Which short action?

[kevins750]

Looking for some input from the calguns faithfuls

Howa action 308 bolt

500-1000 yards paper and steel

Target rifle only

Ackley is fine as long as it's just needs fire forming

Will be in oryx chassis/B&C medalist

Something other than 6.5C or 224V.

+++++Twist and barrel length of your preferred choice.++++

What say you?

[sigstroker]

6mm Creedmoor?

[Meety Peety]

6x47, 6br/a, 6cm, 6.5x47, not enough information given to prioritize one over the others. All will shoot well and are proven to 1000 and beyond. No idea how the shorty BR variants will feed in a Howa action, something to look into if you decide to go that route.

[JackEllis]

I'm partial to the .243 cartridge for the kind of target shooting you describe because a) I have one, b) you can easily find ammunition and cases for it, c) consequently it's relatively economical to shoot. The 6mm Remington has a bigger case and higher muzzle velocities but you'll probably have to reload for it and I'm not sure how easy it is to find cases or what it costs to reload.

[kevins750]

I knew I forgot some info.......

I have a custom .243 already.

I am really Interested in barrel lengths for given cartridge.
Do I want a 26 28 or 30" barrel on 6.5x55 or .260, 7'08, where does length hamper speed?

Feeding from a mag isn't a concern with this app, single or repeater is fine.

[Meety Peety]

I knew I forgot some info.......

I have a custom .243 already.

I am really Interested in barrel lengths for given cartridge.
Do I want a 26 28 or 30" barrel on 6.5x55 or .260, 7'08, where does length hamper speed?

Feeding from a mag isn't a concern with this app, single or repeater is fine.

I think you and I are on opposite ends of the priority spectrum so I will let someone else whose priorities are more in line with yours chime in.. but for the sake of curiosity and to help others help you, what is drawing you to 6.5x55, .260 and 7-08?

[MongooseV8]

260 or 7-08 Ackley with a 26-28" tube.

[kevins750]

I think you and I are on opposite ends of the priority spectrum so I will let someone else whose priorities are more in line with yours chime in.. but for the sake of curiosity and to help others help you, what is drawing you to 6.5x55, .260 and 7-08?

Those were just examples, I am not set on a chambering.

[kevins750]

260 or 7-08 Ackley with a 26-28" tube.

With the 08 Ackley would you throat for 162, 168 or 180's?

[sigstroker]

Would those fit well in a short action? It's probably like a 7mm SAUM - theoretically it fits, but to give the bullets some elbow room it works better in a long action.

[MongooseV8]

Prolly the 162 since you are likely going to run out of room with a 180ish.

[LynnJr]

Since it is a target rifle only I would opt for a 6 Dasher or 6-47 Lapua using a 0.236 diameter bore Bartlein barrel in 8 or 8.5 twist 28 inches long using Vapor Trail 103 or Bart's Bullets.
If I went 6 Dasher I would opt for a 0.268 neck diameter and a freebore of 0.104 to as long as 0.150 and reload using RE15 Lapua Brand brass and CCI 450 magnum primers.
That combo with a good rest should get you 3 inch groups at 600 yards and sub 5 inch groups at 1000 yards in decent conditions.
Occasionally it should produce a 1 inch group at 600 and a sub 4 inch group at a 1000 yards.
Brass is $100 and will outlast the barrel. A jug of powder will last 1700+ rounds and it will outshoot all your other choices.
And very light recoil.

[ar15barrels]

I am really Interested in barrel lengths for given cartridge.
Do I want a 26 28 or 30" barrel on 6.5x55 or .260, 7'08, where does length hamper speed?

Even 36" barrels do not hamper speed on cartridges burning at least 20-25 grains of powder.
Longer barrels give you more velocity or the same velocity as shorter barrels at lower pressures.

6mm creedmoor, 6br or even 6 dasher are easy ones in your 308 action.

[MongooseV8]

Ooh yeah a Dasher would be rad too.

[kevins750]

Since it is a target rifle only I would opt for a 6 Dasher or 6-47 Lapua using a 0.236 diameter 8 twist Bartlein barrel in 8 or 8.5 twist 28 inches long using Vapor Trail 103 or Bart's Bullets.
If I went 6 Dasher I would opt for a 0.268 neck diameter and a freebie of 0.104 to as long as 0.150 and reload using RE15 Lapua Brand brass and CCI 450 magnum primers.
That combo with a good rest should get you 3 inch groups at 600 yards and sub 5 inch groups at 1000 yards in decent conditions.
Occasionally it should produce a 1 inch group at 600 and a sub 4 inch group at a 1000 yards.
Brass is $100 and will outlast the barrel. A jug of powder will last 1700+ rounds and it will outshoot all your other choices.
And very light recoil.

Will this buck the wind that much better than my 243 with 107 smk/105 matchburners?