The Compact Rifle Thread
- Thread starter ShrtRnd
- Start date
Well they are loader and you do loose velocity so there is no lies there, so that’s that. But I still own a few short barreled rifle none the less! But I do have 22”-24” barreled rifles too, and to be honest, I don’t see that big of a difference in the bush for the same length action and stock! Of course my Merkel k5 with 22” barrel is the shortest rifle I own and it doesn’t matter what is the chambering, they are just short!!
To me this type of rifle should have iron sights. Pretty much anything marketed as a “scout rifle” would meet what you are looking for and they are always drilled for regular mounts if you don’t like the forward mounted scopes. The Ruger scout rifle is probably the best one out there right now. I also like the savage 110 scout.
I also had a savage 110 “hog hunter” that I really liked if you really want a 20” barrel.
M77 all weather with a 18” barrel, paddle stock and Williams wgos iron sights is the perfect do everything rifle to me
I also had a savage 110 “hog hunter” that I really liked if you really want a 20” barrel.
M77 all weather with a 18” barrel, paddle stock and Williams wgos iron sights is the perfect do everything rifle to me
I have a xbolt micro hunter which iirc has a normal lop and a 20" barrel, in 308win.
Probably 3 or 4 deer with it, none of them overly big, and 100yrds might be the furtherest shot. Rifle does fine. Scope is probably more important.
Probably 3 or 4 deer with it, none of them overly big, and 100yrds might be the furtherest shot. Rifle does fine. Scope is probably more important.
I’m not much of an Iron Sights type, hence mentioning a 4/6x or 2.5-7/8 range of Optics.
Nor do I see myself having anything less than 20” in barrel length. Below 20” and I start thinking “tactical type” rigs inherently (700 SD comes to mind) and that’s something I can’t wrap my head around and yes I know there’s a slew of 16-18” bbls out there, they are just not that style.
Interesting to see a lot of M77 Compacts mentioned and none (so far) of the ones I listed or the typical alternatives.
Nor do I see myself having anything less than 20” in barrel length. Below 20” and I start thinking “tactical type” rigs inherently (700 SD comes to mind) and that’s something I can’t wrap my head around and yes I know there’s a slew of 16-18” bbls out there, they are just not that style.
Interesting to see a lot of M77 Compacts mentioned and none (so far) of the ones I listed or the typical alternatives.
I carried a tikka roughtech with a 20” barrel this year. It has a swaro z5 and I have shot it out to 500. Very accurate, I wish it had a floor plate but that’s a minor detail.
The year before I used a Ruger ultra light with a 20” pencil barrel. 5lbs 10oz without the scope. Nice handling rifle but really struggled to get the kind of accuracy I was after. For inside 200 it would be great.
The year before I used a Ruger ultra light with a 20” pencil barrel. 5lbs 10oz without the scope. Nice handling rifle but really struggled to get the kind of accuracy I was after. For inside 200 it would be great.
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Rem. 700 DM 30-06 16.5" brl. yes it barks. I had it up for sale a while but decided to keep it. Great bush or blind rifle , and really when shooting at game you don't hear anything except thwak when you connect. I will add i have an adapter that I can shoot 32 auto as a single shot it is minute of chicken at 25 yrds.
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I have a Browning micro Midas in 270wsm, savage Lady Hunter in 243, BCL Howitzer 308 with a 9.5" barrel, a few mini actions howa's, the one chambered in 6 arc has a folding stock, and I have a sig cross in 6.5 Creed with the 18.5" barrel.
I have been taking the sig cross with me whenever I am out on the quad, it has a 2up seat, and the sig folds up and fits in the two up seat compartment, so I do not have to carry a gun case on the quad with me. It works perfectly in the bush. And it's extremely light rifle for carrying around in the bush as well.
The browning micro would probably be my pick for a shorter, lighter, run at the mill rifle. Although the black creek labs howitzer has been great, and surprising how much velocity you can get out of it. I ran it from 110 grain up to 220 grain bullets, with 6 different powders, from powders that are "too fast" to "too slow" for the 308 cartridge with those bullet weights. I know the BCL's have a hate on them, but they are a pretty slick rig. 9.5" barreled 308 that has a folding stock. It can literally go inside your backpack. The muzzle blast is pretty intense on it.
If you feel like spending a bit more, definitely take a look at the sig cross. Lightweight, and folds up pretty compact.
I have been taking the sig cross with me whenever I am out on the quad, it has a 2up seat, and the sig folds up and fits in the two up seat compartment, so I do not have to carry a gun case on the quad with me. It works perfectly in the bush. And it's extremely light rifle for carrying around in the bush as well.
The browning micro would probably be my pick for a shorter, lighter, run at the mill rifle. Although the black creek labs howitzer has been great, and surprising how much velocity you can get out of it. I ran it from 110 grain up to 220 grain bullets, with 6 different powders, from powders that are "too fast" to "too slow" for the 308 cartridge with those bullet weights. I know the BCL's have a hate on them, but they are a pretty slick rig. 9.5" barreled 308 that has a folding stock. It can literally go inside your backpack. The muzzle blast is pretty intense on it.
If you feel like spending a bit more, definitely take a look at the sig cross. Lightweight, and folds up pretty compact.
257Roberts
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Peterborough ON
A few years ago I traded for a Ruger American Compact in 243.
As you know an 18" barrel rotary magazine and a shorter length stock. Since I acquired this little beauty it seems that its the first gun I think of using.
I have an early Savage 10 FCM scout in 308 and I Ruger 77 MKII ultralight in the BOB but I seem grab the 243 first.
Now that I am getting close to 70 the savage is heavier than I like and the BOB is just to nice to be out in the crappy weather.
I spend my time in Ontario and it has taken a couple deer and a coyote and it's a joy to carry. It's always with me at my buddy's farm.
Two things I do not like is that the bolt does not lock when the safety is on and the rotary feed magazines are crap. Ruger has come up with a stacking version that are great.
My 2 cense.
David
As you know an 18" barrel rotary magazine and a shorter length stock. Since I acquired this little beauty it seems that its the first gun I think of using.
I have an early Savage 10 FCM scout in 308 and I Ruger 77 MKII ultralight in the BOB but I seem grab the 243 first.
Now that I am getting close to 70 the savage is heavier than I like and the BOB is just to nice to be out in the crappy weather.
I spend my time in Ontario and it has taken a couple deer and a coyote and it's a joy to carry. It's always with me at my buddy's farm.
Two things I do not like is that the bolt does not lock when the safety is on and the rotary feed magazines are crap. Ruger has come up with a stacking version that are great.
My 2 cense.
David
Sights4Nights
Member
- Location
- that One Time in the CT Parking Lot
RSS all day, all night.
while not an action that is on your list....
One of my favorite platforms for a rifle that fits the compact rifle criteria, especially in the forests of BC.... lee enfield no1 mk3 in .303 british.
Mine has the barrel trimmed to 19" and wears a 2-7 x 32 bushnell but i'm looking for a better optic.
Super fast cycling and a 10 round mag. I used a 1942 Lithgow for the thicker barrel and improved bore rifling. With 180gr pills I've taken black bears, a few moose and a great many deer with this rig or another just like it. The only downsides are the lack of iron sights and perhaps the weight but i find she balances perfectly in this configuration and shoulders like a dream.
One of my favorite platforms for a rifle that fits the compact rifle criteria, especially in the forests of BC.... lee enfield no1 mk3 in .303 british.
Mine has the barrel trimmed to 19" and wears a 2-7 x 32 bushnell but i'm looking for a better optic.
Super fast cycling and a 10 round mag. I used a 1942 Lithgow for the thicker barrel and improved bore rifling. With 180gr pills I've taken black bears, a few moose and a great many deer with this rig or another just like it. The only downsides are the lack of iron sights and perhaps the weight but i find she balances perfectly in this configuration and shoulders like a dream.
Tikka makes or has made, variations of their T3X with 16-20" barrels, with and without iron sites. Without a caliber debate, some calibers, like 308, give up little from a short tube. Others like 243, do so there is some consideration to length, based on caliber. The longest barrel i want for a bolt action, is 20" regardless of caliber. However, for cartridges such as 308, 358, etc. 16" is more than sufficient. Out of the box, a Tikka Ranch rifle ticks all the boxes. Optics, to me are more important than the nuances of a 20" vs 16". For what you describe, i would want something with illumination, to be able to pick my crosshairs out against the brush and deer in those conditions.
For what it is worth, my woods rifle mirrors Kamlooky. A single shot CVA. Light and handy as hell. No real penalty in the woods either. If you miss, you aren't getting a follow up, and if you need to put a wounded animal down, you can reload quickly enough.
For what it is worth, my woods rifle mirrors Kamlooky. A single shot CVA. Light and handy as hell. No real penalty in the woods either. If you miss, you aren't getting a follow up, and if you need to put a wounded animal down, you can reload quickly enough.
brownbear53
CGN Regular
- Location
- Vancouver, BC
Pickup a R700 in a 308 action only, install a 12-14" barrel, or re-barrel the existing rifle if you buy it whole. Chassis or custom stock trimmed to fit just long enough under the barrel. Detachable mag mod. 1-6x or 1-8x LPVO on top.
I ran a MDT chassis with a 12" barrel 700, stupid loud, stupid light. Extremely loud, but will maintain all 308 ballistics out to 250 yards, practical to 400 with a larger bullet drop. Best backpacker I had. Gets expensive once you start throwing mods at it, performs far better than any off the shelf rifle, and was extremely portable. I transported mine in a shotgun scabbard.
Gave you all the benefits rifle round, out of a 30" package like a lever action or short barrel shotgun size
I ran a MDT chassis with a 12" barrel 700, stupid loud, stupid light. Extremely loud, but will maintain all 308 ballistics out to 250 yards, practical to 400 with a larger bullet drop. Best backpacker I had. Gets expensive once you start throwing mods at it, performs far better than any off the shelf rifle, and was extremely portable. I transported mine in a shotgun scabbard.
Gave you all the benefits rifle round, out of a 30" package like a lever action or short barrel shotgun size
Redneck Hippy
Regular
Here’s the basic setup I’ve been using for a bit. Meets that “handy” requirement
Packs well, carries well, quick to point and shoot.
But. I bought my kid a T3x compact to use this year, put an old trijicon 1-4 on and I’ll be danged if it doesn’t have like 95% of that feel. Kid never complained about lugging it through the woods or across the prairie so I dunno. I’m starting to think if your setup isn’t too extreme it’ll work most anywhere.
My cousin set up a beautiful lightweight 280AI build for this season, dialled in an awesome long range load then shot his buck at 50m. $4000 for something in shotgun range. I love trying stuff out but it makes me laugh sometimes
Tikka Compact good for OP requirements. Remington: nothing bad ever happened in the bush but non locking bolt made me nervous. But sig bolt is only “locked” when folded so go figure…
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I have two that are not on the ops list, Ruger Gunsite Scout synthetic stock in 450 BM, 4X Bushnell Elite QR rings, XS sight rail. And a Howa Superlite in 243, 2-7 Bushnell Elite. I am waiting for stock on a replacement aluminum aftermarket trigger guard for the Howa, i am going to stick with the magazine rather than a hinged floor plate on this one. I have sown a velcro closure pouch on the sling so the magazine can stay with the rifle and I have a spare magazine. I will also be doing some kind of cerakote on this one as the bluing is not that nice. I will put so much money into it I can never sell it.
