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16-18 inch shorty rifles
- Thread starter DrDeath
- Start date
It definitely barks. I absolutely love it though. Just need to try a can on it but worried about pressures at the muzzle. It’s obviously louder than my 26” 300 norma was but I think part of why people think shorties are so much louder is just because you’re closer to the muzzle
I ended up selling that rig because no matter what powders I tried it was literally the exact same performance wise as my 18” 6.5cm. I can’t exactly remember what velocities it shot but I want to say 2680 (give or take) with a 143 eldx
I’d have to double check to be positive. If I’m not mistaken hornady precision hunter factory loads shows 2850 on the box for a 24” test barrel. I’m handling though and I’m pretty damn sure I was getting 2680 out of my 18” 6.5
I just went and looked. According to my buddies chrono at the time I recorded 2661, 2656, 2677, 2645, 2688 with hornady brass, 143 eldx, and 42.5gr of h4350. And when I took that average and plugged it into my ballistic calculator it was damn near spot on. Factory loads shot 2540 out of the same gun. Whether you believe me or not that’s what I recorded. I’m not trying to lie to nobody lol
You probably won’t believe me when I say my 18” 300 Norma shoots a 225eldm at 2880 give or take either lol. Unknown munitions was there original owners of it too and they did the load development
It doesn't take much believing if you've played around with an 18" 6.5 CM. It's not hard to get those velocities with RL16 or Staball, not to mention RL26.
Was this with h1000? My 18” 7prc is doing 2620 with 180 hybrids and 67gr of h1000 in ADG brass. I haven’t worked up to pressure but I’m not sure another 100 fps is going to be in the cards. I was thinking about switching to Retumbo or N570
No rl26. N570 will likely be too slow in this case, but retumbo would work nicely..I’ve since stopped shooting hybrids and am shooting 169 hammers with h1000 at an easy 2810. I got 180 hybrids to 2800 with rl26 but started getting pretty heavy bolt lift at that point. Accuracy with h1000 has been much better but top end loads were 2700 with that combo
Also looking at notes 67g h1000, with 180 hybrids in adg brass have me 2650
Accuracy has been great. Velocity has just been lacking. It’s “enough” for what I’m looking to do but who doesn’t love a little extra. The Berger load data shows N570 as having the best velocity but their data is also based on a 26” barrel and (to my knowledge) not verified by them anyways
Yeah I believe they use quick load..case fill was probably 110% lol. Retumbo might buy ya a tiny bit more velocity but not much. N565 might be worth a go. Or rl23/26. I’ve settled on the 169 hammer hunters and h1000..this is a dedicated backpack rifle for me. If I want to shoot 180 bergers I’ll bring my 7 Saum, 22” barrel and shooting a light load of rl23 has em at 2750 and an absolute tack driver.
Didn’t want to burn an extra 10 grains of powder. 7prc seemed more efficient in a Tikka without crowding the powder column. The goal I set out for was 700 yards on mule deer and axis sized game, and 7prc fit the bill
Threw together this budget build as a backup/ loaner rifle for any of my buddies/ family that go out with me.
-factory rem700 .308 sps varmint cut down to 18" and threaded.
- krg bravo from here on the hide
- area419 hellfire from here
- area419 curved scope base (20moa)
- vortex high cantilever mount
- vortex crossfire 2 (4-12x50)
- TT special flat.
built it pretty cheap and just going to run whatever factory ammo works good for it. Will probably thread the bolt handle and throw a knob on it this week.
-factory rem700 .308 sps varmint cut down to 18" and threaded.
- krg bravo from here on the hide
- area419 hellfire from here
- area419 curved scope base (20moa)
- vortex high cantilever mount
- vortex crossfire 2 (4-12x50)
- TT special flat.
built it pretty cheap and just going to run whatever factory ammo works good for it. Will probably thread the bolt handle and throw a knob on it this week.
I spend a lot of time in a blind hunting hogs, so it was time for a dedicated rig.
Bighorn Origin
Shilen 16" 300 SAUM
XLR Evo Gen II
PA 1-6
Bighorn Origin
Shilen 16" 300 SAUM
XLR Evo Gen II
PA 1-6
Anyone running their shorty’s at PRS matches? Just curious what the feedback is. Does the shorter handling helps maneuverability noticeably? Recoil increased much?
Ive shot my 16" 223 at one, got a tac class trophy so its perfectly capable in the handicap class!
As far as shooting handling, I neve really noticed a real benefit to short other than it packs nicer to and from the range.
6.5 Creedmoor
18in Proof Research barrel
BAT BumbleBee short action
Manners EH4 stock
Trigger Tech Primary at 1.8lb
Hawkins Precision Hunter DBM
Trijicon Credo 2-10x32
7.5lbs as it sits.
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How slick is that BAT Bublebee action?
I built a more budget geared Rem700 using a Bugholes Bartlein bbl in 6.5 Creedmoor in a used Rem LTR police stock. Love it. But Ive begun to think the ideal rifle for me, if I could only have one, would be a similar rig but with a nicer action, maybe a BAT Bumblebee or Zermatt TL3 and a 16” bbl in 308 or 6.5 Creed (maybe even 223) with fast enough twist to handle sub-sonics.
I built a more budget geared Rem700 using a Bugholes Bartlein bbl in 6.5 Creedmoor in a used Rem LTR police stock. Love it. But Ive begun to think the ideal rifle for me, if I could only have one, would be a similar rig but with a nicer action, maybe a BAT Bumblebee or Zermatt TL3 and a 16” bbl in 308 or 6.5 Creed (maybe even 223) with fast enough twist to handle sub-sonics.
Like butter dude. I have BATs, Defiance, and Stiller actions. The BATs put them all to shame. It’s not even close. I shoot them all suppressed as well. With the BATs you have to pay attention to your bolt lube a little more…keep the lugs lubed. Tolerances are tight.
It's makes a big difference to do that, that white lithium grease bat sends with their actions is the shit.
That’s Milcomm TW25B. Works great on Garands and M1As as well.
Just put together a new one for night hunting coyotes. Will be swapping out to the thermal after I get the loads worked out and barrel broke in. Plan on running 65vmax's fast and flat. Initial loads look like Berger 108's will be about 2775 fps and Hornady 65 VMax's will be about 3650fps.
Bighorn Origin
MDT XRS
Timney 2 stage
18" 6 Creedmoor
Dead Air Nomad L
Burris XTRIII
Bighorn Origin
MDT XRS
Timney 2 stage
18" 6 Creedmoor
Dead Air Nomad L
Burris XTRIII
What kinda speeds are guys getting out of 18" 6.5 PRCs with a 140 class bullet? Love my 18" 6.5 Creed and have a few lopads that get me 2650 with 140 ELDMs (42.5 N160 or 42.0 H4350) but also have a magnum bolt and am kinda curious how much more speed I could get out of the same length PRC.
Current 18" 6.5 Creed. Nice and handy, 16.5lbs with the bipod. 140s going 2650.
I have a 20” 6.5 PRC with new Bartlein 7.5 twist barrel and get 2,948 with 58.3 N560 and a 140 elite hunter. Lapua new brass, Fed 210M.
58.0 was 2,937
Suspect you could get 2,850 to 2,900 in 18”
That's a sweet setup. I've never seen a 16.5lb rifle described as handy though.
Howa 1500 HB cut down from 20" to 16.5". Was my first "precision" rifle a bunch of years ago. Shot good out of the box in the factory stock and then I dropped it in the B&C and it shot really good. It loved Berger 185 Juggernauts and with the 20" barrel it would them in at 1000 on a 12" plate very consistently at 2535fps.
After I had it cut down I tried almost a dozen bullets in the 165-168gr range and couldn't find anything it really liked especially at mag length. Stumbled into the Berger 155.5 and it shoots them lights out.
It shoots them so good I shake my head at it being almost as accurate as rifles I have that cost north of three times as much and so much so I've got a much better optic on the way for it.
Haha, that's fair. I meant handy for a precision rifle. With the folder it fits in a nice compact case. I also really like 16lbs rifles, it's enough weight to make them quite easy to shoot well, spot trace, etc.
Just did a load work up on my Dads 20” X-Bolt in 6.5 PRC, 2815 with the 143gr ELD-X and 55.7gr N560 in Hornady Brass and a new barrel. I expect it to speed up once I get more rounds down it.
Finally glad to post in here!
18" 6.5 CM Sig Cross, 16.25" 6.5 CM Christensen Ridgeline in AI Chassis. Hoping to get some field pictures later this week as we get ready for rifle season next month.
Finally got one down to 18” pardon the shitty pics, it just arrived today.
Kelbly Nanook
Manners ProHunter
Brux 7 twist at 18”
Hawkins Hunter DBM and flush mag
TT Special
Will use my ultra 7 with it
Top Rifle
Zermatt Origin
PVA- Rock Creek 223 18" ( Also swap is out to a 16.5" 300BO )
Manners PRS1
Arken EP5
Sweet little deer blind rifle and packing for coyote.
Bottom Rifle
Zermatt Origin
Altus 6.5 Creed 18" ( Also swap it out with a 20" 308 PVA Rock Creek )
Manners T2 I think
Arken EP5
My go to night rifle for coyotes
CZ 457 22lr factory Manners to go with it all. Makes for 3 great rifles.
Zermatt Origin
PVA- Rock Creek 223 18" ( Also swap is out to a 16.5" 300BO )
Manners PRS1
Arken EP5
Sweet little deer blind rifle and packing for coyote.
Bottom Rifle
Zermatt Origin
Altus 6.5 Creed 18" ( Also swap it out with a 20" 308 PVA Rock Creek )
Manners T2 I think
Arken EP5
My go to night rifle for coyotes
CZ 457 22lr factory Manners to go with it all. Makes for 3 great rifles.
Different ammo, but similar speed.
I get 2400fps from a 12" shooting factory berger 140s.
Finished this up finally
T3x action
18" Bartlein rv 11.25t 5r ss in 308w
PR Precision Bolt w/tikka handle
Atlasworx bolt shroud
NXS 2.5-10x32 w vortex caps
30mm optilock low ringmounts
PSE Etac stock
Atlasworx aics dbm
1lb trigger spring
Amazon arca plate on fore end
9lbs on the money without the bipod
Haven't shot it yet, this weekend I will. Got the typical 168 smks loaded up with some varget in petersen srp brass with br4s. Gonna try some 155 scenars, 110vmax and 125 nbt eventually too. Pushed fast of course lol
T3x action
18" Bartlein rv 11.25t 5r ss in 308w
PR Precision Bolt w/tikka handle
Atlasworx bolt shroud
NXS 2.5-10x32 w vortex caps
30mm optilock low ringmounts
PSE Etac stock
Atlasworx aics dbm
1lb trigger spring
Amazon arca plate on fore end
9lbs on the money without the bipod
Haven't shot it yet, this weekend I will. Got the typical 168 smks loaded up with some varget in petersen srp brass with br4s. Gonna try some 155 scenars, 110vmax and 125 nbt eventually too. Pushed fast of course lol
Attachments
Who’s got a shorty 233 in a Bravo?
Im debating between a 18” vs 20” barrel for my 223 build. Got a RemVarmint Mullerworks here and 18” is sounding about ideal right now
Im debating between a 18” vs 20” barrel for my 223 build. Got a RemVarmint Mullerworks here and 18” is sounding about ideal right now
@TheBigCountry Not a great pic but 18” 223 remage. With a nomad L it’s shooting 69smks at about 2800 but that was a thrown together load until I switch to 75 eldms
My new budget build
18" Criterion, Lite Varmint
Savage Action
MDT XRS Stock
Arken EP5
Vortex medium rings
Harris bipod
18" Criterion, Lite Varmint
Savage Action
MDT XRS Stock
Arken EP5
Vortex medium rings
Harris bipod
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I've seems some bad Atlas knockoffs but that's got to be the worst.
is it not an atlas? it was a gift from a friend; he didn't know exactly where he got it from, but thought it was an atlas... so i've just run with it.
