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Caliber Options: 18" Bolt Action for Hunting

AMG04

AMG04

Sergeant
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Full Member
Minuteman
Jan 26, 2012
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Fort Worth, TX
G'ents,

I would like some help brainstorming and deciding on a rifle caliber for my next rifle build. This rifle will be my go to hunting rifle for all seasons in Texas. I hunt year round from elevated blinds which makes using long, heavy guns a chore. A short compact rifle is much easier to maneuver while in the cramped quarters. I also want a short barreled platform to keep the overall length down when I use my suppressor.

Requirements for the cartridge:
- Moderate recoil
- Effective Range 250-300yds
- Burn all powder in 18" barrel
- Available components: Brass, Bullets, Dies

Potential Game:
- Medium: Deer, Hogs
- Small: Coyote, Bobcats, Raccoon, etc.

I was leaning towards calibers such as the 6.5 Grendel, 6.5x47 Lapua, 6mmBR, 7mmBR, 30 Rem AR (short, compact cases with moderate case volume). For the most part, these cartridges would allow all the powder to burn in the 18" barrel while also having a wide range of hunting bullets to choose from. What I do not know is how well some of these cartridges (or similar cartridges) work in a shorter barreled, bolt action platform.

Let the discussion begin...


Cheers,
 
For the same recipe I built 6.5x47L; I decided that it recoils too much for light gun, and built 6BRX. Both were single feed.

If you want a repeater I would go with 243win or 22-250 (that way you don't have to chase brass).
 
A Grendel would certainly work, but I'm curious if you'd have any feed issues given its shorter COAL. I'd probably just run a 260 or 6.5 Creedmoor (Though 6.5x47L would do the trick nicely as well), and with an 18" tube you could realistically see 2600ish with 140s and 2800ish with 123s.
 
Not to state the obvious, but good old vanilla .308 will do MUCH more than you're asking of it out of an 18" bolt action.

I know it's not a gee-whiz sexy new caliber, but the "shorty rifle" thread doesn't have hundreds of .308s in it by accident.
 
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Looks like your "hardest" targets will be the hogs. I'm running a factory Remington 700 AAC-SD in .300 blackout. 150gn pill at 1,855fps with the hand load (150gn hornady FMJBT, CCI small primer, reformed brass over 15gn of H110). There are some VERY good 125s available for hight velocities. The .30 caliber bullets will be king for availability and weights across the board. The rifle is easily shooting MOA out to 300. I did resotck it with a B&C medalist varmint and threw on a new bolt handle but other than that it's factory flesh. Certainly an option for you.
 
I agree with bogeybrown. It's not the coolest newest wind bucking cartridge but for 400 yards and less on game that's 350 lb or less and the goal is an 18" barrel and an easy to work with cartridge I don't think there is anything that can touch the old 308.
 
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Unlike prone, 18" 308 from a field stand will be very unpleasant - both recoil and muzzle blast. Smaller caliber/smaller case will reduce both - and the target wouldn't know any difference. (Simply going with 243 will reduce recoil by 40%).
 
Another good thing about the 308 is you can find ammo almost anywhere when in a pinch.
 
RyeDaddy, Bogeybrown,

I had certainly considered the 308 as I know it performs well in short barreled rifles, but how is the recoil? My wife will also be hunting with it and she is not a fan of recoil. For perspective, she enjoys shooting my 260 at steel, but has very moderate recoil due to its weight, roughly 13lbs. As MoBoost mentioned, even the 6.5x47 can have unpleasant recoil in a light/compact hunting rig.

Should have mentioned the wife "variable." They tend to complicate matters.


MoBoost,

I intend for this to be a lighter platform so the recoil you experienced replicates my concern. Could you provide more detail on your experience with the 6BRX? Bullet weight, velocity, general ballistics, effectiveness on game?
 
BoilerUP,

I have done some reading on the 6x45 in the past. I will need to take another look to refresh my memory. Do you have any first hand experience hunting with one? Does the 6x45 perform well with bullets heavier than what you would shoot in a 223 Rem, 75-85gr range for example?

I like this as an option as I have all the components necessary and the case capacity offers light recoil and very little muzzle blast. I view the 6mmBR as just the next step above this when dealing with heavier 6mm bullets (90+ range).

Would one of these offer more reliable feeding over the other?
 
My state allows hunting with any centerfire rifle cartridge, our woods are tight, a long shot is 100yds, I have the patience and skill to only take clean shots for a humane kill and 223 brings the death to blacktail. SHTF you say? 223/556 is everywhere, you should already have at least a thousand rounds or two in your closet, if you don't why are you spending money on a new rifle anyway? My second choice is .243.
 
I have also had good luck, and killed a lot of game with my 223. The platform I have is set up for practice/target shooting and is not easy to hunt with. It's has a 26 inch, 1-12 twist heavy profile barrel.

Great cartridge, wrong rifle.

I could certainly build an 18", 1-8 twist .223 that would work really well. This is why I was interested in the 6x45 and whether or not it offers any benefit over the .223. With some of my shots being beyond 250 yards the heavier bullets would be nice.

As I step through this thought process I find myself asking more questions...

If I run a 223 with heavy bullets will I regret not choosing the 6mm variant which provides same or great bullet weight while not eating up as much case capacity? Bullet BC may be a little less for same weight though.
If I go the 6mm route will I be kicking myself for not having enough case capacity?

This is really a balancing act between having enough rifle for clean kills, and keeping things moderate in both rifle size and felt recoil.
 
I have always thought a grendle or the necked down 6mm version would make a great 3-4 hundred yard deer gun in a bolt rifle loading out of a modified AICS. BC's and velocity in AR's make it about equal to a little better than most factory built 308's... might be worth a look. A 6mm-250 would be an easy to make cartridge and brass would be cheap as well. I'd say 223 but you would need to be very picky on your shots out that far.
 
My barrel will arrive tomorrow and then my Rem. Mod 7 is heading to the gunsmith to be turned into a .264 LBC(Grendel-ish). I was looking for the same thing as you only with a 20-22" barrel. I have dies and brass for the 6.5 x 47 but I don't need that big of a cartridge for Coyotes and Pigs.
 
I say for a 18" gun, .308 as well. You obviously plan to reload with the whiz bang cartridges you listed, so reloading a .308 would be easy as pie. Plus you can reload it light for the wife or buy the reduced recoil rounds. I disagree with the unbearable statement with a short .308. I have the Ruger GSR and it's not unpleasant at all-just keep a freaking brake off of it. If going 20-22", as mentioned, .243. I don't know how a .243 does with a short barrel? (as in 18')
 
AMG04 said:
RyeDaddy, Bogeybrown,

MoBoost,

I intend for this to be a lighter platform so the recoil you experienced replicates my concern. Could you provide more detail on your experience with the 6BRX? Bullet weight, velocity, general ballistics, effectiveness on game?
Click to expand...

6BRX - I am using Brux 22" barrel light barrel, 2930fps with 95 VLD Hunting and 33gn of Varget (don't mind the bipod, lol)
2v2f581.jpg

I am waiting for the can stamp - as soon as it gets here I will chop 4" off, and try to get the speeds up with more powder (case should be able to take another 1-1.5gns).

I took very nice buck when the same barrel was 6br and 100fps slower from 200 yards - neck shot destroyed the spine for DRT.

6ss6zn.jpg
 
I'll throw another option at you.... 6.5x55 and here is why.

I have one in a Win 70 featherweight that is very accurate (22in barrel if I recall correctly). It has very little muzzle blast and very low recoil with factory loads. Brass is very inexpensive and components are easy to find.

Since you are a reloader... The case capacity of this cartridge would also would give you the option to work up a "hotter" load if you wanted to.

My .02
 
Any of them will do fine. The smaller ones will kick less. .223 and .308 have better ammo availability. Fast twist .223 will amaze you.
 
Nowadays you can load up some pretty mild recoiling 308 rounds that will still kill well.

Think about the 110gr or 130gr Barnes TTSX, over a faster powder like RL7, Li'l Gun, 4227 or something along those lines.
 
I think a .308 as well. I wanted a rifle for similiar hunting use and grabbed a Ruger GSR which is perfect for the tasks I intend to use it for. A good friend of mine loads some 110gr Barnes TTSX in his hunting .308 so his two younger boys can shoot it, he took a nice stag recently and the TSX performed brilliantly.

 
300 yards and in on smaller animals, light weight, short barrel, low recoil?
I would go with a 300 Black Out.
 
student 86 said:
300 yards and in on smaller animals, light weight, short barrel, low recoil?
I would go with a 300 Black Out.
Click to expand...

Lots of suggestions for 300 BLK ....

Are you guys hunting deer inside the house or something? I mean, I understand the niche that 300 takes (namely 7.62x39 out of AR platform without changing parts. <-- yes that's a period). But to suggest it as a "hunting" cartridge is pretty far fetched. Yes it will work per se; but it is so far at the bottom of the available cartridges, you'd have to really go out of your way to come up with a rifle cartridge that is even marginally worse.
 
Another vote for the 6.5x55.

My wife loves shooting hers. She uses it for pretty much everything now from pronghorn to deer. Very successfully.

We load a 120 Swift A Frame for her and everything she's shot has fallen over DRT. Of course, she is a well practiced marksman and does hit what she aims at from field positions.

Light recoiling, easy to load for, great bullet selection and good brass availability.

Good medicine for your needs.
 
MoBoost said:
Lots of suggestions for 300 BLK ....

Are you guys hunting deer inside the house or something? I mean, I understand the niche that 300 takes (namely 7.62x39 out of AR platform without changing parts. <-- yes that's a period). But to suggest it as a "hunting" cartridge is pretty far fetched. Yes it will work per se; but it is so far at the bottom of the available cartridges, you'd have to really go out of your way to come up with a rifle cartridge that is even marginally worse.
Click to expand...


Hahahahah. This is so full of bad info I had to laugh. Back to the point. For what the op wants I would have recommended .223. BUT .223 is not legal for big game everywhere, hence the 300blk. Yes it was originally intended to be used in short barreled rifles with suppressors. BUT it is a great round for thin skinned game. I have a 300blk barrel on the way for my Defiance Deviant switch barrel for hunting smaller game like deer and pigs. Also very low recoil will make it my sons first big game caliber.

Advanced Armament Corp. » Taking a 350lb Black Bear with Blackout
 
Grab a CZ 527 in 7.62x39mm, Rebarrel in 6.5 Grendel.

I've thought over that for a long time as a possible option for a light little hiking rifle with a 2.5-10x32 NXS or maybe even iron sights. I believe there are a couple nice stock options, also.

All of the 6.5g load data is set up for AR's at 50,000psi. You could push it past that with a bolt gun and lapua brass and probably get some pretty decent performance even with a 16-18" barrel and 123gr class bullets. It has been done before over on the 65grendel forums and from what I remember, there were no issues with feeding from the 7.62x39 mags (5 rnd single stack).
 
student 86 said:
I have a 300blk barrel on the way for my Defiance Deviant switch barrel for hunting smaller game like deer and pigs. Also very low recoil will make it my sons first big game caliber.
Click to expand...

I see you are a fan, and there is nothing wrong with being one; just don't underestimate the limitations of the round, which are aplenty, and it's definitely not a "big game" cartridge.
 
7mm08

I have a 17" one and it drops everything in its tracks. Recoil is kinda heavy for the rifle but loaded with 140s it gets much better than the 168s.




300+lb hog, 315yds
 
Ledzep said:
Grab a CZ 527 in 7.62x39mm, Rebarrel in 6.5 Grendel.

I've thought over that for a long time as a possible option for a light little hiking rifle with a 2.5-10x32 NXS or maybe even iron sights. I believe there are a couple nice stock options, also.

All of the 6.5g load data is set up for AR's at 50,000psi. You could push it past that with a bolt gun and lapua brass and probably get some pretty decent performance even with a 16-18" barrel and 123gr class bullets. It has been done before over on the 65grendel forums and from what I remember, there were no issues with feeding from the 7.62x39 mags (5 rnd single stack).
Click to expand...

My choice would be a .308 with the 155s or even lighter for what you have in mind. Those Sierra varminters shoot waaay better than they should, but for some heavier game the 125 Speers would be the ticket if the 155s are too hard on the shooter.

I had forgotten about that little CZ. Very handy and capable. In a pinch you could pull the bullets from surplus ammo and replace with something more appropriate for hunting.
 
No question, a 6x47 Lapua. Just built a little 19" barreled one on an SPR action and a Win Coyote Outback laminate stock and its very sweet. Very handy, minimal recoil. Should do well for a walk-about rifle for coyote/deer.
 
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