The Accurate Reloading Forums
Caliber choice for 20inch barrel?
24 April 2006, 22:50
MikeLCaliber choice for 20inch barrel?
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.
24 April 2006, 22:52
fla300645-70?

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.
24 April 2006, 22:54
Rusty MarlinTesting 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.
Aut vincere aut mori
25 April 2006, 00:29
tiggertate338-08
358 Winchester
9.3 x 57
9.5 x 57
"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.
25 April 2006, 00:49
FjoldFor 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".
Frank
"I don't know what there is about buffalo that frightens me so.....He looks like he hates you personally. He looks like you owe him money."
- Robert Ruark, Horn of the Hunter, 1953
NRA Life, SAF Life, CRPA Life, DRSS lite
25 April 2006, 00:55
Alberta CanuckCurrently 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.
My country gal's just a moonshiner's daughter, but I love her still.
25 April 2006, 01:10
nordrsetaHow 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?
25 April 2006, 01:13
interboatthe .376 Steyr was designed for a short barrel (The Scout barrel is 19").
25 April 2006, 01:18
ForrestB7X57 (Top Pick)
308 Win (Second Choice)
358 Win
300 Savage
______________________________
"Truth is the daughter of time."
Francis Bacon
25 April 2006, 01:35
KurtCYou 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
25 April 2006, 04:00
larrysI 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!
Larry
"Peace is that brief glorious moment in history, when everybody stands around reloading" -- Thomas Jefferson
25 April 2006, 04:28
concho7mm exp .280 rem I have one on an Encore love it .
25 April 2006, 04:30
Tex218x57JS!!!!!!!

Jason
"Chance favors the prepared mind."
25 April 2006, 05:09
djpaintlesThe 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
....Remember that this is all supposed to be for fun!..................
25 April 2006, 07:29
<9.3x62>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.
25 April 2006, 07:33
Don_GHow about the 35 Whelen?
Otherwise, just a plain jane 308 Win.
Don_G
...from Texas, by way of Mason, Ohio and Aurora, Colorado!
25 April 2006, 07:37
sledderAny 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.
25 April 2006, 08:26
N E 450 No2I 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.
DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
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.
Aut vincere aut mori
25 April 2006, 20:49
Dr. LouDepends on your action length. 358 Win for a short action; 35 Whelen for a long action. Lou
****************
NRA Life Benefactor Member
25 April 2006, 20:54
cobraI like the 7mm-08 in the Savage Sierra.