What cartridge would you do for a short barreled rifle

[texote]

I am thinking of building a short barreled rifle (16") and wanted to get yalls opinion on what you would go with

It will be on a short action as well

Would really like to do a 338 federal, but also considering a 6.5x47 and 308 win

What would yall recommend

Itll be for slaying pigs and maybe bigger game within 400 yards?

 

[ShootDots]

A 7mm-08 / 6.5 x 47 / .260 and 308>>ALL will do what you want>> in that order..

 

[Outrider27]

I have a Remington 600 (18" bbl) in .308 that has served me well for years, so I'm partial to carbines/mountain rifles in that caliber; it works well in short barreled rifles in my experience.

The .338 Federal would be an interesting build; I'd most likely go for that, since I already have the Remington 600 in .308, making it a good excuse for another rifle. 8)

 

[2506]

308 Win is hard to beat in a short barrel. It also has a lot going for it like available components, bullet selection, and in a pinch factory ammo much easier to come by than most any other mentioned. The 308 does not have the new kid on the block press but it is like the turtle and the hair it just keeps plodding along and wins in the end. ;D
You can load 110 to125 varmint bullets in the 3000 fps range for varmints, 125 ballistic tips are wonderful on the average WT deer out of the 308. I have killed 50+ deer out to a little over 300 yards with this bullet and most were bang flop. You can load 165 gr in the 2600 fps range and out to 400 if you put it in the vitals even as big as elk is dead.

 

[Chuckw]

my 20" 6.5x47 will do almost 2900fps with the 123 amax or scenar. not sure how much more you would lose in that 4" of barrel. I would personally do a .308 because NOTHING is more VERSATILE in a short barreled short action IMHO.

chuck

 

[louielouie]

I have a Remington 600 (18" bbl) in .308 that has served me well for years, so I'm partial to carbines/mountain rifles in that caliber; it works well in short barreled rifles in my experience.

The .338 Federal would be an interesting build; I'd most likely go for that, since I already have the Remington 600 in .308, making it a good excuse for another rifle. 8)

I re-fitted my 600 with a #3 Shilen in 260 Rem with the idea of getting another #3 in 338 Fed 'cause I wanted a bigger bore. Wound up getting that weird Savage in 9.3x62 w/20" barrel instead.

Otherwise the 7-08 in a 20 ~ 22" barrel is my recommendation.

 

[jonbearman]

Why not a .358?

 

[mikecr]

texote, It ALL begins with a bullet.
You didn't say what you wanted from what bullet.

 

[Outrider27]

Another thought to add to my above comments: if I had to grab one rifle and bug out in a hurry, it would be my short barreled .308, mostly for the reasons listed by 2506 in his post above.

 

[leadburner]

I built what my smith calls a 338-08. Which is basically a AI version of the 338 federal with a 40* shoulder. Used a brux #4 at 22 inches. Considered doing it shorter but was about worried fps. Using a mild load of benchmark & 215 gn sierra gameking doing 2480 fps it will knock the snot out of a piece of steel out to 300 yards. Think you would like the 338 fed.

 

[Shynloco]

308 Win is hard to beat in a short barrel. It also has a lot going for it like available components, bullet selection, and in a pinch factory ammo much easier to come by than most any other mentioned. The 308 does not have the new kid on the block press but it is like the turtle and the hair it just keeps plodding along and wins in the end.

Big+1

 

[thekriebles]

308 Win is hard to beat in a short barrel. It also has a lot going for it like available components, bullet selection, and in a pinch factory ammo much easier to come by than most any other mentioned. The 308 does not have the new kid on the block press but it is like the turtle and the hair it just keeps plodding along and wins in the end. ;D
You can load 110 to125 varmint bullets in the 3000 fps range for varmints, 125 ballistic tips are wonderful on the average WT deer out of the 308. I have killed 50+ deer out to a little over 300 yards with this bullet and most were bang flop. You can load 165 gr in the 2600 fps range and out to 400 if you put it in the vitals even as big as elk is dead.

Another +1 on comments above. Availability of brass and a huge variety of quality bullets as well, make the 308 Win. hard to beat for your stated intentions.

 

[longbow]

308 with Barnes Bullet...

 

[jonbearman]

Why not call wiedners or western powders to see if they can help you.I would bet that western(accurate) would no exactly what you could use it for besides what is listed.

 

[XTR]

Another 308 vote here for all of the reasons stated above.

 

[texote]

do yall know of a gunsmth that has a 358 winchester or 338 fed reamer

 

[jonbearman]

Try gre-tan rifles for a good selection of reamers on hand.

 

[Barlow]

308 Winchester makes sense to me, but a 300 Savage would be cool. Barlow

 

[Raythemanroe]

.308 based cartridges tend to do well in shorter barrels.

 

[Dshooter]

+1 on .308. For all reasons mentioned above but with short barrel I'd stay with 168 smk or 168 Bergers on top of varget or 4064