Short Barrel Rifle - Thoughts on Caliber

[Steyr101]

Im going to get a short 16.5'' barrel spun up for a BigHorn TL3 I had built last year. It currently has 22'' barrels in .223, .308 and 6.5CM, but its a heavy beast, so looking to shave some weight. Likely wont have brake to keep as compact as possible.

Primary use will be a general rifle that rides along in the Jeep or quad while out and about.

Had decided on a .308, then changed my mind to a 6.5 Creed, but open to thoughts and suggestions, as I'd like to at least order the barrel and get it here in the next few months.

Wil be used on big game (whitetails, bear, moose) at reasonable distances, and the occasional varmint as well, say 300 yards max.

I guess the biggest concern is something that would be efficient out of a short barrel, not concerned at all about squeezing out max velocity.

I read the other .300 BO thread but not interested in that caliber. Open to wildcats as well.

 

[Mike112288]

308 is better with short barrels than 6.5 creed is. I’d go 308 instead with a short barrel like that

 

[TK-Hryciuk]

I would also recommend .308 as it does ok out of shorter barrels and you have decent flexibility in regards to different loads you can use.

 

[Janeau]

.223 will do even better..used in short barrel AR for years ...it will be lighter by a bunch too.

 

[Steyr101]

.223 will do even better..used in short barrel AR for years ...it will be lighter by a bunch too.

All things being equal.. I'd have assumed the .308 would be lighter just due to larger bore (out of the same profile barrel). But probably cancelled out by the smaller ammo.

 

[Gatehouse]

FOr my 12.5" barrel rifle I went with the 6.5 Grendel, but I was limited to action length. Since yours is a standard SA that will accept 308 class cartridges the .308 and the 6.5 CM are both good choices. I would personally go with the Creed. It will kill just as well, recoil less and would probably be more fun to play around with shooting targets out at longer distances.

 

[bssaguy]

For hunting purposes the .308 is likely the most versatile. Thanks to a large selection of factory loaded bullet weights and a near unlimited set of options if you reload. You can effectively set it up for Mouse to Moose. It won't be as affected by the shorter barrel as the 6.5, however this is not a major concern if you work at keeping your range limits in mind.

 

[Mike112288]

I would like a short stubby barrel in 223 for my impact precision build. Right now I have a 24” barrel in 223 on it but a short barrel has some sort of appeal to me

 

[Kelly Timoffee]

Try a 7/08 , efficient easy to load, and good B.C. bullets.

Can still use a 150gr bullet on mooses.

 

[Steyr101]

I have a magnum bolt head as well.. but likely wont be anything in that category that would be beneficial.

Thanks for the opinions.. im swaying back to the .308.

 

[Mike112288]

I’m guessing 308 will give you more energy on target within short ranges out of a stubby barrel compared to the other ideas. More energy will be a good thing for hunting

 

[NormSC]

In my opinion .308 is by far the most versatile. With a .308 you can fire bullets up 190 grains or more which would be much more effective on bears or moose especially at close range. I have a ruger compact in .308 with a 16 inch barrel which is my go to carry rifle. Accurate out to 300 yards and easy to carry. Recoil is light.

 

[Dosing]

I have a magnum bolt head as well.. but likely wont be anything in that category that would be beneficial.

Thanks for the opinions.. im swaying back to the .308.

Just sayin, 300WM out of a 16.5 would be good. Look up the ballistics on them. My 14in 300WM is pretty good.

 

[Mike112288]

300 win mag would be a nice option too and nice fireball too

 

[jparent]

Maybe 6.5 Grendel.

Inside 300 yards, any of them will do fine with a 16" barrel.

 

[kamlooky]

If you reload, pick yer flavour.
If not, go with the other vanilla........... .308win

 

[Gatehouse]

I have a magnum bolt head as well.. but likely wont be anything in that category that would be beneficial.

Thanks for the opinions.. im swaying back to the .308.

magnum bolt head? 6.5 PRC would be slick

 

[keith mokry]

I would do 308 with 16.5” brl. With 150g bullets, velocity is still good and can shoot standard cup core or premium bullets and still get good expansion. I would stay from larger cases as the percussion increases with noise and muzzle flash and jump(had 3006 in 15” brl)

 

[hoytcanon]

I would go a different route altogether, you have the light cartridges well covered already... the 16.5" barrel shortens it a bit but really doesn't shave a whole lot of weight... how about filling and entirely different niche altogether... a 16.5" medium bore, I would go with a .358 Win... I happen to have a Ruger M77 Mark II Frontier in .358 Win with a 16.5" barrel and can speak to it's efficiency and accuracy, most of my big game animals over the past couple years have been taken with this rifle from 20 yards to 250 yards... additionally I shot two coyotes while deer hunting using 200 SP's with remarkably little damage, small hole in and small hole out... at least it is worth consideration... it is like wielding the Hammer of Thor, on everything from coyotes to moose.

 

[rifleman762]

With a short barrel and 308-class case capacity, I'd go with at least a .308" bore. A 338 Federal is popular among the short barrel AR10 guys down south because it can squeeze out more energy during that short run down the barrel. As Hoytcanon says, 358 Winchester is also quite the hammer. But, yeah, definitely 308 or bigger. The better BC of the 6.5 won't make enough difference with the short barrel velocity loss.