Efficient Short Barrel Caliber

[RMW]

Getting ready for next APR rifle build, wanting a efficient caliber in a 20-22 inch barrel and be a hammer on whitetails and exotics.

What’s the best caliber to get without losing to much velocity?

[freerhunter16]

.308 will probably be the most efficient. I am a fan of the 7-08. Anything based on the .308 case would be a good option.

[RMW]

.308 will probably be the most efficient. I am a fan of the 7-08. Anything based on the .308 case would be a good option.

I said Hammer

[RifleBowPistol]

That 277 Furry, looks like it should be a pretty good round for a 20" ish barrel. The number they got out of I think a 16" barrel are pretty impressive.

If you go to a large case, with a 20"-22" barrel, you will just wind up with that much more unburnt powder coming out the end of the muzzle, resulting in a larger muzzle flash.

That 6.5 PRC, maybe, but I have not looked at what powders are typically used in it and what are the typical barrel lengths used.

My other suggestion, would be a big bore gun, with a smaller capacity case, like a 45 Raptor, maybe a 450 Marlin, maybe a 350 Remington Mag.

[cblackall]

I’ll second the 7-08. I’ve got an APR with a 20” barrel. I’m shooting the 162 gr ELD-M at 2640. Doesn’t sound like much, but it’s devastating. It’s taken a couple dozen animals, including two cow elk (300 and 400 yds), and performed extremely well. I believe I was getting 2850 fps with a 140, and 3000 fps with a 120 gr NBT. All hand loads.

[RMW]

Good info guys

[Artos]

35 Whelen

358win

348 win mag

[cblackall]

I’ll also add, if you’re a handloader, the 7-08 AI. APR with a 22” barrel, I’m seeing:

2800 with a 162 ELDM
2803 with a 165 Sierra GC/TGK
3020 with a 140 Nosler AB.
3155 with a 120 Nosler BT

All velocities averaged over a LabRadar. To put that in perspective, my buddies APR 280 AI with a 24” barrel shooting Federal Premium 168 Berger’s was only running around 2850 if I remember correctly. With a lot more powder than the 7-08. Granted, we got much better velocity handloading the 280. Just food for thought, and more data for you.

[RMW]

35 Whelen

358win

348 win mag

Would like a lazor out to 300-400yds

[muzzlebrake]

Pretty much anything 30 cal or bigger. Since velocity is not going to be there with ultra short barrels you need KO power of a large diameter to knock them off their feet. Look at what them 30-30's and bigger been doing for the last 150 years. I've always liked the idea of having a rifle in .41 rem mag. flatter trajectory than a 44 mag and upwards of 1700 fps out of a 20" barrel with a 265 grain Elmer Keith flat nose and 1700 ft/lbs muzzle energy would put the hurt on a big hog or grizzly. Of course it's not long range but then neither am I

[gatorgrizz27]

Would like a lazor out to 300-400yds

Everything drops enough past 300 that you need to at the very least estimate range and use a hold over. If you’ve got a rangefinder and a scope where you can dial drop on the turret, it’s a non-issue.

Even a .257 Weatherby zeroed at 250 drops almost a foot at 400.

[TheWidowMaker]

My reload for my 20" 308 is equivalent to the energy of a 30-06. I've never had a whitetail take one step after being hit. How much more of a hammer you need?

Sent from my SM-N960U using Tapatalk

[Thetoe]

Check out .338 federal. Should be right up your alley.

[duckhunter175]

Not many standard SA cartridges in a 20" barrel are really going to fill the 'Laser' category, which in my mind is getting into the 3100 fps+ realm.

I think the 22cm and 6cm will probably be the only two that really fit that niche.

A 22cm with a 20" barrel shooting 75-80ELDMs would be pretty awesome. And you could bump to a LRX or Hammer mono for slightly larger critters.

The 6cm gives a lot of flexibility too 87gr Vmax on up to 115 class bullets

[RMW]

Not many standard SA cartridges in a 20" barrel are really going to fill the 'Laser' category, which in my mind is getting into the 3100 fps+ realm.

I think the 22cm and 6cm will probably be the only two that really fit that niche.

A 22cm with a 20" barrel shooting 75-80ELDMs would be pretty awesome. And you could bump to a LRX or Hammer mono for slightly larger critters.

The 6cm gives a lot of flexibility too 87gr Vmax on up to 115 class bullets

Wouldn’t want to shoot ST whitetails with anything less than 115s, would like something 3000fps+ 150grains

Nailgi and big exotics on the list also