Suggestions for a short barrel long ranger

[o2bwest]

I've been daydreaming about building a short barreled long range hunting rifle. I'm think 20-22". I want something that will deliver 300fps at the muzzle with a 130-140gr bullet. What are your suggestions. Some calibers I have considerd are 260 AI, 6.5 x 284 Norma and 6.5 WSM. I am very open to suggestions. My biggest concern is energy. I would like to maintain 1000 ft/lbs out to 700yds. I read the threads on the 6.5 SS but case prep for that guy is a little daunting.

 

[tinkerer]

You mean something like this?

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f25/savage-7-wsm-142844/

I THINK its sold, but I have not received a deposit yet.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[MudRunner2005]

.260 AI gets my vote...

 

[o2bwest]

You mean something like this?

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f25/savage-7-wsm-142844/

I THINK its sold, but I have not received a deposit yet.

Larry
Tinkerer

Thats interesting. I have a 300wsm and a 7wsm and they are both great shooters. I wonder which one does better out of the short barrel? My hunch is that the 300 will have the higher muzzle velocity even over the 6.5 wsm out of a short barrel. Would that be correct? Bigger bore = more powder burned in a shorter barrel???

 

[Wedgy]

In the 6.5x284 I have had good luck with slower powders like 7828, Retumbo, & H1000 but with longer barrels(26-28"). I just got a Savage Lightweight Hunter(the 5.5lb gun with a 20" barrel) and I'm a little curious how the same powders perform in the shorter barrel. A faster powder for the shorter barrel ??

 

[tinkerer]

A lot of the specialty pistol bunch (18" to 20") have had good luck with Varget, too.

Larry
Tinkerre

 

[Bigeclipse]

You mean something like this?

http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f25/savage-7-wsm-142844/

I THINK its sold, but I have not received a deposit yet.

Larry
Tinkerer

what brand are the extra barrels?

 

[tinkerer]

The 7 WSM full bull mounted is a McGowen.

The 300 WSM and the 270 WSM are both Savage new takeoffs. The 300 is a varmint contour and has been cut and target crowned at 18", the 270 is a factory stock 24" finished out at .8 at the muzzle. The 270 is stainless.

All are large shank.

Larry
Tinkerer

 

[Unofficial Gun Addict (UGA)]

Ok... I know this might be a little bit of an odd selection, however, have you considered a 308? Lots of good tactical setups for the 308 in a 20" barrel setup... Many threaded as well, so you could toss on a brake or suppressor if you so desired.

Now I know this is out in left field as you re looking at throwing lighter pills faster... But i thought I'd throw out the opposite side... Heavy pills slower!

If you sent Berger 215gr Hybrids out of a 20" barrel of a 308 @ 2400 fps, you'll get to 900 yards with 1008 ft/lbs of energy (10 twist) and they would still be running at 1453 fps upon impact. If you run them at 2250 fps... Then you would be getting 1101 ft/lbs @ 700 yards and an arrival velocity of 1519 fps.

2155 fps from the muzzle would put you exactly at 1000 ft/lbs @700 yards and still running at a velocity of 1447 fps when they arrived.

Now if you went with a 30-06... You could generate a little more speed.

That's very doable. Sort of big pills to throw... But extremely effective as well. The 215 Hybrids have been shown to be very effective on big game (see Broz posts) and they have a whooping .696 BC. the 308 has great barrel life compared to some of the other options, has a proven record of accuracy out of 20" barrel configurations, is easy to find factory as well as reloading brass & bullets, and you can choose to shoot light pills when you so desire. I honestly think with the advent of the 215 hybrids, new life has been breathed back into the 308, as well as the 30-06,

Something to consider that nobody else has mentioned... which is why I thought I'd throw it out as an option!

Good luck choosing and shooting once you do! gun)

 

[o2bwest]

Ok... I know this might be a little bit of an odd selection, however, have you considered a 308? Lots of good tactical setups for the 308 in a 20" barrel setup... Many threaded as well, so you could toss on a brake or suppressor if you so desired.

Now I know this is out in left field as you re looking at throwing lighter pills faster... But i thought I'd throw out the opposite side... Heavy pills slower!

If you sent Berger 215gr Hybrids out of a 20" barrel of a 308 @ 2400 fps, you'll get to 900 yards with 1008 ft/lbs of energy (10 twist) and they would still be running at 1453 fps upon impact. If you run them at 2250 fps... Then you would be getting 1101 ft/lbs @ 700 yards and an arrival velocity of 1519 fps.

2155 fps from the muzzle would put you exactly at 1000 ft/lbs @700 yards and still running at a velocity of 1447 fps when they arrived.

Now if you went with a 30-06... You could generate a little more speed.

That's very doable. Sort of big pills to throw... But extremely effective as well. The 215 Hybrids have been shown to be very effective on big game (see Broz posts) and they have a whooping .696 BC. the 308 has great barrel life compared to some of the other options, has a proven record of accuracy out of 20" barrel configurations, is easy to find factory as well as reloading brass & bullets, and you can choose to shoot light pills when you so desire. I honestly think with the advent of the 215 hybrids, new life has been breathed back into the 308, as well as the 30-06,

Something to consider that nobody else has mentioned... which is why I thought I'd throw it out as an option!

Good luck choosing and shooting once you do! gun)

Very helpful thank you. I had thought of the .308 but would I not gain a little velocity and BC by going with a 7mm-08 and 168 or 180 VLDs. Part of my problem is that I don't know how to calculate velocity and therefor energy for the 20" barrel. I need smart guys like the folks of LRHF to do the heavy thinking for me.

 

[alf]

I have a 23" 7-08 that shoots 162 Amax or 168 Bergers at 2800, but this particular barrel runs everything fast.

Highest potential velocity and best accuracy don't always end up in the same place.

I had a 30" 6.5-284 that shot 140 Bergers the best at 2970.

I never subscribe to the theory you need a faster powder for shorter barrels. I ran H-4831-SC in my 6.5-284's in barrels from 18" to 31". The 18" was in an X-P 100, and surprisingly, the accuracy load was the same as the 31" barrels, just 300 fps slower.

 

[Michael Eichele]

155 Hybrid at 2800'sec is a breeze in a short barrel 308. At 2500' elevation, 59 degrees you have just over 1000 foot pounds at 700 yards.

The 708 looks good too but you're going to be looking at 2600' sec at best with the 162 in a 20-22" tube and at 700 yards the numbers are nearly identical. Less recoil, better barrel life in the 308.

Larger bores are much more efficient with shorter barrels than smaller bores. Bump the 308 to the 168 Hybrid at 2750'sec (easy in a 20-22" bbl), the energy goes up and beyond the 162. In all three cases, the 162 has the best windage but only by a few inches at 700 yards. Bump to the 185 Hybrid at 2600'sec and the numbers are flat ridiculous for a short barrel sub magnum.

If you said, 26" barrel I'd say take your pick. 260, 708, 6.5-284, 308 etc...If you're looking for 20-22", I'd say 308.

M

 

[Broz]

Just built a 7mm-300 Win Mag with a 22" barrel plus brake. 1 in 8.5 twist. It is sending 180 Bergers at 3025 fps with 76 gr of H-1000. It is a pleasure to shoot and a hammer at 1000 yards. The 180 arrives in 1.25 seconds at 1000 yards at 1896 fps and 1437 ft lbs of energy.

Jeff

 

[7magcreedmoor]

I dont have one, but the 338federal comes to mind as a possible shortbarrel unit. Anybody running one?