I was wondering the effectiveness of a rifle chambered in 30-06, if the barrel was cut down to 20inches, I am typically hunting in coastal areas around British Columbia on foot. I have seen a few custom rifles online with this modification and just wondered the pro's and con's. Thank you
20 inch barrel for 30-06? Effectiveness? Pro's and Con's
- Thread starter jgw642
- Start date
- Location
- Steel Town and The Peg
My Sako Bavarian Carbine (now sold) and two Tikka T3 Battues all in 30-06 and with 20" barrels shoot/shot SUB MOA.
The key is in the quality of the barrel, condition of the bore, and what it's attached to more than the length.
I hope this helps.
The key is in the quality of the barrel, condition of the bore, and what it's attached to more than the length.
I hope this helps.
You will lose about 100fps vs a 22'' barrel.
Great, thank you for your input. I am working towards customizing a Winchester model 70, I have owned a couple rifles including a Tikka T3 which was a great gun, however I Favor the control round feeding system offered by Winchester. I like the shorter Carbine style rifles.
freezer filler
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Windsor, Ontario
I'd pick a 308 if u want a 20" tube...critters won't know the difference and you will have a short action vs long.
I think I don't like short barrels. They're louder and muzzle-blast-y. 22" to 24" balances really nice offhand. I'd rather a 24" sporter in a McMillan hunter than a short/skinny barrel in a standard weight stock. The length doesn't bother me much. How many times do people go sneaking around after grouse with a 26" pump shotgun? They don't seem to complain.
That said, I do like stubby little 18" barrels on rimfire rifles sometimes. They don't hold like a 23" barrel but they are cute.
That said, I do like stubby little 18" barrels on rimfire rifles sometimes. They don't hold like a 23" barrel but they are cute.
Brutus
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
My 30-06 has a strange barrel length, about 19 3/8s inches.
Deer don't seem to care & die just the same as if I shot them with my 22" 308 or the 20" 30-30 carbine.
Myself I never seem to mind the extra muzzle blast while I am actually big game hunting and I have a little less steel to lug around.
just info
Deer don't seem to care & die just the same as if I shot them with my 22" 308 or the 20" 30-30 carbine.
Myself I never seem to mind the extra muzzle blast while I am actually big game hunting and I have a little less steel to lug around.
just info
I've got a 700 stainless synthetic in 30-06 with a 20", which was set up as scout rifle and ten shot clips when I got it . My son Used it on one of our culls, and took right around 100 animals including a water buffalo with it. 165s struggled for 2700 fps, but most of the shooting was under 200 yards and 300 was a very long shot in that area so it didn't matter much. It was and is a quite accurate little rifle, but then again the ranges were short so who cares?
I can jump out off the truck and fire two shots off with my short single shot rife before my hunting partner can untangle his rifle, pop in the clip and line up the shot and he still haven't got a shot off
my only complaint is having to tell my hunting partners the rifle is not for sale over and over agent
my only complaint is having to tell my hunting partners the rifle is not for sale over and over agent
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BigUglyMan
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- New Scotland
20" barrel would be very handy in the bush, especially thick coastal bush.
My last 3 30-06 guns had 18.5" barrels. Might have seemed louder to ppl standing beside me. I never noticed a difference. Muzzle flash may be a little bigger. I didn't run them thru my chronograph but I had no issues hitting steel at 200 yards
Is that supposed to say "they're loud, but I don't notice while hunting"?
I have a T/C Pro as well and would never go with 15" barrels, it would feel like having a 9" barrel on a bolt action...very unbalanced. You must make custom forearm guards for them?
I bin just using a stock forefend I only can get one screw in the barrel but find it do not make much difference at closer ranges I find balance to be fine after
I got use to rifle it is vary quick to Pont the best part of the rig is wen walking in the bush rifle slung it don't get tangled in the thick stuff now I started using a biathlon type sling and it is as if the rifle disappears wen it on my back
My first Remington 700 30-06 was a carbine. It had the short barrel from the factory.
Besides the bit of extra noise, it worked just fine.
With it I shot Black Bears, Muleys, Whitetails, and Moose. They did not seem to notice.
Additionally, It served as my Varmint rifle for Columbia Ground Squirrel control. [130 Speer HP/55 grains of H4895 - sub moa consistently]
While I prefer longer barrels personally, I would not feel handicapped with the shorter tube. Dave.
Besides the bit of extra noise, it worked just fine.
With it I shot Black Bears, Muleys, Whitetails, and Moose. They did not seem to notice.
Additionally, It served as my Varmint rifle for Columbia Ground Squirrel control. [130 Speer HP/55 grains of H4895 - sub moa consistently]
While I prefer longer barrels personally, I would not feel handicapped with the shorter tube. Dave.
I use an old Remington 742 carbine in the woods with an 18 1/2 inch barrel. It doesn't seem too loud with 180 grain loads though it is noticeably sharper with a few 150 grain loads I tried. Near dusk when shooting you do worry about maybe starting a forest fire with the muzzle blast though.
