What caliber would work best/efficient in a rifle with a 20 or 21 inch barrel? What contour barrel would you use with your caliber choice?
Let's keep the recoil within 30-06 levels or less. 200yard gun for deer and pigs.

I'm thinking 257 Roberts but the 338 Federal looks interesting also.

45-70?

Testing with the the 300WSM showed it to be suprisingly effetive out of a 18-20" tube maintianing 30-06 velocities.

MikeL,

I'm building a 338 Federal right now for the very same criteria. I want a short, light, Deer & Hog gun for short to medium range. I'll probably end up with about 19.5" with the smallest contour I can get for the .338 bore. I realize all the manufacturer's contours vary but anything up to a #3 would be reasonable in that caliber.

338-08
358 Winchester
9.3 x 57
9.5 x 57

For 200 yard shots for deer and pigs. Why not just run a 308? It would be hard to say that anything else in that recoil range will do any "better".

Currently sitting in my vault are rifles with barrels of 20" or less with the following bore diameters:

.243" (2)
6.5 m/m (2)
.284"
.308" (3)
.321"
.330"
.358" (3)
.375" (5)

All are chambered for cartridges adequate for deer or pigs to 200 yards. Probably the most potent of that particular group is a .376 Steyr with a 19" barrel.

To my mind, barrel length is determined more by the terrain to be hunted than anything else. I'd say, pick the cartridge you like, then make the barrel length one appropriate to your use.

How about a 250 Savage (1:10 twist) or 6.5 Grendel in an ultralight or light sporter contour? Or 30 WCF, 30/30 AI, or 307 Winchester in whatever barrel contour a Marlin 336 comes with?

the .376 Steyr was designed for a short barrel (The Scout barrel is 19").

7X57 (Top Pick)
308 Win (Second Choice)
358 Win
300 Savage

You can increase powder capacity proportionate to bore diameter, and still make efficient use of a 20" barrel.

6.5x54
7x57
8x60
9.3x62
10.75x68

I can tell you one I would NOT do, and that is a 6.5-284. It beats the hell out of my 264WM for noise level with 4350 powder. Loudest rifle I ever heard!

7mm exp .280 rem I have one on an Encore love it .

8x57JS!!!!!!!

The 308 Scout shoots lights out.
376 Steyr is also to admire.
9,3x62 may shoot it's best with you.
and a 7x57, ah that's just heaven.

...................DJ

quote:

Originally posted by MikeL:
What caliber would work best/efficient in a rifle with a 20 or 21 inch barrel? What contour barrel would you use with your caliber choice?
Let's keep the recoil within 30-06 levels or less. 200yard gun for deer and pigs.

I'm thinking 257 Roberts but the 338 Federal looks interesting also.

200 yds, deer and pigs... my short list would be 7x57, 7mm-08, 308, 8x57, 338 Fed, or 358 Winchester.

How about the 35 Whelen?

Otherwise, just a plain jane 308 Win.

Any of the smaller 7mm's,.308win,30/06 and its spawn. The original M700's even used 20 inch barrels in standard calibers. With good effect.

I have hunted with several 308's with 18 and 20 inch bbls over the years. I like them a lot.
If you need more punch I have also used 20 inch bbled 375 H&H's.
True a little more recoil, bit a bigger heavier punch.
I have Tracker bbls for my Blaser R 93 [19 3/4"] in 308 and 375 H&H. They make a good pair of light and handy rifles.

quote:

Originally posted by N E 450 No2:
I have hunted with several 308's with 18 and 20 inch bbls over the years. I like them a lot.
If you need more punch I have also used 20 inch bbled 375 H&H's.
True a little more recoil, bit a bigger heavier punch.
I have Tracker bbls for my Blaser R 93 [19 3/4"] in 308 and 375 H&H. They make a good pair of light and handy rifles.

My current pig gun is a .308 with 21" bbl. I love it, almost more than my .30-06, almost but not quite. That said, I think just about any cartridge derived from the .308 case is a good performer, especially when the bore size increases. I've always felt that larger bores seem to be less affected by velocity drop with shorter barrels especially with smaller cases like the .308 and it's prodigy. Pretty much build what you want and have fun with it.

Depends on your action length. 358 Win for a short action; 35 Whelen for a long action. Lou

I like the 7mm-08 in the Savage Sierra.