Sporting rifles and small aircraft - length considerations?

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philthygeezer

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I'm wondering if there are any length limitations to traveling by helicopter and small fixed - wing aircraft in the bush? Ardent's quest for a compact rifle got me thinking about it. I know that a 18-20" 12 gauge wasn't really a hassle around helicopters. But what about 22-25" sporters in .30-06 to .375 H&H magnum? Are they a PITA to work with around small aircraft?

I configured this 24" Ruger Mark II .338 Win Mag to use instead of a Guide Gun or a 12 gauge, thinking it would be a much more rugged and effective tool. Also nicer to dump the magazine and pull the bolt than deal with tube magazines. But I want to be relatively sure the 24" barrel is fine. I'd prefer to keep sporter barrels to 22"-25" for comfort.

IMG_9919s_zpse29e9113.jpg
 
People have been carrying hunting rifles in small aircraft for nearly 100 years with no fuss. Weight is more important than length.
 
sunray said:
People have been carrying hunting rifles in small aircraft for nearly 100 years with no fuss. Weight is more important than length.
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X2

And when space is at a premium you should use every square inch... If you insist on a hard case for your rifle then make sure you put such things like all your glass and ammo and maps etc etc etc in the case instead of a big box with 1 gun in it.
 
philthygeezer said:
But what about 22-25" sporters in .30-06 to .375 H&H magnum?
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Considering that's about the most common sized rifle a hunter would use, I'd say it's pretty frequent to encounter those in anything flying.
If you're referring to a survival rifle for a pilot, that's really not a viable option as they'd want something that can be tucked away and doesn't take up much room, since they need the space and weight saving for their customers gear.
 
My Ruger Frontier 358 with its 16.5" barrel carries anywhere easily.
The only drawback is that it is not in the same league as a 375 for punch...
 
Ok thanks for reassurance. I've never flown in a fixed wing smaller than a Twin Otter, so I wondered. Agreed about stashing everything into whatever space is already being taken up.

Kevan said:
My Ruger Frontier 358 with its 16.5" barrel carries anywhere easily.
The only drawback is that it is not in the same league as a 375 for punch...
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I had a Remington Model Seven 18.5" bbl .308 for years. The muzzle blast was pretty intense and the recoil was interestingly brisk. I've found I prefer longer barrels, and a little more weight is OK. Perhaps those standard sporters are standard for very good reasons. I do look sideways at some of the shorter rigs once in awhile though.

stscout_102606a.jpg


Your .358 sounds like a pretty punchy compact rig. Did you scope it? I looked it up and a 250 grain bullet does 2200 fps out of a 24" barrel. What sort of velocities are you getting?
 
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Hotwheels81 said:
If you insist on a hard case for your rifle then make sure you put such things like all your glass and ammo and maps etc etc etc in the case instead of a big box with 1 gun in it.
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I was informed that a hard case would not be allowed on my Yukon fly-in trip.
 
Paul,

unless you wanted to pay an extra flight that was the easiest way.

when i was guiding and used really small cessna floaplane i had a take down 300 savage lever action. still have it.
 
philthygeezer said:
I'm wondering if there are any length limitations to traveling by helicopter and small fixed - wing aircraft in the bush? Ardent's quest for a compact rifle got me thinking about it. I know that a 18-20" 12 gauge wasn't really a hassle around helicopters. But what about 22-25" sporters in .30-06 to .375 H&H magnum? Are they a PITA to work with around small aircraft?

I configured this 24" Ruger Mark II .338 Win Mag to use instead of a Guide Gun or a 12 gauge, thinking it would be a much more rugged and effective tool. Also nicer to dump the magazine and pull the bolt than deal with tube magazines. But I want to be relatively sure the 24" barrel is fine. I'd prefer to keep sporter barrels to 22"-25" for comfort.

IMG_9919s_zpse29e9113.jpg
Click to expand...

what was the mcmillan colors combo?
 
philthygeezer said:
Ok thanks for reassurance. I've never flown in a fixed wing smaller than a Twin Otter, so I wondered. Agreed about stashing everything into whatever space is already being taken up.



I had a Remington Model Seven 18.5" bbl .308 for years. The muzzle blast was pretty intense and the recoil was interestingly brisk. I've found I prefer longer barrels, and a little more weight is OK. Perhaps those standard sporters are standard for very good reasons. I do look sideways at some of the shorter rigs once in awhile though.

stscout_102606a.jpg


Your .358 sounds like a pretty punchy compact rig. Did you scope it? I looked it up and a 250 grain bullet does 2200 fps out of a 24" barrel. What sort of velocities are you getting?
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The picture as you posted is exactly what it looked like out of the box.
On mine I mounted the 1.5-5 Leupold over the receiver and replaced the laminate wood with a factory synthetic Ruger stock which has a slightly longer LOP.
I haven't chronographed a 250 gr. load, but a 225 gr. bullet dumped a Mulie at a touch over 200 yds.
The stubby little gun has printed some very impressive groups for a short gun, but I seriously must do some chrony work with it.
 
medvedqc said:
Paul,

unless you wanted to pay an extra flight that was the easiest way.

when i was guiding and used really small cessna floaplane i had a take down 300 savage lever action. still have it.
Click to expand...

I think that was the one I said would be the perfect survival rifle for a pilot in the North. Came to that decision after a friend of mine was stuck for several days due to weather. Turns out his 30-30 was #### for trying to kill a caribou at 300 yards. He's since upgraded to a Guide Gun despite my telling him to get something with more reach. Or some Mountain House meals. He was getting pretty peckish after 4 days at an abandoned mining camp.
 
remington jim said:
BUT the 358 Win with a 200 gr-er at 2400 + is no Slouch either ! RJ
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And right you are ! Mine shoots a 200 gr. load very well as well as 225s and 250s.
One bullet I'm going to play with is a cast 280 gr. GC from an old Lyman mould long discontinued.
It has worked very well in my Whelen for decades so maybe it will shoot in my 358 ?
I think it might make a real thumper out of the 358......
 
BigUglyMan said:
I think that was the one I said would be the perfect survival rifle for a pilot in the North. Came to that decision after a friend of mine was stuck for several days due to weather. Turns out his 30-30 was #### for trying to kill a caribou at 300 yards. He's since upgraded to a Guide Gun despite my telling him to get something with more reach. Or some Mountain House meals. He was getting pretty peckish after 4 days at an abandoned mining camp.
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yes i remembered that discussion. i was happy to have two times stuck in camps with no flying airplanes ...

30-30 is not that bad with the hornady plastic end in a 30-30 but that 300 savage is really good and break down so easily ... i think some guides and pilots still want that little rifle ...

will try to post some pics.
 
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