Best "large" calibers for shorter barrels?

[OnCall605]

I just got my first silencer/suppressor and am going to be buying shorter barreled rifles going forward. My question is, which calibers suited for mule deer and elk are best with a shorter barrel that you've found? I'm looking to keep barrel length to 20" on everything.

I'm interested in the 6.8 Western but lack of factory ammo and "good" brass has me nervous. Does anyone have any good comparisons between calibers using shorter barrels specifically at all?

 

[Mike D Texas]

Codyadams has a 20" 30 Nosler thread on here. It's impressive.

 

[Bret GRAVELINE Graveline]

Keep in mind, Larger calibers fair better with shorter barrels, 270 Win vs a 35 Whelen a 338 win vs a 7MM rem mag, a 270 WSM vs 325 WSM, the smaller bores will always show a greater loss of velocity per inch.

 

[memtb]

I just got my first silencer/suppressor and am going to be buying shorter barreled rifles going forward. My question is, which calibers suited for mule deer and elk are best with a shorter barrel that you've found? I'm looking to keep barrel length to 20" on everything.

I'm interested in the 6.8 Western but lack of factory ammo and "good" brass has me nervous. Does anyone have any good comparisons between calibers using shorter barrels specifically at all?

6.8? I thought you said large calibers….large starts at 0.40" now. It used to start at 0.45" ….but, we've gotten soft in recent decades! memtb

 

[OnCall605]

6.8? I thought you said large calibers….large starts at 0.40" now. It used to start at 0.45" ….but, we've gotten soft in recent decades! memtb

Can't do it! My silencers are only rated for 300 win mag. LOL!

 

[Calvin45]

Can't do it! My silencers are only rated for 300 win mag. LOL!

As in that's the most gas volume/pressure they can take? Or a matter of bore diameter itself?

If it's the first option the .35 calibers, while they kinda suck at any great distance, are all kinds of efficient for getting lots of bang for your buck, energy at the muzzle per grain of powder burned. And still much better trajectory than the .40+ calibers of similar case size.

I'm biased to what I already own…a 20 inch .358 Norma would kick all kinds of butt (I avoided the censor ) but might be pretty punishing.

.35 whelen. Heck the .358 Winchester does things it simply shouldn't with such a small powder charge.

If a suppressor can withstand .300 win blast it'll handle any of these options even better as the muzzle pressure will be lower on all of them.

 

[Calvin45]

Or if you're feeling fancy and metric…9.3x62.

 

[comfisherman]

300 wsm would be a good option. Having had multiple different bore same boiler guns the benefit of larger bore on a shorter tube is really quite noticeable. B.c. obviously suffered but the extra fps helps augment.

 

[Longtine88]

@codyadams show your 30N Cody

 

[Longtine88]

My perfect Wyoming Mountain rifle build thread

After going through a few different rifles, trying to figure out my wants and needs for what I consider the perfect rifle for the way I hunt, I think this will finally be the one, so I'm starting another build thread. Some people won't like this rifle, and I don't care, not even a little...

www.longrangehunting.com

I personally don't think it gets any better than Cody's build.

 

[OnCall605]

As in that's the most gas volume/pressure they can take? Or a matter of bore diameter itself?

If it's the first option the .35 calibers, while they kinda suck at any great distance, are all kinds of efficient for getting lots of bang for your buck, energy at the muzzle per grain of powder burned. And still much better trajectory than the .40+ calibers of similar case size.

I'm biased to what I already own…a 20 inch .358 Norma would kick all kinds of butt (I avoided the censor ) but might be pretty punishing.

.35 whelen. Heck the .358 Winchester does things it simply shouldn't with such a small powder charge.

If a suppressor can withstand .300 win blast it'll handle any of these options even better as the muzzle pressure will be lower on all of them.

Diameter.

 

[idcwby]

Diameter.

Make sure your suppressor can handle the short barrel, some have a minimum barrel length depending on cartridge.

What distances are you wanting to kill elk at?

 

[Longtine88]

I just got my first silencer/suppressor and am going to be buying shorter barreled rifles going forward. My question is, which calibers suited for mule deer and elk are best with a shorter barrel that you've found? I'm looking to keep barrel length to 20" on everything.

I'm interested in the 6.8 Western but lack of factory ammo and "good" brass has me nervous. Does anyone have any good comparisons between calibers using shorter barrels specifically at all?

Did I miss suppressor you have?? It will matter on the caliber

 

[DTF370]

I think two of the top choices would be 300 WSM or 338 federal. Of course suppressor diameter will matter. Most magnum cases will be somewhat of a waste in short barrels. I'd stick with 308-based cases or a short mag. Of course it doesn't mean you can't pull a crazy Ivan and run a 338LM or something. You're just going to lose a lot in a magnum case as it needs barrel length to burn enough magnum powder to get into good velocities.