Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I am looking at a new hunting setup for deer/elk..

What is the ideal or most efficient non magnum caliber for shorter barrels like 20 or 22"? Something in a shorter case like the 08 familly?

I am looking for something with the biggest punch or that willnot lose much muzzle velocity with shorter barrelsthat isn't amagnum. When I say punch, I don't mean shoulder punch..

Thanks for your feedback.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Well, my dad has a .35 Whelen, and that will drop any deer or elk that walks infront you if youput it into the boiler room fromranges past 200 yards. This however doesn't meet your criteria for a short-action. But let me tell you, my dad's has a 22 inch barrel and weighs about 7 pouds with a scope and although I can feel the recoil, it's nothing unmanageable (been shooting it since I've been 15). Or you could go with the .308, but don't know how efficent it would be out of a shorter barrel, but in the real world, a few inches probably mean too much in my opinion.

EDIT: How could I of forgot the .358? In a BLR, that'd be a nice little package I'd imagine.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Maybe look at a 338 federal or a 338-06.

good luck

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

358 winchester ooooooooorrrrrrrrrrrrrr the new .338 federal.I think if they can get the .338 Federal in something lite,handy and accurate like lets say a BLR or 7600 Carbine,watch out Elk woods cause there is a new game in town.
BBJ

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Sounds like your descibing a 7mm-08.120g-140g bullets for deer and 140g-160g for elk and you got it covered;)

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Look at it in a different way. Anything shooting under 2900 fps will be fine in a 22in barrel. Anything under around 2700, a 20 would be optimum. 24 is good for about 3000-3100fps, after that go 26.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

45-70.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

45/70

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

The 308 and 7mm-08 work very well in short barrels. Thats the reason that they work so well in the T/C Encore. Good velocity is obtained from 15 inch barrels in those guns. The 45-70 also does pretty well in the Encore and Contenders. The 308 would be my first choice.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

350 Remington magnum. Extremely powerful for big game, but not a true heavy duty magnum. It is a short action caliber. It can be had in light weight rifles. Works well in short barrels. Remember lighter guns are going to recoil more. The 350 is more of a push than a punch, just make sure you get proper rifle fit, Tom.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

excellent call;) the 7mm-08 will do it. Ive have a few 308 but wish I would have thrown a 7mm-08 in the mix too maybe one of my next guns will be a 7mm-08.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I was at my local shop yesterday and saw what might be the exact package you are describing.It was a Ruger M 77 compact in 7MM-08 top that with a fixed 6X leupold M8 and you have a very quick handling light small package .It looked almost like a youth model rifle.You can hold it by the pistol grip hold it to the floor and isabout 6 or 8 inches from touching .About looks like a carbine length rifle.Might be worth looking in to.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

For your uses, I'd select the .358 Winchester as first choice, next the .308, but the .30/'06, .338/'06, or.35 Whelen would do just as well, particularly if you use a 22" barrel.

(During the three years I spent in Alaska, I generally used a Mannlicher-Schoenauer carbine with a 20" barrel in .270 Winchester caliber. Although it developed less velocity that it would have with a longer barrel, it produced 2800 FPS MV with the 150-grain Nosler Partition bullet. With this rifle and load [150-grain bullet, 53.5 greains IMR 4350, F210 primers, WW cases], I killed everything the Far North has to offer, except for the great bears! The majority of these kills, including 2 300+ pound black bears, were 1-shot kills. A .280 Rem. or .30/'06 in this carbine would have been better, but I used what I had back then!)

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I have never actually fired the two callibers side by side. Is there really much difference between the 7mm-08 and the .308?

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

The 7mm-08 has less recoil. Remember energy=mass X velocity. Alot of people are saying 7-08. Remember the fellow said he will be doing some elk hunting, The 7-08 is too light for elk, sorry guys but not enough power(energy). If the buyer wants enough energy for an elk rifle, lightweight rifle to carry(this means short action), ballistics to cleanly kill at 300 yards, but not a shoulder buster like the new WSM's, then the 350 Remington Magnum is a great choice, Tom.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I think a 7-08 will probably kill an elk. Just a hunch.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

A 22 l.r. will probably kill an elk also, that does not make it adequate. Big bullets make a big difference on a big animal, and elk are big. An animal going a couple hundred yards in some parts of the country is no big deal, but an elk going a couple hundred yards in the mountains can make a big difference. When hit they will head to the thickest, steepest area they can find. I have packed a couple out of the dark timber, it is not fun, Tom.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Had a .358 Winchester in a Browning BLR with a 20" barrel. Using WW748 powder, this rifle would shoot 250-grain Speer spitzers at 2450 FPS MV, and all would stay in a 1" circle at 100 yards from that short barrel.

Contrary to popular opinion, a 250-grain pointed bullet at 2450 is NOT a short-range load! It has as good a trajectoryas a .303 British with the 174-grain miitary bullet, and MORE ENERGY at all ranges!

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I am a fan of .35 bullets my self and have used the .358 quite a bit and now carry a custom shop model 7 in .350 rem mag which I love. The new .338 federal sounds like a winner and in reality if elk is on the menu a .308 win will do anything a .30-06 will do so is excellent also.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

Due to .338 caliber Sectional Density,the .338 Federal sounds like what your looking for. Good luck.

RE: Ideal Caliber for Short Barrels
 

I second the motion, as soon as Remington bring out a Model 7 SS in it I will be buying one:)