I want to build a short barrel rifle for a change. I like the 26's and 28 I have now but I don't to change it up a little. I read that a 7mm-08 would do well. Anyone have any experience with that round and short barrel? It'll be a target and hunting rifle. I was planning on taking the cheaper route this time and picking up a used 700 action and getting it trued, and build off that.
What cartridge in a 16-18" barrel?
- Thread starter stroked96s10
- Start date
Erik Cortina
Team Lapua Brux Borden Captain
I'm about to build a 6.5 Grendel on a Remington Seven action with about an 18" barrel. It will be suppressed and should work well for whitetail deer and hogs.
+1Erik Cortina said:
Dusty Stevens
Shiner
I have a 20" 7mm'08 silhouette rifle and it works all over the country to knock those pesky ram down with no problem. The 18"ers do it too. I figure a full length 6mm wont knock em down but an 18" 7-08 will gives it a little backing.
It'd be a deer rifle most likely. Buy I also went to target shoot out to 6-700 yards. Sounds like 6.5's could be an option as well.
Erik Cortina
Team Lapua Brux Borden Captain
stroked96s10 said:
6.5x47 Lapua will do the job well.
I would think that the basic .308 should do fine. The heavier/longer bullets would be my choice for reaching out to harvest deer at 600-800yd, with my preference being the 168SMK/165SGK. In the shorter barrel, appropriate charges of moderately faster powders may offer some advantage.
I have qualms about harvesting deer beyond 300yd based on my faith in my own marksmanship ability under field conditions, as well as concerns about terminal performance and the larger likelihood of a less favorable shot placement due to changing environmental conditions at the intervening distances. There's also the fact that at 69, with a permanent and significant heart condition, I don't want to increase the haul-out distances, either.
For shorter distances I would consider lighter/shorter bullets right on down to the 125SMK, 125 Pro-Hunter, and Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip.
Note, I would confine my usage of the 125 Pro-Hunter to reduced charge loads and shorter distances, due to its less robust construction. It is designed to be used with .30-30 loads, and also works in the 7.62x39 out to a limited distance.
I have a (discontinued) Savage 10FCM Scout chambered in 7.62x39, and in that 20.5" barreled rifle it likes .308 bullets best and shoots with a degree of accuracy one would seldom expect from the chambering. I load for it with 110 V-Max, 125 SMK, 125 Pro-Hunters, and the 125 NOS BT and IMR-4198. But this chambering is not going to perform for you much past 300yd.
...And finally, there is some question in my mind about trying to make one gun do two highly different things. The ideal target rifle differs in several aspects from the ideal hunting rifle.
The plan would require compromise. My definition of a compromise is something that does several things in a mediocre manner, and nothing with excellence.
Greg
I have qualms about harvesting deer beyond 300yd based on my faith in my own marksmanship ability under field conditions, as well as concerns about terminal performance and the larger likelihood of a less favorable shot placement due to changing environmental conditions at the intervening distances. There's also the fact that at 69, with a permanent and significant heart condition, I don't want to increase the haul-out distances, either.
For shorter distances I would consider lighter/shorter bullets right on down to the 125SMK, 125 Pro-Hunter, and Nosler 125 Ballistic Tip.
Note, I would confine my usage of the 125 Pro-Hunter to reduced charge loads and shorter distances, due to its less robust construction. It is designed to be used with .30-30 loads, and also works in the 7.62x39 out to a limited distance.
I have a (discontinued) Savage 10FCM Scout chambered in 7.62x39, and in that 20.5" barreled rifle it likes .308 bullets best and shoots with a degree of accuracy one would seldom expect from the chambering. I load for it with 110 V-Max, 125 SMK, 125 Pro-Hunters, and the 125 NOS BT and IMR-4198. But this chambering is not going to perform for you much past 300yd.
...And finally, there is some question in my mind about trying to make one gun do two highly different things. The ideal target rifle differs in several aspects from the ideal hunting rifle.
The plan would require compromise. My definition of a compromise is something that does several things in a mediocre manner, and nothing with excellence.
Greg
Jarhead, the 308 route was considered but ruled out as I already have a 308. My own preference but I like variety. Where I live I strongly doubt I could have a clear shot much beyond 200 yards. The 6-700 shots would be on paper at the range. I should a 6x47 at 1000 currently and that's what it was built to do, but at 200 it still shoots one hole. So going from short to long range I'm not extremely worried about.
I do appreciate in the input from everyone though. I'll be looking for an action to get me rolling and talk with my smith.
I do appreciate in the input from everyone though. I'll be looking for an action to get me rolling and talk with my smith.
With a short barrel Case capacity and bullet weigh should be considered Any case larger then a 223 Powder choice and bullet weight should be considered.
6 x 45 6.5 x48 7x45 are a few choices. They are all based off a 223 case. With them you can find a powder and a bullet weight that works in a short barrel without excessive muzzle flash. I have a 7.08 and a 308 with short barrel that shoot good. But when shooting in the dark they both have a huge ball of fire or un burned powder. Larry
6 x 45 6.5 x48 7x45 are a few choices. They are all based off a 223 case. With them you can find a powder and a bullet weight that works in a short barrel without excessive muzzle flash. I have a 7.08 and a 308 with short barrel that shoot good. But when shooting in the dark they both have a huge ball of fire or un burned powder. Larry
Stoked
if you check you can easily get 2475fps with a 130 out of a 7BR which is 1700pf at the muzzle, number speak for themselves.
I did this with my xp100 with 15in bbl, with 2015 at I believe about 31gr, no flash problem clean burn and very accurate.
deer did not like the 130 Sierra ssp bullet as it never took more than one.
bob
if you check you can easily get 2475fps with a 130 out of a 7BR which is 1700pf at the muzzle, number speak for themselves.
I did this with my xp100 with 15in bbl, with 2015 at I believe about 31gr, no flash problem clean burn and very accurate.
deer did not like the 130 Sierra ssp bullet as it never took more than one.
bob
BountyHunter
Gold $$ Contributor
Definitely go with the 7-08, and 120 BTips. deer killing machines. I have a custom Mohawk 600 with 20"and easy to get over 3000 fps with the 120s.
It weighs under 6 lbs in mcmillan stock and I use it primarily as a tree stand gun. I have had 8 of the 7-08 and got to be my favorite cartridge, but this one is a keeper. I should have kept one of the Ultralight Arms 7-08s, but someone else liked them more than I did and made crazy offers.
I also have WSM, 358 Win, 6.5x47, 6 BR, and 45-70 . All good in their own place, but the 7-08 is so versatile and super low recoil. that is what I started my daughters on at 8 years old. That includes XP-100 in 7-08 also.
You will love it!
It weighs under 6 lbs in mcmillan stock and I use it primarily as a tree stand gun. I have had 8 of the 7-08 and got to be my favorite cartridge, but this one is a keeper. I should have kept one of the Ultralight Arms 7-08s, but someone else liked them more than I did and made crazy offers.
I also have WSM, 358 Win, 6.5x47, 6 BR, and 45-70 . All good in their own place, but the 7-08 is so versatile and super low recoil. that is what I started my daughters on at 8 years old. That includes XP-100 in 7-08 also.
You will love it!
OK, no .308.
Then, my next suggestion is the .260 Rem. Remington brass is quite OK, but often in short supply in my area. I like Winchester brass and neck my Winchester brass from 7-08 down to .260 dimensions by simply running it through the .260 F/L die. I have had good results with H-4350 and Ramshot Hunter. I competed in 1000yd F Open for a small handful of years with it and suspect it can go most or all of the way there out of a shorter barrel such as you mention.
For 'out there' the Nosler 140 Ballistic Tip and 140 Accubond serve well for paper and/or Game. They do equally well at shorter distances, with the 95gr V-Max and a higher end charge of Varget providing good results on varmints and small to medium game, as well as the legendary but elusive paper beast.
I maintain an L-W 28" barrel Savage Custom Tactical for 1000yd paper, and a Factory 24" Savage Predator Hunter for things that walk around out there. My 28" shoots under 1MOA at 200yd (on a windy day...) with the 95's and a randomly chosen pre-development load. This should improve when I do that development next Spring; it's already hitting the 30's here as of this AM.
Greg
Then, my next suggestion is the .260 Rem. Remington brass is quite OK, but often in short supply in my area. I like Winchester brass and neck my Winchester brass from 7-08 down to .260 dimensions by simply running it through the .260 F/L die. I have had good results with H-4350 and Ramshot Hunter. I competed in 1000yd F Open for a small handful of years with it and suspect it can go most or all of the way there out of a shorter barrel such as you mention.
For 'out there' the Nosler 140 Ballistic Tip and 140 Accubond serve well for paper and/or Game. They do equally well at shorter distances, with the 95gr V-Max and a higher end charge of Varget providing good results on varmints and small to medium game, as well as the legendary but elusive paper beast.
I maintain an L-W 28" barrel Savage Custom Tactical for 1000yd paper, and a Factory 24" Savage Predator Hunter for things that walk around out there. My 28" shoots under 1MOA at 200yd (on a windy day...) with the 95's and a randomly chosen pre-development load. This should improve when I do that development next Spring; it's already hitting the 30's here as of this AM.
Greg
+1 on the 6.5x47,but I think you could do better with a handy rifle with at least a 20 inch barrel. Any thing below that length severely reduces your velocity. To shoot successfully at 600 yards, one needs all the velocity (and accuracy) he/she can muster in a given caliber. Good shooting...James
OR, You might take a look at this:
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