Baddest short action caliber

[Alex Wheeler]

Short actions limit length but not width, open the bolt face. I have been looking into this lately and settled on a 7saum, 162 eldx .630 bc at 3100 fps in a 24" barrel using rl26 or H1000

 

[CaptainMal]

I say chuck the short action because of bullet weight. For larger game you need heavier weight bullets. Even in 6.5 caliber, you need 140gr. or more. That means the bullet is rather long.

Rather long means you either seat it far down into the case to fit the short action or seat it out where it's performance will not be stifled by deep seating and loss of powder capacity. Now you could use it single-shot and slide one in by hand but you want to use a magazine.

My thoughts are to either accept compromised ballistics with decent cartridges because of seating depth or ...use a long action.

 

[284winner]

I am not insisting my 1700fps criteria will suit all, but that everyone should have a thought out criteria from which to make a decision when doing the research. And have a yardage limit at which you are confident in your shooting abilities. If I can get into a stable position I will shoot to 600yd, unless the wind is bad. I have been hunting elk with a 300WM but out to that distance the 308 has the ballistics to easily suit my criteria (750 yd max for 1700fps to penetrate and fragment).

I think your right on with that 1700-2000 impact velocity. It's just where the bullets will do what they should. Most will not shoot animals at 1000 yards but 600 is much more realistic. The OP stated 400 and 600 possibly. That said, the 6.5 calibers are definitely in the running for elk.

 

[284winner]

I saw chuck the short action because of bullet weight. For larger game you need heavier weight bullets. Even in 6.5 caliber, you need 140gr. or more. That means the bullet is rather long.

Rather long means you either seat it far down into the case to fit the short action or seat it out where it's performance will not be stifled by deep seating and loss of powder capacity. Now you could use it single-shot and slide one in by hand but you want to use a magazine.

My thoughts are to either accept compromised ballistics with decent cartridges because of seating depth or ...use a long action.

I'm loading my 260 with 140 vld type bullets at 2.90 and getting very impressive velocities and accuracy. I'd say the 6.5-284 would suffer tremendously in a SA but the shorter 6.5s are a bit different situation.

 

[CharlieNC]

I think your right on with that 1700-2000 impact velocity. It's just where the bullets will do what they should. Most will not shoot animals at 1000 yards but 600 is much more realistic. The OP stated 400 and 600 possibly. That said, the 6.5 calibers are definitely in the running for elk.

I just happen to have 6.5x47 with a 140VLD load too! No mag length restriction either.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Short actions limit length but not width, open the bolt face. I have been looking into this lately and settled on a 7saum, 162 eldx .630 bc at 3100 fps in a 24" barrel using rl26 or H1000

I'm trying to make the rem dasher I got from you pull double duty for this year and maybe next year til I can save up for a custom 28 nosler build.

 

[Alex Wheeler]

I'm trying to make the rem dasher I got from you pull double duty for this year and maybe next year til I can save up for a custom 28 nosler build.

I see. Probably a 6.5x284 then. Should still hit 3000 with a 140 at 2.8" in a 24" barrel with rl26

 

[284winner]

What is the most powerful non magnum (.473 bolt) caliber that will work from a short action mag for deer and elk at moderate ranges?

I think something else that can be said for the 284 case is its efficiency. Sure the short mags are bad ass cartridges too. They do also take more powder than the 284. For a case that takes between 48-55 grains of powder pushing a 162-168 grain bullet and moving it along to nearly 3100 fps in a SA system is impressive. That's 10-15 grains less powder than the 7 wsm uses for the same objective.

 

[Sniper338]

Good luck feeding and ejecting unspent rounds in a 284 in a short action from a mag.

 

[JamesnTN]

Good luck feeding and ejecting unspent rounds in a 284 in a short action from a mag.

All ya need is one shot

 

[dryhumor]

All ya need is one shot

Single shot action.....

 

[jimbires]

if you would consider a wildcat give this a look . I don't have one , but it looks impressive . Rich calls it a 6.5ss , sherman short mag . I think the 6.5 is the original , he has been necking it up for other calibers . here is a long range hunting forum search if you're interested .


https://cse.google.com/cse?cx=partn...3j2294497j8#gsc.tab=0&gsc.q=6.5 SS&gsc.page=1

 

[Slickrick0999]

Look up the 6.5 Addiction round

 

[284winner]

Good luck feeding and ejecting unspent rounds in a 284 in a short action from a mag.

I have no issues with that. Thought I might but do not. The OAL must be around 2.990 or less (Rem 700 SA). I believe the savage SA allows a bit longer OAL.

 

[matthias]

Have you looked at. 458 socom with 300 grain Barnes bullets? They run just fine from mags and hit pretty fn hard

 

[284winner]

Have you looked at. 458 socom with 300 grain Barnes bullets? They run just fine from mags and hit pretty fn hard

Pretty sure he wants something out to and maybe beyond 400 yards possibly 600.

 

[matthias]

Yeah 400-600 ? Done 557 on deer and it worked very well. She got hit through both shoulders went about 40 yards and died .

Granted it has more drop and range to target is more critical , I really like it .

 

[ttfreestyle]

Ok narrowed down to 6.5x284 or 284, I just like that case and have some brass and bullets left over from other builds. I will have the option to single feed if necessary but really prefer to mag feed on this one. If it means shortening my range that's ok, after all it is hunting! Thanks for all the replys and help.

 

[284winner]

Yeah 400-600 ? Done 557 on deer and it worked very well. She got hit through both shoulders went about 40 yards and died .

Granted it has more drop and range to target is more critical , I really like it .

Pretty impressive

 

[Jason_A]

Ok seems a few can handle 400 yards, if we extend the yardage to 500 or 600 does one short action caliber stand out or am I going past the limits of a non magnum short action caliber? Thanks for any replys

The new Berger 180 Elite certainly ups the 308 win game.