

As someone who has worked with many combos -- rifle and pistol barrels in the same calibers -- I can tell you that the powder that gives the best performance in a rifle-length barrel will be a top choice in a pistol-length barrel as well.

For example, a 26" Remington VLS in .260  preferred a load of 46 grains H4350 under a 120 grain Nosler BT. The MV: 2975 fps.

From a custom 14" XP, that same load produced 2693 fps and was the fastest load I used in that particular firearm.

[xphunter]

Use the rifle data, with the exception (maybe) of the slowest powder listed.  what works good in a rifle works good in a pistol length barrel the majority of the time