Short Action vs Long Action

[Chiller]

I am looking at building a 6.5cm and a fully realize that it will work with a short action. In talking with the potential action maker he is a strong advocate for the long action in that the angle that the cartridge is brought up into the barrel is a shallower angle. There is the secondary benefit that I would be able to run the gambit of long action cartridges .300win, 30-06, etc. I have done limited research on the long action cartridges. I am just curious to hear others thoughts on the reason and rational.

As always your help is appreciated.

 

[HillbillyfromAL]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

The Army's M24 would be a good example of that for ya. I've heard of a few units that are rebarreling/modifying from 308 to 300 win mag for the extra range. That would be a good reason if you think you would go that route.

 

[rak187]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

I'm currently having the same cartridge made up. I went to a local shop that builds the actions that I use, I tried both the long and short actions out, the long action was a lot smoother feeding than the short action. In the short action the cartridge seemed to get hung up once in awhile do to the OAL of the round. Needless to say I got it in the long action and most likely will be getting a switch barrel for a .300wm or .300wsm. I think you'll be happier overall with a long action because you can chamber almost anything.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

Are you guys planning on getting an extra bolt headspaced for the switch barrel?

 

[gugubica]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

What scout is alluding to is that you can not run Maginum cases on 308 bolt faces, so you would need another bolt if you switched calibers to 300wm etc.

I question whether or not it would make much difference in feeding. Either way the bullet stays in the mag until it hits the feed ramp. I never played with it though, so I could be wrong.

 

[Hummer]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

I have to agree the long action is the way to go especially on a Rem as is done in the M24. Being able to convert to 30.06 or a maggie is always an option down the road.
Last one I built I got a LA 700 and it was a 06. Pulled the sporter barrel off and chambered a 22" stainless Pacnor on and chambered for 308 and set it in Choate Ultra Varmint stock.
The Choate Ultra varmint is a extremely sturdy mounting option with long aluminum sleeve and has a rail on front for handstop/bipod etc. The barrel channel is nice and room to allow air around barrel. If you are hard to fit a stock to (like me) you can change the length of pull by removing spacers at buttplate. If you have full size gorde you can remove cheek pieces. As well it has a factory monopod in the back area of the stock. You will need to cut the bottom of the mag well off about 1/4" to have it fit the shelf on the Choate and you are good to go. I figured I could not beat a lifetime warranty and there are other things to help like the big opening in the buttstock which allows for passing it to someone high up, hanging on hook etc. I have four of the Choate Varmints now and like them.

 

[Rob01]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

Get a short action if you plan on using the 6.5 Creedmoor. There is no problem with feeding from a short action.

If you plan on doing a switch barrel with a magnum and two bolts then that might be the only way I would say get a long action but you might run into more feeding problems without a internal magazine spacer for the short action and a DBM probably wouldn't work as the 6.5 Creedmoor would be swimming in the magnum magazine.

 

[Onemoretime]

Re: Short Action vs Long Action

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Rob01</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Get a short action if you plan on using the 6.5 Creedmoor. There is no problem with feeding from a short action.

If you plan on doing a switch barrel with a magnum and two bolts then that might be the only way I would say get a long action but you might run into more feeding problems without a internal magazine spacer for the short action and a DBM probably wouldn't work as the 6.5 Creedmoor would be swimming in the magnum magazine. </div></div>

What's the longest you could possibly load a 6.5 Creedmoor? With the bigger bullets you can load a .308 out to 3 inches. That's not so bad in a long action.