Tinnitus and the success of my moderated 243 have me wondering about a moderated big (large bodied red stag) deer calibre rifle twin.

Short action candidates are 7mm08 and 308 which would be used with 120gr (7mm) or 130gr (308) TSXs. Barrel length would be about 20-21" the reduction being necessary to accomodate the addition of a moderator.

I am sure that neither rifle would have issues acheiving 2,800fps with the chosen bullets but my concern is what happens if the TSXs are not accurate. The next available bullet weights in premium bullets are 140gr (7mm) and 150gr (308). Without loading to eye popping pressures or resorting to large amounts of slow powder (makes the moderator very inefficient) what is likely with these bullets, calibres and barrel lengths. I have found big differences in theory and practice in barrel length reduction hence the question.

Of the 2 I would tend to the 7mm08 - ammo scarcity is not an issue and I really do like 7mms.

Howdy,
I have a savage striker pistol in 7-08, with a 14" non-braked barrel. I have little trouble making 2650 with 139gr hornady's with it. That same load is about 2900 with a 23" barrel.. or about the proverbial 25 (27 in this case) fps/in

jeffe

I have a Savage Striker, also, except mine
is a .308 Win. It also has a 14" "non-braked"
barrel. I am shooting 130 gr. TSX bullets
over a max load of WW748, that chrony a
2775 fps, with average .5 MOA accuracy. The
only thing I have done to this firearm is
relieve the barrel channel, and drop in a Rifle
Basix trigger.

I had no issues attaining excellent accuracy,
and velocities, from the 130 gr XBT bullets, or
the TSX bullets, with WW-748 powder. I will
say that both of these bullets wanted a .040"
to .050" jump to the lands. I would be
surprised if you could not find an accurate
load for the 130 gr. TSX. This load also
just happens to shoot with .5 MOA accuracy out
of my BAR LW Stalker(20" barrel), also in
.308 Win. I haven't chronied the round out of
the BAR, but I am fairly certain it will measure
over 2900 fps.

As for on game performance, that is all I can
say is it has been devestating on northern
Whitetails(Does run 130# to 175#, and bucks
run 150# to 250#). The last deer I shot,
with this combination was quartering
towards me, and it flipped over backwards,
and kicked a few times. These are not
meat friendly bullets!

One point to consider, when choosing a
chambering, for a short barrel, is a larger
bore diameter means less velocity loss.
This is why I choose the .308 Win, over
the 7mm-08, in the Striker. I do not
regret this decision.

Squeeze