Short barrel 1000 yard elk cartridge

[CA48]

I just had a 30 Sherman Mag 20" Bbl built. I'm expecting to run 215s around 2900-2950 max with n570.
If I were solely going after elk with a short package 338 norma, rum, lapua, or 33sherman they will all push 300gr bullets around 2700 in a 20" Bbl with 570, 250s will work to.
Or if your going with a real light rifle and want a little less recoil in a 338 I would personally do a 338 Sherman Mega and run 300gr bullets around 2600 in a 20" or better yet try some 250 or 275gr Badlands super bulldozer-2s.

 

[yorke-1]

338 ss at elevation gets your what you want.

If the goal was to use a midsized action, that would get him pretty close. Since he can run the CIP length mags though, why run such a small/short case and give up performance?

 

[twister]

It meets the requirements very well. Who cares if it doesn't max out the mag. A small gun will be easier to shoot if it doesn't burn down the grass in front of you with so much I burned powder out of the tube.

 

[Aoudad shooter1975]

338 RCM-- 18 to 20 in tube I get a solid 2700-2725 fps out of a 18 in tube and a 225 grain lazerhead bullet...

 

[Bravo 4]

I ran a 20" .338 RUM barrel for a bit. It started as 26" but I wanted a short barrel to run the suppressor I have. The original load with H1000 sent a 300 grain Berger at 2800 fps. After cutting down the barrel it was more like 2600. At the altitude I have hunted elk I had set my range limit at 1000 yards, there it about hit the 1800 fps minimum I didn't want to exceed.

 

[JMack]

I shoot a 20" barrel 28 nosler running 177 hammers at 2850. Killed a bull elk last September at 525 it was one and done deal. He took maybe ten steps and fell over in about 3-4 seconds. Short barrels are handy. I wouldn't be afraid to push mine out to 800 on an elk. It's very accurate rifle and I don't consider myself a great shot.

 

[Deleted member 103481]

Noticed your range goes to .375. It's a shame but 375 lr hunting bullet selection was extremely limited last time I checked. Which is unfortunate. Seems like monos is pretty much the only option in that bore

 

[Bravo 4]

The Chinchagas I've been running in my .375 have a pretty decent BC of .8 G1. I say decent because the monos as you mentioned can step that up quite a bit. It's no slouch that's for sure.

 

[Send it 284]

I like guns and need another one like I need a hole in the head but I have this extra XLR element magnesium chassis and I'm thinking about building a short barreled gun.

I know this has been discussed but I'll ask anyway.

I understand that short barrels castrate big cartridges and I don't care. I don't care about muzzle flash or unburned powder or efficiency etc.

if you think an 18" 338 Lapua is completely ridiculous and should never be done theplease don't respond to this thread (I felt this way a year ago)

now to the question: I want to build a strong magnum long action gun with a short 18"...or maybe 20" barrel. WHAT IS THE BEST CARTRIDGE FOR KILLING ELK to 1000 yards.

elk are tough critters and I don't subscribe to the 7mmRM being sufficient to kill elk with at 1000 with any barrel length (and yes I know it's been done effectively thousands of times)...but I'm looking for something that hits harder than that.

my initial thought is to just do a 338 Lapua (I'm already setup to load that one)...then I started thinking well in that case the 338 Norma is probably a better choice...then my brain went to the 300 Norma with 230 or 245's....

is a 300 Norma not actually faster than a 300 WM if you cut the barrel down that much????

I know we are sacrificing some velocity with a short barrel which is why I went to heavier bullets automatically...but maybe I'm wrong there

also this is not going to be an ELR gun...it's only for 1000 and less so I don't care if we take an entry level ELR cartridge and make it not good enough for ELR.

28 Nosler-375 CT...go

Dude I like it!
Do you plan on running a can?
I recently built a 16" 6.5 saum, everyone said it was stupid to put 60+ grains of powder though a short barrel and that I should just build a creed.
Well I'm getting 3000 fps with 142s, and I'm at 20" with the suppressor. Been smacking a 12" plate at 800 with ease

Its all about the powder when going short.
Id personally go with an 8 twist 30 nosler and shoot the 205 Badlands BD2 or a 215 Berger

Heres a few pics of my shorty saum, and a 205 loaded in a 30 nos case

 

[esorensen]

It seems to me you ought to get a hold of the specialty pistol guys and ask what they've found to be the best LR system. Look for Ernie bishop.

 

[Knifeguy]

Well I am going to jump in here and affirm what many have already said. Go with the .338 Lapua, it makes the most sense and checks the most boxes for your purposes.

 

[KMG]

I have a 24" .338 Norma mag, if you want the best elk whalloping ability, I would go .338 or larger.

If you want a repeater, this is what I would look at. A 9 twist 20" .338 Norma Mag improved, and shoot the 250 Super Bull Dozer bullets with a .410 G7 at a very realistic, maybe even conservative 2800-2900 fps. At the elevation I hunt elk, that still provides around 2400 ft-lbs at 1000 yards, you have the larger frontal area of the .338 diameter vs the 30, you have your short barrel, and you have an easy repeater.

Cody have you taken game with the 250BLDZR2? How'd it compare with the 240BLDZR? Don't mean to derail the thread..

 

[Tikkashooter]

Looking at quick load, a 18" 338 lap with H1000 should be able to push a 285 Amax or eldm over 2600 and around 2700 with a 20". Totally viable numbers for what your wanting. Even shows you have 100% burnt propellent in an 18" barrel so your not loosing much efficiency

 

[josip89]

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