Long action vs. Short action

[Bc'z]

I seem to use my SA 284 win more than the LA version. I use mostly the 160-168 grain bullets and they function fine in mags but even if I decide to shoot the 175-180s, I do the same, pull bolt to remove live round. If I'm hunting with the longer bullets, I'll use the LA platform rather than the SA. I'd probably go with a LA if I shot the 180s predominantly.

I've been contemplating a 284 on a Remington long action throated for 180-190 gr bullets. Thinking it would make a sweet hunting rig.

 

[Ned Ludd]

I'm building a 284,(so 160-184g bullets) as a beginners F class.
Have a short action and it's fine for single loading, but if I have a live round, have to pull
bolt out. Don't know if this would become a PITA or not.
I have a little time to get a long action and not have to worry about the ejection problem.
That was my only concern.

Even in F-TR with 200+ gr bullets loaded long in a short action, it is sometimes necessary to pull the bolt to extract an unfired round. With the [low] frequency that I find myself having to do this, it is not really a problem. Other options you may want to think about include a coned bolt and no ejector. I have several F-TR set up rifles in this configuration and much prefer it to a flat bolt with an ejector. It's much easier on the brass necks/case mouths, and you don't have to chase down pieces of brass that you didn't catch and might have flown a couple feet upon ejection. Regardless of what type setup you choose, within a short period of time it will become your "new normal".

 

[284winner]

I've been contemplating a 284 on a Remington long action throated for 180-190 gr bullets. Thinking it would make a sweet hunting rig.

My 284 LA is set up for those bullets. I just don't need that heavy bullet for hunting. Shooting the SA 284 with 162-168s at 3000 fps from mags is plenty. If I was gonna use it for banging targets at 1200-1500 yards, I'd pull out the LA with 180 class bullets. Still could use the short action for this purpose single load, pull bolt to remove loaded round. I'd want a repeater for hunting no doubt. If I need a LR heavy 284 bullet to hunt with, I'll use the LA 284 for sure.

 

[dannyjbiggs]

Making the choice to me is way more about the length of the cartridge and the length of the bullet you are going to shoot. You don't need a long action for a 6PPC no matter what bullet you use. A 6.5-284 with 85 or 90 grain would work great in a short action the same case with 140 or the newer longer bullets not so much. I saw a Remington custom shop rifle in 300RUM that they built on short action that you could not unload a live round with out removing the bolt. To me that was just plain stupid.

I only "like" your comment only because the first .300 WM (belted) action that I ever owned for LR was a .300 WM on a Remington 40X...not problems there for me, except for the recoil!!

 

[INTJ]

In terms of pure accuracy, the action is fairly low on the list. Long action vs short action is mostly a matter of personal preference what you have on hand.

 

[ebb]

To each his own you paid your money and got what you wanted, and sound like you liked your rifle. I however will not own a rifle that i can't unload with merely a flick of the bolt. I have a 338 Lapua mag and bought a donor rifle big enough to accommodate the cartridge.

 

[Sniper338]

If I did thing over again I'd build some short action calibers on a long action. Give more room for seating bullet out

 

[msalm]

The new(Er) Baney mag box for short actions with the dropped mag box is pretty sweet for those intermediate rounds. Allows 3.100” OAL on the loaded round. Just used one for a 300 WSM and it worked very well.

 

[4xforfun]

With all being equal, you could have the same barrel placed on each.
Same caliber, I mean everything the same,
is a long action as inherently as accurate as a short action?

I hope so, or else I have been handicapping myself shooting BAT "M" actions in 600/1K BR all these years.

Tod

 

[BenPerfected]

My wife votes for long actions
Ben

 

[davidjoe]

A long action has three advantages going for it over an otherwise identical short action.

1) There is greater surface contact area between the stock and a long action. Spreading forces like torque or vibrations over a bigger footprint of bedding bodes well for both dampening and longevity of the bedding.

2) Putting more distance between the action’s mounting screws reduces pressure on the stock. (If the action screws were a mere inch apart on a two inch action, it’s easy to imagine the force a free floated 11 pound barrel would exert to flex the stock/pull the rear pillar and escutcheon or guard against the stock.)

3) A longer action of the same model weighs more. Although I’m not smitten by free floating, that is the accepted norm of our era. A free floated barrel by definition touches only the action. The heavier the barreled action is, the slower it recoils into the stock. Whatever vibrations if any are caused by that interaction, they are less, the slower the impact is. That would go to accuracy.

 

[kneedtospeed]

I hope so, or else I have been handicapping myself shooting BAT "M" actions in 600/1K BR all these years.

Tod

I'm with ya Tod
I've been shooting my 1K Straight 6br in a Long Action also.
It gives me a large port to speed feed, and keeps me from short stroking my heavy gun, when I keep shooting them back, to back, to back...