Medium Actions for hunting

[XLR Industries]

As long-range shooters become more popular every year, we are seeing higher BC bullets progress for every caliber. With this progression, we have seen calibers become very limited due to magazines' internal length. Action manufacturers see this issue becoming more prevalent and have started producing Medium length actions. Medium action magazines allow you to seat bullets out to 3.255" vs short actions only allow for 2.890". This is super beneficial for most of the Saum, WSM, and 6.5 PRC cartridges! Defiance and Lone peak were the pioneers with these actions but companies like Zermatt and Stiller are jumping on the bandwagon because they see the huge potential of these actions! What are your thoughts on the medium actions and will this allow bullet manufacturers to go even longer with bullets?

See the full article below!

Medium Length Actions

Discover how Medium Length Actions have enhanced COAL and BC, revolutionizing precision shooting and ballistics. Find out what action, caliber, or chassis might work best for you!

xlrindustries.com

 

[xsn10s]

I've been thinking of this application towards even the 308 Win based cartridges. 7SAW stands out but even a straight 308 Win in FTR would stand to benefit IMHO. Maybe a test 308 win with 26" barrel 1-9 twist. With this component crunch a lower powder burning cartridge might fill a niche.

 

[xsn10s]

Of course like you stated a SAUM, WSM, or PRC would be more popular and benefit from a medium action. As far as ammo manufactures a larger one might not be ready to jump on the bandwagon yet due to liability, supply, and start up costs. A smaller one might dealing more in a "custom" ammo development niche. Just my two cents worth from the peanut gallery.

 

[XLR Industries]

I've been thinking of this application towards even the 308 Win based cartridges. 7SAW stands out but even a straight 308 Win in FTR would stand to benefit IMHO. Maybe a test 308 win with 26" barrel 1-9 twist. With this component crunch a lower powder burning cartridge might fill a niche.

I'm sure if you ran some heavies out of a 308 you could see a benefit from it! If you are sticking to the 168 range though I am not sure if it would be necessary. I haven't tested a 308 in it though so you could be onto something! I think the overall design is more favored towards the handloader. Until they really catch on I am not sure if an ammo manufacturer would be able to justify producing ammo specifically for them but companies like Unkown Munitions could hook you up I am sure!

 

[xsn10s]

I'm sure if you ran some heavies out of a 308 you could see a benefit from it! If you are sticking to the 168 range though I am not sure if it would be necessary. I haven't tested a 308 in it though so you could be onto something! I think the overall design is more favored towards the handloader. Until they really catch on I am not sure if an ammo manufacturer would be able to justify producing ammo specifically for them but companies like Unkown Munitions could hook you up I am sure!

My 308 Win is a PSS with 1-12" so it might be able to shoot 208 eldm's it's far from ideal. Look into FTR those guys are running 1-10" or 1-9" and doing well with the heavies. But the 7 SAW or even a standard 7-08 would be pretty impressive seated out past 3.XX COAL.

 

[XLR Industries]

My 308 Win is a PSS with 1-12" so it might be able to shoot 208 eldm's it's far from ideal. Look into FTR those guys are running 1-10" or 1-9" and doing well with the heavies. But the 7 SAW or even a standard 7-08 would be pretty impressive seated out past 3.XX COAL.

7 saw running 180s would be a killer hunting set up!

 

[yobuck]

7 saw running 180s would be a killer hunting set up!

Have you ever actually compared the trajectory of a 180 to a 162 in a 7 STW at 1200 yards?
How far should we be shooting at animals with 7 STWs?
As for action length, the magazine is the determining factor.
At least for those who use magazines as opposed to single feeding for long range hunting.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

It beats having to mill it out to accept a Baney box...

 

[HSmithTX]

So many of the 'standard' cartridges would benefit from a medium action if you are wanting to shoot heavy bullets. 243, 308, 284, 7-08, etc etc. I don't see any reason to run a true short action for my needs ever again unless it was a 223 or one of the popular BR chamberings, I would go medium action for sure on a new rifle in a short action chambering. But then again I might go with a long action so when the next itch hits I'm not limited to short action chamberings.....

I don't see the bullet makers going much if any longer outside of specialty bullets like the Berger 30 cal 245, maybe we will see a 7mm in the low 200 grain range? I think we are currently in the golden age of high BC bullets and future refinements will be relatively minor. I might be wrong but if I am that will be cool to see too.

 

[XLR Industries]

Have you ever actually compared the trajectory of a 180 to a 162 in a 7 STW at 1200 yards?
How far should we be shooting at animals with 7 STWs?
As for action length, the magazine is the determining factor.
At least for those who use magazines as opposed to single feeding for long range hunting.

A 162 at 3350 fps would have 1423 ft lbs of energy at 1200 yards and a 180 grainer at 3250 would have 1757 ft lbs of energy at 1200 yards. So you have about 23% more energy on target at that distance just by changing bullets. He is talking about the 7 SAW though which is similar to a 7mm-08. If we set our limit to 1500 ft lbs of energy, the 162 at 2800 put the max range for that cartridge with that bullet at 600 yds but if we run a 180 ELDM at 2600 then the max range is 850 yds. So either way you are going to be gaining performance or range however you look at it.

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I think we are currently in the golden age of high BC bullets and future refinements will be relatively minor.

I agree and doubt they can do much more...I hear laserbeams come in ultra short actions though

 

[b6graham]

Have you ever actually compared the trajectory of a 180 to a 162 in a 7 STW at 1200 yards?
How far should we be shooting at animals with 7 STWs?
As for action length, the magazine is the determining factor.
At least for those who use magazines as opposed to single feeding for long range hunting.

7SAW is not 7STW

 

[b6graham]

A 162 at 3350 fps would have 1423 ft lbs of energy at 1200 yards and a 180 grainer at 3250 would have 1757 ft lbs of energy at 1200 yards. So you have about 23% more energy on target at that distance just by changing bullets. He is talking about the 7 SAW though which is similar to a 7mm-08. If we set our limit to 1500 ft lbs of energy, the 162 at 2800 put the max range for that cartridge with that bullet at 600 yds but if we run a 180 ELDM at 2600 then the max range is 850 yds. So either way you are going to be gaining performance or range however you look at it.

and those are conservative/short barrel numbers for velocities

quite the little cartridge. love mine

 

[Shane Lindsey]

Nobody shooting long range shoots heavies because they like the loopy shot angle, just turn the elevation dial...It's because of how much that booger gets moved side to side...