short barrel varmint build

[dtucker]

I am going to do a varmint build and want to do a very short barrel for something different. I am hoping to get input from you fellows and hear your opinions and thoughts as to what you like and why you would choose that caliber for a short barreled build. I will give you the details on what i am going to build on. First off it will be built off a Remington short action RB RP and have a Shilen hunter trigger. The stock will be Tom Manners new EH4 stock that will have his molded in camo and his new minni chassis that is setup to be used with a BDL type setup. The stock forearm is shorter in length by a little more than 3 inches and its purpose is for a short barreled build. I am looking at a max overall length of barrel between 17 and 18 inches in a medium to heavy sporter contour barrel that i am going to order from Bartlein when i figure out the caliber. Being that it will be a BDL setup i will want the cartridge to be 1 that will feed reliable in a BDL setup. I also want to stick to the 22 to 6mm caliber range. I am not interested in shooting very lite bullets in either caliber and also not interested in shooting the extreme heavy bullets. So....... if you where to do a build like this what caliber would you use. I have thought of doing a AI type cartridge but being such a short barrel not sure if the benefit would be their to justify it and will it feed well in a BDL setup? All AI,s i have done have been on single shot actions.

Thanks for any input and advise givin,
Dan

 

[Kermit in Va.]

Have you thought about the 6-223 ?
I just got one put together a week or so ago and love it.
I shot one in a AR about 5-6 years ago and wanted one ever since.
Mine is a 9 twist and so far its shot everything from 65-85 real good.
Wish I'd got one years ago.


Kermit

 

[snert]

I have more questions than answers: What varmint? How do you hunt them? Where do you hunt...prairie, woods, rural or suburban?

When I think of a new cartridge, I reverse engineer. I ask what am I hitting, and how far? How hard do I want to hit it, and what do I want left of it? Then I start thinking velocity, caliber and bullet construction. When I have a combo (or several) that seem to fit the "end result" I desire, I ask, which one will work in my platform? Then I start thinking about esoteric stuff, like "is it cool?". The only variable you are adding in here is the barrel length, and with so many AR types out there with 18 inches, it appears that many cartridges "work". Then just stick with something that is known to feed in a bolt gun and you have it.

Me, I would build a 221 0r 20 vartarg. But then, I have no idea if you are shooting coyotes at 400 or squirrels at 100.

Have a blast, sounds like a fun project.

BTW, I shoot a 19 inch 222 and don't have any issues.

Snert

 

[Larryh128]

Really anything that will burn most of the powder. 223 is pretty obvious but kinda boring, I would probably look at a 6.5x47 Lapua. If I wanted to reach out & touch something , then I would look at a 223 WSSM. Very effective in a short barrel.

 

[alf]

I've got a 17 1/2" Rock 8 twist chambered in a plain 'ol 223...

May be "boring" but still runs 75 A-Max at 2900, and have dropped prairie dogs to 850+.

 

[K22]

I have three short barrel varmint rifles; two Rem Model 7's; 18 1/2" and 20" barrels and a Browning X Bolt in 223, 22" barrel. All of them in a 223 caliber. I use these as "walking around" rifles when I just want to wonder around the hay fields hunting groundhogs. All three shoot very well (.5 to .7 moa range) with tailored reloads for "pencil thin" barrels. Mine prime consideration for these type of rifles is weight reduction for carrying so I prefer the lighter barrels. Since my hunting situation is low volume, the lighter barrels work fine for me.

Most of my shots are in the 200 yards range so the 223 is very adequate for my needs. If you anticipate going longer, I'd opt for the 22 250 or 243.

In the shorter barrels I've found that faster burning powders like Benchmark work better.

 

[civil82]

I have a bone stock Rem 700 LV-SF in 223. It's hands down everything i could ask for in a 500 yard and in groundhog rifle. It sure is a plain caliber but there is (usually) an abundance of brass and components, minimal recoil, and can (usually) find factory ammo anywhere in the US if needed in a pinch.
I thought about taking it from 22" down to 16" due to suppressor length.

I am about done collecting live varmint rifles, but I'd be looking hard at a 6-223 if I were to get into another. The only difference is I would go lighter weight than you are getting into.

Keep us posted of your progress!

 

[dtucker]

Have you thought about the 6-223 ?
I just got one put together a week or so ago and love it.
I shot one in a AR about 5-6 years ago and wanted one ever since.
Mine is a 9 twist and so far its shot everything from 65-85 real good.
Wish I'd got one years ago.


Kermit
[/quote

I am looking to do something that just requires loading it up......maybe fire forming to blow the shoulder out.......nothing fancy

 

[dtucker]

I have more questions than answers: What varmint? How do you hunt them? Where do you hunt...prairie, woods, rural or suburban?

When I think of a new cartridge, I reverse engineer. I ask what am I hitting, and how far? How hard do I want to hit it, and what do I want left of it? Then I start thinking velocity, caliber and bullet construction. When I have a combo (or several) that seem to fit the "end result" I desire, I ask, which one will work in my platform? Then I start thinking about esoteric stuff, like "is it cool?". The only variable you are adding in here is the barrel length, and with so many AR types out there with 18 inches, it appears that many cartridges "work". Then just stick with something that is known to feed in a bolt gun and you have it.

Me, I would build a 221 0r 20 vartarg. But then, I have no idea if you are shooting coyotes at 400 or squirrels at 100.

Have a blast, sounds like a fun project.

BTW, I shoot a 19 inch 222 and don't have any issues.

Snert

Snert,
It will be for whacking coyotes and smaller critters. The use will be for walking in and out of fields and woods and to call with. I have looked into the 222 mag some as a 22cal. and think i have read that it is a little bit faster than a 223. Anyone here have 1 of these 222mag,s and what do you think of it?

 

[dtucker]

I've got a 17 1/2" Rock 8 twist chambered in a plain 'ol 223...

May be "boring" but still runs 75 A-Max at 2900, and have dropped prairie dogs to 850+.

Alf,
Have you had any experience with a 222mag?

 

[284driver]

A 22-250 ackley will make up a little velocity you will lose with the short barrel. I have one in a striker. 16.5" barrel. McGowen prefit. Shoots lights out. 8twist for the heavies.

 

[dtucker]

What kind of velocity are you getting shooting what bullets out the 16 1/2" barrel?

 

[alf]

I've got a 17 1/2" Rock 8 twist chambered in a plain 'ol 223...

May be "boring" but still runs 75 A-Max at 2900, and have dropped prairie dogs to 850+.

Alf,
Have you had any experience with a 222mag?

No, but I'm big into 22-204's now. A little more oomph than the mag.....equal to a 223 Ackley w/o firforming.

I did wear out one barrel in 6x47 Improved, but have been thinking lately on the 6x45 myself for some odd reason.....

 

[placek59]

I would second the 6-223 or 6x45 (~same thing). I have a 10 twist that stabilizes the 87 vmax, but I haven't had a chance to work up a load for it yet. You mentioned wanting to shoot the "in between" bullet weights... Mine is an AR but it should feed just the same as a 223 from a magazine in a bdl.

I also have a .222 with a 20" sporter barrel. I have never chronoed it, but it shoots plenty good for a "walking varminter". But that may be too boring for the project you have in mind. I understand the "wanting something different" but I think the wssm's need the longer barrel since they are an overbore cartridge, I don't think you would gain a whole lot by having a short barreled wssm vs a regular 223.

 

[40X Guy]

Dan, build something based on Lapua brass offering's. If I were you and knowing you hunt yotes regularly, consider a plain vanilla .243 with a 9 twist HV barrel finished @ 18-20 inches. A deadly load with this rifle would consist of 87 grain V-Max. The rifle will feed perfectly, you have lapua brass and it will slay varmints. Most 22 cals fall off after 4-500 yards and you will be wishing you had some kind of 6MM. No sense in using an 8 twist barrel as with a short barrel in say 16-20 inch length you will not realize the full potential of 105 class bullets. Another good bullet to try would be Noslers 95 grain BT or Barnes 80 grain TTSX.

Frank

 

[Lazydays]

I am going to do a varmint build and want to do a very short barrel for something different. I am hoping to get input from you fellows and hear your opinions and thoughts as to what you like and why you would choose that caliber for a short barreled build. I will give you the details on what i am going to build on. First off it will be built off a Remington short action RB RP and have a Shilen hunter trigger. The stock will be Tom Manners new EH4 stock that will have his molded in camo and his new minni chassis that is setup to be used with a BDL type setup. The stock forearm is shorter in length by a little more than 3 inches and its purpose is for a short barreled build. I am looking at a max overall length of barrel between 17 and 18 inches in a medium to heavy sporter contour barrel that i am going to order from Bartlein when i figure out the caliber. Being that it will be a BDL setup i will want the cartridge to be 1 that will feed reliable in a BDL setup. I also want to stick to the 22 to 6mm caliber range. I am not interested in shooting very lite bullets in either caliber and also not interested in shooting the extreme heavy bullets. So....... if you where to do a build like this what caliber would you use. I have thought of doing a AI type cartridge but being such a short barrel not sure if the benefit would be their to justify it and will it feed well in a BDL setup? All AI,s i have done have been on single shot actions.

Thanks for any input and advise givin,
Dan

I did a 20" barreled .223 a few years back, and love the gun. The barrel was a cut down Remington factory varmit barrel. The chamber is .223 N.M.
The stock is a reworked varmit synthetic. I figure I lost about 75 fps with the shorter barrel and 55 grain bullets. A 6mmx45 would be a nice round in a 1:10 twist tube, but think a 6XC might be better with a 22" barrel. The one thing I like about this rifle is that it has a near perfect balance with shooting off hand.
gary

 

[Lazydays]

Dan, build something based on Lapua brass offering's. If I were you and knowing you hunt yotes regularly, consider a plain vanilla .243 with a 9 twist HV barrel finished @ 18-20 inches. A deadly load with this rifle would consist of 87 grain V-Max. The rifle will feed perfectly, you have lapua brass and it will slay varmints. Most 22 cals fall off after 4-500 yards and you will be wishing you had some kind of 6MM. No sense in using an 8 twist barrel as with a short barrel in say 16-20 inch length you will not realize the full potential of 105 class bullets. Another good bullet to try would be Noslers 95 grain BT or Barnes 80 grain TTSX.

Frank

in an 18" to 20" barrel, I think the plain jane 6XC will be better than a .243, but think the 6x47 would be even better. The 6x47 just does it all very well. I shoot a 6/250AI, and it'll push a 105 grain bullet to about 3100 fps, but figure I'd get about 2700 fps max out of a 22" barrel if I was born lucky. Personally, I wouldn't over look a generic 6BR!
gary

 

[Lazydays]

A 22-250 ackley will make up a little velocity you will lose with the short barrel. I have one in a striker. 16.5" barrel. McGowen prefit. Shoots lights out. 8twist for the heavies.

I doubt you'd see much over 2800 fps with a 16" barrel and a 55 grain bullet. Just not enough barrell to make use of the extra powder. A 21" barrel ought to show about 3300fps max. But on the otherhand I get 3270fps with a 55 grain bullet and a 20" barrel with a .223. I shoot that 22-250AI case necked upto 6mm, and you really need a 24" barrel or longer to make serious gains. I kinda figure that a 21" barrell is near perfect for the .223, and maybe even a .223AI. I think I'd be looking at the .222AI case necked up to 6mm. Be similar to a 6x45 but with a better neck length. Set it up to shoot 80 thru 85 grain bullets, and never look back.
gary

 

[jonbearman]

I second the notion for a .243,it will do everything you want and be able to use off the shelf ammo in an emergency.The .243 has plenty of power and I seriously doubt you need to build an oddball to accomplish shooting vermin.You can always ackley improve it if you dont like the standard .243. But in all intents and purposes the .243 winchester is a solid ,good performing cartridge.I have several .243's and love them as much as my 6br's.Very accurate with a decent barrel.

 

[MarkS]

I was going to say a 223, but the 6mm 223 ( 6x45 6x47 or 6TCU all about the same) would be the way to go. Like others said 10tw. Any bigger case, it is just going to give you more blast.

Mark Schronce