Baddest short action caliber

[ttfreestyle]

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?

 

[JRS]

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?

What do you consider moderate range?

 

[effendude]

My first choice would be .284 Winchester, but the SA limits the cartridge a bit. .308 Win or .338 Federal would work too at 300 yards or closer

Scott

 

[ttfreestyle]

What do you consider moderate range?

I think the caliber will dictate this but if I can reach 400 that would be great. If not I'll just have to hunt closer. It needs to feed from short action rem.

 

[JRS]

You can certainly achieve your goal with the 6.5x47L, or better yet… the 25x47L or 250 Ackley

Edit: You don't need a boomer at 400 yards. A properly constructed bullet and shot placement is the key.

 

[scope eye]

6 X 55 Swede fits the bill.

Dean

 

[CharlieNC]

This can become a hair splitting exercise, as the differences between many good choices are secondary. Choose a good bullet that will run decent velocity, and evaluate using a ballistic calculator. I recently developed a 308 load to push 175vld at 2650fps in a 20in barrel which I am comfortable hunting deer and elk at 500yd; it delivers higher terminal velocity than Berger specifies. This bullet kills effectively and depends on impact velocity, not the chamber from which it was fired.

 

[long40shot]

Would a 260 ackley improved for the bill? I've never had one, but it's just a thought.

Matt

 

[ttfreestyle]

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

 

[snert]

45-70 is a non magnum bolt face...

 

[Larryh128]

260, 6.5 Creedmoor, 7-08, 308. Take your pick, they all will work just fine.

 

[dkhunt14]

7 SAUM. MATT

 

[Larryh128]

If you want more throttle look at a 300 RCM BUT stock up on brass as I really don't think it will be around long. Real good short barrel ballistics.

 

[JRS]

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

Are you comfortable hunting/shooting at 500-600 yards?

 

[CharlieNC]

Instead of opinions you should decide on your personal criteria and let the research guide your decision. My personal approach is:
1. Anatomy of killing and bullet performance - Instead of energy or pass through, I subscribe to the wound channel kills criteria. On this basis I choose the Berger hunting vld.
2. Bullet impact threshold- for the Berger 1700fps minimum. Or if you prefer, impact energy.
3. Ballistics analysis- easy to use JBM with its bullet library to quickly run a multitude of bullets & typical velocities to find the maximum range to achieve 1700fps, desired energy, etc.

In this manner you can quantify your options vs just opinions. And you may be surprised at how little difference in performance that you find.

 

[ttfreestyle]

Are you comfortable hunting/shooting at 500-600 yards?

Yes,
I shoot 600 a couple times a week from may to fall season. We also extend to 1000 and 1500 when shooting the ultra mags. My farthest kill on elk is 492, I wouldn't take that shot if I didn't feel conditions werent right . That being said I am wanting to lighten my carry gun and make it more compact for the scabbard and if I have to shorten my range that's ok.

 

[dskogman]

If most powerful = muzzle energy the winner is the 338 Federal with factory loads (from Ballistic AE) at least from what I could find.

 

[284winner]

Yes,
I shoot 600 a couple times a week from may to fall season. We also extend to 1000 and 1500 when shooting the ultra mags. My farthest kill on elk is 492, I wouldn't take that shot if I didn't feel conditions werent right . That being said I am wanting to lighten my carry gun and make it more compact for the scabbard and if I have to shorten my range that's ok.

Based on the above criteria(CharlieNC), yes a short action non Magnum bolt face cartridge can handle that request to 1000 yards fairly easily. Not saying you would consider it but the 284 win in a SA platform will accomplish that goal. Some prefer magnums and some do not. Either way, the fact is, a non Magnum can do the job easily with velocity and energy left over. At a OAL of 2.975 with 55.0 gr. RL17 and a 162 eldx, I'm typically getting 3070+/-. ( Energy numbers I think are around 1100) Best accuracy is closer to 3000.

 

[CharlieNC]

Based on the above criteria(CharlieNC), yes a short action non Magnum bolt face cartridge can handle that request to 1000 yards fairly easily. Not saying you would consider it but the 284 win in a SA platform will accomplish that goal. Some prefer magnums and some do not. Either way, the fact is, a non Magnum can do the job easily with velocity and energy left over.

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).

 

[ttfreestyle]

Based on the above criteria(CharlieNC), yes a short action non Magnum bolt face cartridge can handle that request to 1000 yards fairly easily. Not saying you would consider it but the 284 win in a SA platform will accomplish that goal. Some prefer magnums and some do not. Either way, the fact is, a non Magnum can do the job easily with velocity and energy left over.

I like the 284 idea but all I read is it's best to be on a long action which I understand but I have a nice short action already so I thought I would get some advice on here. What velocity can I expect in 284 at mag length in 24 inch barrel with 160 class bullets?