Gunsmithing .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

SPAK

SPAK

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Minuteman
    • Apr 3, 2009
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    U.S
    #1
    Hey guys, I will have a heavy barreled .30-06 action lying around in the next coming months. It's currently got a 22" barrel on it. I was thinking about cutting it back to 16.5" and re threading it to make it a short, dedicated subsonic rifle.

    Any one know of any reason why it wouldn't work with the short barrel? I know there are better calibers out there, but I've already got this lying around and I just need to find a stock for it.

    Thanks in advance.
     
    #3
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    No reason I can think of, but I do think the case capacity is greatly at odds with what's actually necessary. For the same bore and boltface diameters, something like the .30BR might be more appropriate as case capacity goes. Still probably plenty extra, but closer to the mark.
     
    #5
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    It's a 1-10 twist. I've loaded some with 208amax seated to .040" off the lands with 13.5gr of Trailboss in win cases and they shot about 1.5 moa at 100 yards in this very barreled action. I know the case is pretty large to try and get a good fill but it seems to work ok right now. I just wasn't sure how cutting the barrel back to 16.5" would affect it. I just don't want to go from 1.5Moa to shot gun groups
    smile.gif


    I was thinking about seating the bullet out longer and maybe it might allow me to put some extra powder in it to fill it better. Not sure which has the greater affect on velocity/pressure, seating depth or powder charge.
     
    #6
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 762frmafr</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I did the same thing....Kind of...you should be able to shoot 180 gamekings or 200-220 round noses just fine. All of the rounds in the video are supersonic, but with subs it is super quiet. Trailboss is your friend.

    http://www.snipershide.com/forum/ubbthreads.php?ubb=showflat&Number=2085390#Post2085390 </div></div>

    That is awesome! I'm gonna give it a go. It'll be a nice little truck gun...how's your accuracy with the reloads??
     
    #9
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: former naval person</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Groups won't be the problem if the twist is right. More noisy with the shorter barrel. </div></div>

    I had a Win Winlite(?) in '06. It had the McMillan stock and it was a shooter. I chopped the barrel to 20" and it ROARED! It was super light and kicked like a borrowed mule.
     
    #10
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    I'll probably keep the loads strictly sub sonic and if not they'd be really light for short range hunting. Probably in the 2200 fps range with 168gr bullets. I couldn't imagine shooting a full power load with a 16" barrel!
     
    #11
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    I just cut my20" 308 to16"and kind of regret it. It was real quiet at 20" with sub sonic (180gn rn with trail boss). Now it is to loud, before you could comfortably shoot it without ear protection, now it makes your ears ring!

    My twist is the stock 1-12 Remington sps and it shoots very well..
     
    #12
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sandbogg</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just cut my20" 308 to16"and kind of regret it. It was real quiet at 20" with sub sonic (180gn rn with trail boss). Now it is to loud, before you could comfortably shoot it without ear protection, now it makes your ears ring!

    My twist is the stock 1-12 Remington sps and it shoots very well.. </div></div>

    Is this with or without a suppressor attached?
     
    #13
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    If it's really going to be a dedicated sub rifle 1:8 would be better but if it'll see use with both subs and supers 1:10 will work well. I found the following at Engel Ballistic Research: "When utilizing subsonic ammunition there is another factor to take into consideration. The projectile not only has only (about) 1/3 of the forward velocity of standard ammunition in Rifle calibers, it also has 1/3 of the *rotational* velocity...think "RPM's". This makes for a less gyroscopically-stable projectile, so a faster rate of twist is indicated than by simply applying Greenhill alone. "

    It's a pretty good little essay, you may want to give it a gander: http://www.ebr-inc.net/articles_Greenhill_Formula.html
     
    #14
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    As I understand it, the rifle is a spare and sitting around. This is a budget project easily accomplished with a minimal amount of work on the actual gun, and as little money involved as possible.

    Therefore, my advice is based completely on the following:

    No new barrel
    No caliber change

    SO:

    With that barrel, which is most likely a 10tw as I understand that's what the majority (if not all) of the Rem 30-06's are, you can shoot RN subs up to about 200, maybe 220 depending on your local atmosphere.

    The 208 Amax may actually group better if you flip them backwards when seating and shoot them base first. They work great on animals that way too.

    Try about 14.0gr of TrailBoss under the 200-220 class bullets and work down from there.
     
    #15
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    bohem,

    That's it exactly! Spare heavy barrel'd action. As it is at 22" I've shot the 208 amax out of it sub sonic and get decent groups out of it. Just thinking about making it a dedicated sub sonic "fun" gun.
     
    #17
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    Frogman...2200fps is supersonic...your comment may just be a typo however. You'll need to launch below 1100 fps to stay below the sound barrier. And, that varies with temperature and altitude.
     
    #18
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Frogman77</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I'll probably keep the loads strictly sub sonic and if not they'd be really light for short range hunting. Probably in the 2200 fps range with 168gr bullets. I couldn't imagine shooting a full power load with a 16" barrel! </div></div>

    FNP,

    You're correct, I was referring to just what my purposes would be for this particular project which would be Short range plinking/hunting. Either with light bullets super sonic range, and/or sub sonic with the heavier 208 amax bullets.

    The accuracy I get right now with sub sonic 208 amax bullets right around 1050fps is plenty good enough up to 150 yards.
    However, out to 300yards I didn't get very good result(Although I really didn't spend a great deal of time developing an accurate subsonic load)
    ...hence the idea of using 168gr amax bullets with a light load for deer out to that distance...sorry for the confusion.
     
    #19
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rth1800</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Would not cost much to set the barrel back and rechamber to 30BR or 308. JMO </div></div>

    No, it wouldn't but I already reload for the .30-06 and have everything set up for it. It wouldn't hurt to have another caliber, but I like focusing my attention to reloading for just the one caliber. It's versatile enough for me to be able to load various bullets and still meet my objectives...all the while not getting too distracted trying to perfect two different calibers...maybe a little ocd
    smile.gif
     
    #20
    Re: .30-06 short barreled subsonic rifle

    <div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: rth1800</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Would not cost much to set the barrel back and rechamber to 30BR or 308. JMO </div></div>

    Would the 30BR feed realiably in a long action?
     
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