Looking at building a short action magnum with somewhere around a 20" barrel for a hunting rifle. Will be suppressed, reason I want the short barrel. But looking at like a 7 SAUM or 7 SS, maybe a 30 cal? My initial thoughts are a 7 SAUM shooting 162-168gr bullets. Mainly for white tails. I do reload, not opposed to a wildcat but having the option of factory ammo is always nice to have in a pinch. Anyone have any experience with something like this? Any advice on what to do, what not to do? What about going shorter than 20"?
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Short barrel magnum cartridge rifle?
- Thread starter jda2631
- Start date
I’ll be honest, it seems like a strange combination of barrel length caliber and inteded use. Possibly a bit more info on the why the magnums and why that short of a barrel.
White tails inside of 300 yards could easily be handled by something like a 7mm-08 with a 20” barrel.
If it’s just a fun project that’s cool, only hope you anyone in a two mile radius has hearing protection, that will be one loud beast.
White tails inside of 300 yards could easily be handled by something like a 7mm-08 with a 20” barrel.
If it’s just a fun project that’s cool, only hope you anyone in a two mile radius has hearing protection, that will be one loud beast.
For noise, I said it would be suppressed. That's the whole reason for the short barrel in the first place. To keep overall length down.
As for the magnum, I like having the extra energy. I've killed many a deer that were shot in the vitals with 308 and 6.5 creed, but ran a good ways. I have an old winchester 300wsm that I've never had a deer take a step after being hit. I hunt in some thick thick areas, less tracking the better.
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You can do it. 20-25fps per inch you lose. So take what most guys here are getting for velocity and subtract ~100-150fps and you're there.
I guess my main question is whether or not you need to go to a short magnum. My 6.5 Creedmoor, for example, has a 21" barrel and I'm getting north of 2800fps with RL26 and 140gr bullets. So would I gain speed by going short mag (PRC, SAUM, etc.)? Yes. But we're talking like 200fps for 50% more powder and decreased barrel life.
As an aside, I think magnums on anything under elk-sized critters is overkill. Personally I'm confident 6.5cm, .308, .30-06 are more than enough until you get to moose and some of the African animals.
I guess my main question is whether or not you need to go to a short magnum. My 6.5 Creedmoor, for example, has a 21" barrel and I'm getting north of 2800fps with RL26 and 140gr bullets. So would I gain speed by going short mag (PRC, SAUM, etc.)? Yes. But we're talking like 200fps for 50% more powder and decreased barrel life.
As an aside, I think magnums on anything under elk-sized critters is overkill. Personally I'm confident 6.5cm, .308, .30-06 are more than enough until you get to moose and some of the African animals.
This gives me a naughty idea. .257 SAUM shooting that new 131 ACE bullet from Blackjack.
That would be a hell of a rifle. What's the word with that bullet on terminal performance?
can you post or PM me your load data for this? thinking about chopping my 25 SAUM down and need a good starting point for powder
3 elk, 5 mule deer (out to 630y) , a dozen or so whitetail (furthest shot was 860y) all these have been shot with a 25 creed or 25x47 running 2900-2930fps MV. All have fallen within a few yards of being shot with the 131 ACE. There have been zero reports of a wounded or lost animal. I have also killed several coyotes out to 300y with my 25 SAUM running a mild load @ 3175 fps.
Check our the Hunting and Fishing section. There’s a thread called ‘Hunting with the 25 Creedmoor’ he’s using Blackjacks
