SBR Bolt Action?

[juelz919]

Hopefully somehow randall ( spelling it right?) ends up here somehow.

My basic goal is to build the shortest handiest .308 possible. I am under the impression that bolt guns ARE still required to have 16 inch barrels and the overall length same as semi autos.

My idea now is to buy a rifle (probably whatever i can find cheapest, howa, 700 or savage) and chop it down to 16 inch barrel (or 14.5 and get a brake installed)

I don't need anything particularly fancy but i am wondering if i am missing anything or what i need to consider when starting this undertaking.

Will different barrel profiles suit this purpose better? Is this a dumb idea and i should just go with a 20 inch and shut up?

Any input would be appreciated

[ASD1]

Remington makes a 16" sps in 223 and 300 and 308

308 in a 14.5 will not shoot very well with full power loads

the 300 works well in a 14.5 as does the 223 (both would need a pin and welded comp to make it 16")

bolt guns only need to be 26" auto's are 30" in ca

That being said a 16" sps is about 36". The only way to get a 26" rifle is go to something like a Desert Tech with a 16" Barrel and you end up at about 26.5"

or Chassis with a folding stock but they end up a little longer then the DT

[vintagearms]

Shortest? Might go with a DTA rifle.

[TMB 1]

http://ruger.com/products/gunsiteScoutRifle/specSheets/6830.html

http://ruger.com/products/americanRifleRanch/specSheets/6970.html

[Shovel]

Any particular reason you are trying to get a bolt action so short? Range toy?

That being said, I wouldn't mind doing a short 223/5.56.

[MongooseV8]

TC Encore in 16-18" barrel is a great compact rifle.

[juelz919]

Remington makes a 16" sps in 223 and 300 and 308

308 in a 14.5 will not shoot very well with full power loads

the 300 works well in a 14.5 as does the 223 (both would need a pin and welded comp to make it 16")

bolt guns only need to be 26" auto's are 30" in ca

That being said a 16" sps is about 36". The only way to get a 26" rifle is go to something like a Desert Tech with a 16" Barrel and you end up at about 26.5"

or Chassis with a folding stock but they end up a little longer then the DT

I didn't know remington already had one. Time to start researching them! I really wanted to do a howa but I'll take what i can get

Shortest? Might go with a DTA rifle.

Unfortunatrly just barely outside of my price range

Any particular reason you are trying to get a bolt action so short? Range toy?

That being said, I wouldn't mind doing a short 223/5.56.

Yeah exactly. Just something new to fart around with and develop a load for.

Novelty and fun probably two pretty big factors on top of having a project once i finish my newest and hopefully last AR.

TC Encore in 16-18" barrel is a great compact rifle.

I have read good things about those little baddies. The encore is the break action yeah?

[Shovel]

I have a Mk 12 Mod 0. I think that it would be cool to have a similar barrel in a bolt action (18" and 1:7 twist). Maybe that might meet your criteria for this one.

The 14.5" sounds cool but I have shot barrels like that in ARs and they are not great. I have also been next to someone at the range with one. They are not pleasant to be around.

[MongooseV8]

I have read good things about those little baddies. The encore is the break action yeah?

Yes. $150-$350 gets you a new barrel and new caliber if you want to change it up without buying a whole nother rifle.

[Shakey]

Rifleshooter.com did something like this, they made a "pistol" to test barrel lengths from 14 to 6 inches for 223. Not sure if you can do that in CA. They also did a test of barrel length vs. velocity for 308 between 28 and 16.5 inches if you want to look at the velocities.

[ar15barrels]

My basic goal is to build the shortest handiest .308 possible.

My idea now is to buy a rifle (probably whatever i can find cheapest, howa, 700 or savage) and chop it down to 16 inch barrel (or 14.5 and get a brake installed)

I don't need anything particularly fancy but i am wondering if i am missing anything or what i need to consider when starting this undertaking.

No problem to shorten a bolt action to shorter than 16" and perm attach a muzzle device to make it reach 16".
I have even done this with Mosin Nagants.
No problem to shorten a HOWA for you.

If you loved in an SBR friendly state, you can go even shorter than 16".
A 10" barrelled 700 in 300 blackout with a can on it would be awesome.

[juelz919]

Rifleshooter.com did something like this, they made a "pistol" to test barrel lengths from 14 to 6 inches for 223. Not sure if you can do that in CA. They also did a test of barrel length vs. velocity for 308 between 28 and 16.5 inches if you want to look at the velocities.

I read something alot similar on another site. really interesting stuff. The most interesting part to me was that the original guy shot some of his best groups with (i believe) A 13.5 inch barrel out to 540yrds.

That is what got me started on this mission.

No problem to shorten a bolt action to shorter than 16" and perm attach a muzzle device to make it reach 16".
I have even done this with Mosin Nagants.
No problem to shorten a HOWA for you.

If you loved in an SBR friendly state, you can go even shorter than 16".
A 10" barrelled 700 in 300 blackout with a can on it would be awesome.

Should i look for a certain barrel contour? Or does it not make a difference. I know heavier the theory is heats up slower so stays accurate longer. Is there any cons to a heavy short barrel or a light short barrel?

[ar15barrels]

Should i look for a certain barrel contour? Or does it not make a difference. I know heavier the theory is heats up slower so stays accurate longer. Is there any cons to a heavy short barrel or a light short barrel?

I would go with a heavier barrel.
It will be stiff as hell and look really mean.
My vote is to shorten the barrel so that the threads are almost even with the end of the stock (about 14") and then perm attach a Noveske KX5 to it so the KX5 is just sticking out of the end of the barrel channel of the stock.

How awesome would it to be to have a short barrelled 308 (perfect pig gun) with an actual flaming pig on the muzzle?

[JMP]

Shortest? Might go with a DTA rifle.

That is true, a bullpup configuration will allow you to use the longest possible barrel with the least overall length. Folding stocks and bullpups start making sense with long barrels. A 26" OAL bullpup is generally going to outshoot a 26" OAL conventional bolt configuration since it'll fit a longer barrel and achieve higher velocities.

I see guys with the DT SRS with the regular barrel and it looks obscenely short.

[Shakey]

How awesome would it to be to have a short barrelled 308 (perfect pig gun) with an actual flaming pig on the muzzle?

I usually make fun of people who chose aesthetics over functionality but... flaming pig... on a pig gun. That would be so damn cool. I want one and I don't even hunt pigs.