Short Barrel Ranch Rifle Cartridge Choice

[Wiley2019]

I’m looking to rebarrel my old Tikka T3 243 into something to use as my ranch rifle/truck gun to keep in my rig daily. I’d like it to be as short as reasonably possible, and I’d like to use factory ammo just for the cost and convenience in a gun that will be abused and fired a lot. I’ve got a peak44 stock on the way and a Leupold VX3 that’s been waiting to be put on something. The cartridges I’m looking at as of now are 6CM, 25CM, 6.5CM and of course good old 308. Open to other chambering suggestions as well. Duties will include dispatching coyotes, feral hogs, and whitetail if the opportunity presents itself during season. Likely maximum range on live targets will be 400 yards just given the brush and topography of my place. I currently use a 22CM at 22” but I’d like it to be a few inches shorter for getting it out the truck window easily and quickly. I’d build another 22CM shorter but that’s boring. Rifle will be suppressed full time.

Yes I realize I’m giving up performance with factory ammo and a short barrel but this tool isn’t going to be about maximizing performance, it’s about easy handling and being capable enough to be useful. I know there’s plenty of posts about short barrels but I’m looking for experience specifically with factory ammunition. So who’s running factory ammo in a 16-20” rifle, what cartridge and muzzle velocities are you getting? Have you seen good kills on small to medium size game with your setup?

 

[Kwtaylor]

My truck guns are 308 Win, I can get ammo most anywhere. My 7.7 jap not so much.

 

[Old Man with Gun]

Going short, factory ammo and limited to 400yds, it is hard to beat a 308.

 

[Evlshnngns]

All great choices for what you are doing. Flip a coin

Chop and thread the 243 if it has life left in it. I love my light short 243, all the heavy 26"ers stay at the bench.

 

[DRAKENBURG]

The minimum barrel length to get 100% powder burn out of a 6.5CM is 21", and the smaller Creedmoor calibers like .25cal, 6mm and 22 cal will need longer barrels. If you want to go shorter than 21", the 308Win will be best if you want maximum energy on target and are okay with a bit of recoil. If you want low recoil and okay with less energy on target, then .223.

100% Powder burn in my opinion is the most under discussed topic in rifle shooting at the moment. If you are not burning 100% of the powder, you are just creating additional recoil for absolutely no benefit. At the same time you have lower accuracy potential and fouling up suppressors more than need be.

Companies are constantly following what the market wants, not needs. Hence the reason you see so many sub 24" magnum rifles out there.

 

[KYAggie]

I would go 18-20” 6.5 with a 120-130 grain bullet; hard to beat on those animals you listed. I have two 20” 6.5’s, one on a Solus action and the other a AR10. Both perform very well. I run Barnes 127 LRX’s and 129 ABLR’s through them.

 

[Wiley2019]

Perhaps 7-08 would be the happier middle of the road option, for a little more efficient burn than the 6.5 and save a touch of recoil over 308? Anyone have experience with one chopped short?

 

[Evlshnngns]

The minimum barrel length to get 100% powder burn out of a 6.5CM is 21", and the smaller Creedmoor calibers like .25cal, 6mm and 22 cal will need longer barrels. If you want to go shorter than 21", the 308Win will be best if you want maximum energy on target and are okay with a bit of recoil. If you want low recoil and okay with less energy on target, then .223.

100% Powder burn in my opinion is the most under discussed topic in rifle shooting at the moment. If you are not burning 100% of the powder, you are just creating additional recoil for absolutely no benefit. At the same time you have lower accuracy potential and fouling up suppressors more than need be.

Companies are constantly following what the market wants, not needs. Hence the reason you see so many sub 24" magnum rifles out there.

I agree, more blast and recoil is true as well as worse es/sd. Plenty of big name factory and custom guns are putting in work while not burning 100% in the barrel. The owners of said rifles could care less 2 or 5% escaped.

You DO gain velocity running a 6creed vs a 6BR at 16". At 400yd the es/sd won't be a problem. Unless it is subsonic they all have plenty of blast.

 

[Crossbow Hunter]

A CVS Scout would be hard to beat in 243 if you’re good with it being a single shot. Short and very handy.

 

[david walter]

I have a 18” T3 in 308, and opened the bottom to take a CTR bottom metal and mags in a sporter stock. My do it all gun.

I also have lightweight (23 oz) stock with the regular plastic and plastic mags if I have to carry it around a lot.

 

[Wiley2019]

I agree, more blast and recoil is true as well as worse es/sd. Plenty of big name factory and custom guns are putting in work while not burning 100% in the barrel. The owners of said rifles could care less 2 or 5% escaped.

You DO gain velocity running a 6creed vs a 6BR at 16". At 400yd the es/sd won't be a problem. Unless it is subsonic they all have plenty of blast.

Agreed fully, as I said in the original post I’m well aware that I’m giving up performance here. If I was trying to make the absolute best precision rifle, we wouldn’t be talking about short barrels. I’m just trying to knock down a hog or coyote as effectively as I can. In that particular situation, getting to the rifle out and on target quickly without having to navigate a long barrel and suppressor around obstacles in the vehicle, is more critical to success than getting ideal ES and sub 1/2moa groups. Some energy and precision lost is better than not getting the shot off at all, within reason of course. It’s not a rifle that’ll be used for matches or precious drawn tags. I just want the cartridge chosen to be as effective as possible, while fitting a size class that makes it as useful as possible in a very particular situation.

 

[Wiley2019]

I have a 18” T3 in 308, and opened the bottom to take a CTR bottom metal and mags in a sporter stock. My do it all gun.

I also have lightweight (23 oz) stock with the regular plastic and plastic mags if I have to carry it around a lot.

Do you know roughly your total weight in it’s lightweight configuration?

 

[Jack's Dad]

223 shooting 75gr bullets

 

[david walter]

I’ll weigh it today.

 

[John?]

I have an ancient 7x57 Mauser 20” barrel with iron sights. It does creditable work as a truck gun. Right at 7 pounds. 7-08 ought to perform similarly.

That said, my previous truck gun was a K-98 rebarreled in .308. Nothing wrong with an 18” 308 for deer, hogs, and coyotes while out riding fence lines.

 

[david walter]

This is my 20” 6.5 creed in the stock. I’ll pretty sure it’s a stocky’s. 7.5 lbs all up, and the scope and silencerco adapter weigh 1.5 lbs, so 6 lbs-ish for the rifle with Sportsmatch 30mm rings.

The 17-1/2” 308 has a Athlon 2-12, so the weight savings with the bigger bore and shorter barrel are offset by the additional scope weight.

With the can on (AB Warthog), it’s not unwieldy, and with the can off, the brake tames recoil.

 

[smcfarland]

20” 6.5 CM shooting factory Hornady 100 ELD VT has been amazing for me in a similar role. Over 50 pigs with it so far this year, up to 400lbs, and if hit above diaphragm they typically drop. Had one run 60m. A few deer and some coyotes with it as well. I’m getting 3100 fps out of my proof carbon barrel.

 

[Wiley2019]

This is my 20” 6.5 creed in the stock. I’ll pretty it’s a stocky’s. 7.5 lbs all up, and the scope and silencerco adapter weigh 1.5 lbs, so 6 lbs-ish for the rifle with Sportsmatch 30mm rings.

The 17-1/2” 308 has a Athlon 2-12, so the weight savings with the bigger bore and shorter barrel are offset by the additional scope weight.

With the can on (AB Warthog), it’s not unwieldy, and with the can off, the brake tames recoil.

View attachment 8717412
View attachment 8717416

Thanks for checking on that, it’s right around where I’m hoping to weigh in.

 

[david walter]

For reference, this is my 21” Barrett Fieldcraft 6.5 creed with that same scope.

 

[XP1K]

Is the 243 toast or is it just time for a change ? A 243 shooting something in the 70-85gr range really sounds pretty ideal for what you're doing.

For years a 22-250 shooting 55gr core-lokts was my daily truck/tractor/four wheeler rifle. Im on the 6mm kick now though ever since my foray into the 243AI. Toasted that one shooting 55's at 4k plus. There's a soon to be dasher barrel in my lathe right now. It'll be finished just shy of 22"
The plan for it is 70-95gr bullets at the moment.

A short 308 is pretty good all the way around. I had a 16" that I traded. Wish I had it back. My current 308 bolt gun is a 20"
With a can inside a truck it's a little unwieldy. A 7-08 finished at 18" shooting 120's would probably fit the bill nicely.

All that said given the choices you listed I'd go 6 creed. Decent factory offerings. I'd probably shoot the eld-vt.

 

[SkyScrapin]

Going short, factory ammo and limited to 400yds, it is hard to beat a 308.

This right here.

Have round the gantlet of shorties and the 308w gives best velocity and weight ratio. 155 hybrids are ideal to pick-up some speed, but still get best powder burn.

If you're not reloading, T308T.

 

[4O6shootist]

In your shoes I'd be shooting a 6cm. 80gr eld VT, 90gr tgk, 90 nosler ballistic tips. The 308 makes sense too, but there will be 2x as much recoil. I handload an 18in 6cm, 112 Barnes or 109 eldm at 2950 with rl26. I know eldm 108 factory was right around 2780 in that barrel. That bullet kills very well too.

 

[david walter]

The 125 ballistic tip inside of 400 yards in a 308 is easygoing and flat shooting.

 

[4O6shootist]

The 125 ballistic tip inside of 400 yards in a 308 is easygoing and flat shooting.

And explosive!

 

[AMG04]

I havent bought factory ammo in atleast 15 years, so i have no idea what manufactures offer in each, but my 16" 6CM and 14.5 308 with pinned keymo brake are great from the truck and box blinds.

130gr TTSX are solid options if you go the 308 route.

Quickload shows that 12-14 of the powders i have on hand are burning 98% on average in the 16 inch barrel. No, its not perfect, but its good enough.

As you mentioned, you understand the lack of efficiency and are willing to accept the tradeoffs.

(Coming from a guy that also runs a 16" 300 SAUM)

 

[kthomas]

I would go 18-20” 6.5 with a 120-130 grain bullet; hard to beat on those animals you listed. I have two 20” 6.5’s, one on a Solus action and the other a AR10. Both perform very well. I run Barnes 127 LRX’s and 129 ABLR’s through them.

This is the trick with shorter barrels.

I have an 18" 6.5 CM barrel, and 123 Scenars go ~2850 fps (reloaded). Factory Hornady 140's are about 2500 fps.

 

[Wiley2019]

I havent bought factory ammo in atleast 15 years, so i have no idea what manufactures offer in each, but my 16" 6CM and 14.5 308 with pinned keymo brake are great from the truck and box blinds.

130gr TTSX are solid options if you go the 308 route.

Quickload shows that 12-14 of the powders i have on hand are burning 98% on average in the 16 inch barrel. No, its not perfect, but its good enough.

As you mentioned, you understand the lack of efficiency and are willing to accept the tradeoffs.

(Coming from a guy that also runs a 16" 300 SAUM)

I run a 19” 300wsm so trust me I know sometimes the fade off is worth the extra BOOM

 

[Old Man with Gun]

There is some discussion about recoil. Why?
I can't imagine the recoil of anything mentioned being an issue for occasional shooting like the OP described.

Can you spot for yourself with some cartridges but not others? I wouldn't expect any light rifle to do well at that

 

[K80/6.5]

My 20in 6cm with factory 108 eldm is right at 2850 same as my dasher at 28in kinda nice have same dope out to 600 yards. Easier for me to remember. 6cm is hard to beat on all the animals you mentioned.