Centerfire big game caliber most suited to a 16" barrel?

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philthygeezer

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Keeping in mind muzzle blast, recoil, efficiency and that it will be a 200 yard gun at most (EDIT: let's settle on 100-125 yards), what big game caliber would you choose for a 16" barrel? E.G. would a .44 magnum be ideal? .45-70? .308? .243?
 
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In a really short carbine, I'm left wondering if the perfect balance between shootability and performance isn't the .30-30 or the .44 Magnum...

.45 colt might do it, but I wouldn't be handloading.
 
My 358 Ruger Frontier has a 16.5" barrel and shoots surprisingly well, actually better than anticipated. First time out it put a Mulie in the freezer... ;)
 
44mag or 45Colt are hardly 200yds cartridges. In 16" barrel one of the best choices would be 358Win, 35Rem, 356Win, 444Marlin, 45-70Gov, 375Win, 450Marlin, 9,3x57 and such.
 
gunrunner8 said:
44mag or 45Colt are hardly 200yds cartridges. In 16" barrel one of the best choices would be 358Win, 35Rem, 356Win, 444Marlin, 45-70Gov, 375Win, 450Marlin, 9,3x57 and such.
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I think I'm over-reaching then. The thing will have a ~16" barrel and aperture sights, and the calibers which can do 200 might be crazy nasty in a short <6 lb carbine...

Let's modify expectations to 100-125 yards. :)
 
philthygeezer said:
I think I'm over-reaching then. The thing will have a ~16" barrel and aperture sights, and the calibers which can do 200 might be crazy nasty in a short <6 lb carbine...

Let's modify expectations to 100-125 yards. :)
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Within 125yds the 44Mag is good to go in 16" barrel, but for you to have a cake and eat it too the absolutely best compromise IMHO would be Marlin 336 carabine with 18" barrel in 35Rem. Fast, accurate, hard hitting combo to 200yds with light recoil and peep site (and scope) friendly. That's also what I am useing with great success in thick bush here in BC.
 
philthygeezer said:
How would .45-70 muzzle blast and recoil be in a 6 pound carbine? Would I care to shoot it much?
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45-70 is a handloaders dream, it can be loaded down, or hot, and there's a good selection of cartridges at most sporting stores. Personally, I find the recoil on 45-70 just as tolerable as 30-06, but of course recoil tolerance varies from individual to individual.
 
The Kurgan said:
45-70 is a handloaders dream, it can be loaded down, or hot, and there's a good selection of cartridges at most sporting stores. Personally, I find the recoil on 45-70 just as tolerable as 30-06, but of course recoil tolerance varies from individual to individual.
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Would one lose a lot of velocity with barrel length in the .45-70? How would full-bore 240 grain .44 magnum compare?
 
gunrunner8 has very good cartridge suggestions above that won't lose too much in a 16" barrel. Short stubby cases closer to being straight walled - with little bottle neck - work in shorty carbines. I like shorter than average carbines and have a few hunters with 15" or 16" tubes.

If you want to limit yourself to 125Yds the 35Rem would work very well - even beyond that distance a ways. It's a real pussycat to shoot in a short 16" tube - no appreciable recoil, no ringing ears when fired in the field - I know from experience. Top handloads in my Marauder so far are chronographed at a whisker under 2100MV with 200s. A TC Encore or Contender rifle frame can be fitted legally in Canada with a 35Rem 15" or 16" factory barrel - if u can find one.

I have a 45-70 15" barrel with a peep for my Encore. It is NOT a pussycat with top loads (325s at 2000MV) and wouldn't recommend it to you given your sensitivites. My Frontier 358 is in between - a great rifle IMO - but still may be a little much 4u if I have you right.

Also note that a break action or falling block will always put the muzzle much closer to your ears compared with bolts semis pumps and levers of the same barrel length.

Just remembered - maybe one of those CZ or Ruger compacts in 7.62x39 would work 4u - if you only wanted to limit yourself to yotes and little deer to 125yds but ???.
 
Whelen B, I'm thinking about ordering a couple of barrels at 16.5 inches each for the Encore. The purpose of the rifle would be mostly deep woods backpacking and hunting. One barrel would be a rimfire for plinking and small game, and the other would be a centerfire for deer/moose or putting down a black bear.

This would leave the overall length just over 30". IE: lots of nasty muzzle blast. Recoil doesn't bother me as much as the noise. I like my ears.

Is the .35 Remington very easy to find in small towns? Would the .30-30 be a better player for a generalist short rifle cartridge if not? Seems like there would be more .30-30 out there than .44 magnum as well...?
 
44mag
45-70
35Rem
30-30

All would work great for hunting in bush where most shots are all under 100 yards

Most of my kills and misses.....LOL! came at 35 yards and under.
I like the Marlin 45-70 Guide Gun with the Ruger in .44mag next in line...
I like the 45-70 on Moose and .44Mag on Deer...
 
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