Short range thumper suggestions.
- Thread starter Cbob
- Start date
I’m just gonna throw a wrench in here. Any point in me chopping or rebarrelling and of these?
L-R.
R700 .308. mountain LSS or something. Someone added a magpul bottom and a B&C? Stock. Comes in just a hair over 7lbs with the vx2, 2-7x32.
Tikka T3 superlite in 30-06 in a B&C stock. Comes in just under 8lbs wearing the bushy elite 2.5-16.
Rem 783. In 30-06. Need I say more. Comes in just over 8lbs with Bushnell elite 3-9
View attachment 338258
L-R.
R700 .308. mountain LSS or something. Someone added a magpul bottom and a B&C? Stock. Comes in just a hair over 7lbs with the vx2, 2-7x32.
Tikka T3 superlite in 30-06 in a B&C stock. Comes in just under 8lbs wearing the bushy elite 2.5-16.
Rem 783. In 30-06. Need I say more. Comes in just over 8lbs with Bushnell elite 3-9
View attachment 338258
You won't find a USED wildcat very often Prob Never there custom done for each Customer - Gun is Stainless Steel - a Buddy has one and he had Brno284 on here shorten the barrel to 20 " Brass is not a problem to find - Usally around a $1 each . Lots of bullet Selection for 338 cal . jmo RJ
Before you head off in the custom rifle direction, I would cut the 700 Mountain down 19" as todbartell suggested or if you just gotta, to 18 1/4"... mount a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5X20 and then try some 200 SP's and 220 RN's and see how they shoot... if you get them shooting, "Bob's your uncle..." A cheap solution to a problem that not even you has...
Rem 7600 .308.
7600 carbine in 35 Whelan or even better, a 7600 carbine bored out to .338-06.
You could also buy something like this;
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1954537-Ruger-Hawkeye-M77-338-WIN-Price-Drop
Chop the barrel down to 18.5", load it down to whatever level you want with H4895 and your choice of bullet... might aswell go with a 250 grain SP or RN. This gives you the option of also loading up for some more serious power. At the price point of the rifle listed above, you can play around with it for a bit and resell if it doesn't suit you.
Bullets to try;
Hornady
-------------------
38 Cal. .338" RN
250 gr
InterLock®
.291 (G1)
#3330
100
338 Cal. .338" SP-RP
250 gr
InterLock®
.431 (G1)
#3335
100
https://www.canadiangunnutz.com/forum/showthread.php/1954537-Ruger-Hawkeye-M77-338-WIN-Price-Drop
Chop the barrel down to 18.5", load it down to whatever level you want with H4895 and your choice of bullet... might aswell go with a 250 grain SP or RN. This gives you the option of also loading up for some more serious power. At the price point of the rifle listed above, you can play around with it for a bit and resell if it doesn't suit you.
Bullets to try;
Hornady
-------------------
38 Cal. .338" RN
250 gr
InterLock®
.291 (G1)
#3330
100
338 Cal. .338" SP-RP
250 gr
InterLock®
.431 (G1)
#3335
100
Before you head off in the custom rifle direction, I would cut the 700 Mountain down 19" as todbartell suggested or if you just gotta, to 18 1/4"... mount a Leupold VX-3 1.5-5X20 and then try some 200 SP's and 220 RN's and see how they shoot... if you get them shooting, "Bob's your uncle..." A cheap solution to a problem that not even you has...
I like the 220 round nose idea. Exactly what I was thinking. Maybe aim for 2300fps or so
A 130gr or 150 TTSXX will penetrate just as much as a 220 RN, it will flatten your trajectory in case of a long shot, and likely kill faster. But whatever floats your boat.
In my Ruger 308 Scout, 18.7" barrel, I shoot the 200gr Lapua Mega for my up close smasher load. A blunt semi spitzer with a BC of .290
At 2430 fps, and a 100y zero it's only 6" low at 200y. If a longer shot presented itself, a quick change of ammo to a load more suitable would be easy, at least in the Ruger Scout with the detach mag
I seen a McMillan stocked Ruger Scout 308 with 2.5x Leupold on the EE, it's a great deal
At 2430 fps, and a 100y zero it's only 6" low at 200y. If a longer shot presented itself, a quick change of ammo to a load more suitable would be easy, at least in the Ruger Scout with the detach mag
I seen a McMillan stocked Ruger Scout 308 with 2.5x Leupold on the EE, it's a great deal
What you're looking for does sound a lot like a Scout rifle - so a Ruger Gunsite Scout or a Steyr Scout might not be a bad choice. Both are exceptionally handy and quick when fitted with the right optic (1.5-5X Leupold VX-R or 2.5X Leupold FX-II). Once you learn how to use a Scout scope effectively, it's as fast on target as a red dot and offers definite advantages over a red dot as the range opens a little bit. I know that the tupperware stock on the Ruger doesn't feel great - but since it's almost a pound lighter than the laminate stock, it makes a lot of sense for a rifle that gets carried a lot. I've put more meat in the freezer with my tupperware stocked Ruger than with anything else I own, and most of that was taken at less than 100 yards. If you don't mind the weight, the laminate stock is attractive and still handles very well with the short LOP.
For cartridge selection, .308 is effective, easy to find, and relatively cheap. If you are rolling your own, Barnes makes a great little 168 grain copper pill that has served me very well - enough so that I'd be comfortable using it in the vast majority of hunting and predator defense situations. It's also very easy to load so that it's ballistics mimic those of the 168 grain Federal pill, so you're not slinging expensive monolithics down the range when practicing. (and you already know enough to verify your zero again with your hunting load before venturing out to fill a tag). That sort of load also has the advantage of shooting relatively flat, so I've found that a 200 yard zero (and 225 yard MPBR) works very well for what you actually encounter in the field. If for some reason you find yourself needing to push out further, you've only got 8 inches of drop at 300, so even a small amount of practice at that range will mean that even if you don't have a fancy or exotic cartridge that all the gun scribblers are loving you'll be able to fill the freezer.
If you like the idea of a larger diameter projectile, the .358 Winchester is a logical step up - since stepping up to a longer action and a .35 Whelen seems to represent more horsepower than you're talking about wanting. If you want a true thumper in a light and quick handling package, you could look for a Steyr in .376 - but that is most definitely not a rifle for someone who objects to recoil, and I'm told that there are only about 300 of them.
If the Scout concept isn't quite your thing (and there's a definite learning curve associated with forward mounted scopes) then I think that your original concept with the Kimber you own is very sound. A Kimber Adirondack in .308 will be very light, handy and quick - 18" barrel, and under 5 pounds. If you put a low-magnification scope on it, I think you'll be very happy with the results. For the ranges you're describing a 2.5 X fixed power will absolutely get the job done - or a 1-4X would work just fine. The advantage of a fixed power scope is that you'll end up with something that is lighter, simpler, more rugged, and with better clarity than a variable power scope in the same price bracket.
For cartridge selection, .308 is effective, easy to find, and relatively cheap. If you are rolling your own, Barnes makes a great little 168 grain copper pill that has served me very well - enough so that I'd be comfortable using it in the vast majority of hunting and predator defense situations. It's also very easy to load so that it's ballistics mimic those of the 168 grain Federal pill, so you're not slinging expensive monolithics down the range when practicing. (and you already know enough to verify your zero again with your hunting load before venturing out to fill a tag). That sort of load also has the advantage of shooting relatively flat, so I've found that a 200 yard zero (and 225 yard MPBR) works very well for what you actually encounter in the field. If for some reason you find yourself needing to push out further, you've only got 8 inches of drop at 300, so even a small amount of practice at that range will mean that even if you don't have a fancy or exotic cartridge that all the gun scribblers are loving you'll be able to fill the freezer.
If you like the idea of a larger diameter projectile, the .358 Winchester is a logical step up - since stepping up to a longer action and a .35 Whelen seems to represent more horsepower than you're talking about wanting. If you want a true thumper in a light and quick handling package, you could look for a Steyr in .376 - but that is most definitely not a rifle for someone who objects to recoil, and I'm told that there are only about 300 of them.
If the Scout concept isn't quite your thing (and there's a definite learning curve associated with forward mounted scopes) then I think that your original concept with the Kimber you own is very sound. A Kimber Adirondack in .308 will be very light, handy and quick - 18" barrel, and under 5 pounds. If you put a low-magnification scope on it, I think you'll be very happy with the results. For the ranges you're describing a 2.5 X fixed power will absolutely get the job done - or a 1-4X would work just fine. The advantage of a fixed power scope is that you'll end up with something that is lighter, simpler, more rugged, and with better clarity than a variable power scope in the same price bracket.
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Oooh I like that idea!
OP, I wanted something like this too. Ended up with a 9.3x57 Husky. Haven't gotten to shoot it yet (been slowly buying the reloading gear needed, bullets and dies are otw but I still need brass) but I'm hoping to get 2300 fps w/a speer 270gr pill.
Not to run the thread off course... I have the same gun in 7mm any guesses how would it preform shortened up to 18.5”-19”? I’m assuming I’d be the proud owner of the slowest and loudest 7mm on earth lol I have it on the EE trying to trade it for a shorter rifle lol
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That's a very cool idea, and takes full advantage of the fact that the OP handloads. It also lets you hunt a LOT of different game.
The downside is that you've jumped from a short action into a long action, which will result in more weight and less handiness. It will absolutely deliver a lot of thump if you ask it to...but essentially you're now asking a belted magnum to do a .308's job. If there's a reason to step up to that much horsepower, I'm 100% with you on the advantages that the case size and projectile diameter offer to a resourceful handloader - I just didn't really read that in the OP's request that he feels the need for a huge amount of energy from the cartridge.
Johnn Peterson
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
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What I have in the safe at present that, for my needs, fills the thread definition/category of a 'Short Range Thumper', is a Marlin 1895 GBL.
