16 inch barrel bolt action, which caliber?

[garyngwind]

will 16 inch barrel be too short for most caliber? i am thinking about getting a plain-jane Savage Axis and have a smith chop it down to 16 inch. Most caliber will benefit from a longer barrel, so how detrimental is a 16 inch? The caliber that got my interest is 22-250; If not I can go with 308, 223, or 243 win.
I reload so I can fiddle with the powder choice and amount of charge.

[edgerly779]

22-250 won't work well in 16" to much powder volume to develop velocity if use faster powder low barrel life. go 308 or 243 or 6.8 spc killer round I have a couple

[HAVOC5150]

Picking up a 16" .300 AAC Blk bolt gun next week. Uses converted .223 brass. I'm stoked.

[Dark Hunt]

It is to short to get optimal performance from most cartridges. You can make a 22.250 with a 16" barrel but you'd probably lose 300 - 400 fps. The cartridge has a low expansion ratio so it needs a longer barrel to make the pressure push longer on the bullet to get the velocity.

You may as well shoot a 223.

[Divernhunter]

Of the ones you list the 223 is the best choice.
Actually a better choice is a 257R. T/C told me that was the most best choice when I was looking at one for my Encore pistol in 15". The 308 is not a bad choice either.

[vintagearms]

What are you planning on doing with the rifle and what ranges?

[garyngwind]

What are you planning on doing with the rifle and what ranges?

not expecting too much out of it, as the obvious compromise i will make with a shorter barrel. It's for paper punching, if it could go longer range the better.
I already have a 6.5 creedmoor and a 223 bolt; since i am a lefty, i want a short barrel in left hand configuration, which leaves me not many options.

[JagerDog]

Ya...stay away from the overbored stuff like 22-250 with such a short barrel.

.223. 308, 7mm-08. Gonna be loud whichever.

[ElvenSoul]

.22LR

[JagerDog]

.22LR

True...IIRC the 22LR maximizes velocity with a barrel in that range. Longer barrels slow them down.

[dwalker]

6.5 Grendel in a 16" barrel is not bad. My buddy has a 13.5" SBR Grendel and its pretty solid performer.
6MMx45 or 6.5 PCC are other options that will shoot very well out of a 16" barrel.

[dwalker]

Just as an aside, if your looking for something "cool" and a thumper of a round try the .450 Bushmaster. At the ICA match a few weeks ago there was a Ruger American in .450 Bushmaster and its a heck of a round to thump steel with.

[shooter1975]

Just as an aside, if your looking for something "cool" and a thumper of a round try the .450 Bushmaster. At the ICA match a few weeks ago there was a Ruger American in .450 Bushmaster and its a heck of a round to thump steel with.

+1! just ordered one from Buds!!! Great bang for the buck.

https://www.budsgunshop.com/catalog/mobile/product/27181/ruger_16950_american_ranch_bolt_450_bushmaster_1612_3+1_synthetic_flat_dark_e

[garyngwind]

6.5 Grendel in a 16" barrel is not bad. My buddy has a 13.5" SBR Grendel and its pretty solid performer.
6MMx45 or 6.5 PCC are other options that will shoot very well out of a 16" barrel.

unfortunately not many caliber choices for a lefty, which is what i am trying to get. Might as well go for something weird. lefty, shorty.

[dwalker]

unfortunately not many caliber choices for a lefty, which is what i am trying to get. Might as well go for something weird. lefty, shorty.

Build what you need All you need is a lefty action then have Randall barrel it in the caliber of your choice.