short barrel varmint build

[holy cow]

I am going to do a varmint build and want to do a very short barrel for something different. I am hoping to get input from you fellows and hear your opinions and thoughts as to what you like and why you would choose that caliber for a short barreled build. I will give you the details on what i am wanting to do and build on. First off it will be built off a Remington short action RB RP and have a Shilen hunter trigger. The stock will be Tom Manners new EH4 stock that will have his molded in camo and his new minni chassis that is setup to be used with a BDL type setup. I am looking at a max overall length of barrel between 17 and 18 inches in a medium to heavy sporter contour barrel that i am going to order from Bartlein when i figure out the caliber. Being that it will be a BDL setup i will want the cartridge to be 1 that will feed reliable in a BDL setup. I also want to stick to the 22 to 6mm caliber range. I am not interested in shooting very lite bullets in either caliber and also not interested in shooting the extreme heavy bullets. So....... if you where to do a build like this what caliber would you use. I have thought of doing a AI type cartridge but being such a short barrel not sure if the benefit would be their to justify it and will it feed well in a BDL setup? All AI,s i have done have been on single shot actions.

Thanks for any input and advise givin,
Dan

 

[GLB]

Re: short barrel varmint build

I like that idea. I did something similar for a do all hunting rifle in a 7mm08 with a 20" Krieger #4 barrel. It's beded in a B&C stock with a 2.5x10 NF scope. I plan to do another one with a #5 barrel at 18"

 

[gebhardt02]

Re: short barrel varmint build

The first question that comes to my mind is what type of varmints and do you save the pelts? If you are saving pelts, then I'd recommend a 22 cal of some sort with the lighter weight bullets. If you don't care about pelts and need the distance, I'd be recommending something along the lines of a .243 Win or .243 AI, but that cartridge is almost requiring a minimum barrel length of 22" for efficiency.

I like your idea of sticking with a BDL though, much simpler.

Geb

 

[pyplynr]

Re: short barrel varmint build

I'm building a 18" 6.5x47 with a light varmint contour. Should have it finished in a week or so hopefully.

 

[Ghogs Nightmare]

Re: short barrel varmint build

243AI
.

http://www.6mmbr.com/243Win.html <tried hot linking wouldnt work
.
OR you could just do a standard 243 and get a slightly faster twist bbl.

 

[holy cow]

Re: short barrel varmint build

Well, i do like some of the larger calibers BUT i do not hunt deer or larger game. The intentions is to have a nice compact rig to slip around through the woods in and out fields and to pack for hiking some distance. As for a 6mm i would not want to shoot anything liter than a 87 amax or anything heavier than the 105ish range. The 22 cal. not sure but not interested in shooting the 50gr. and under bullets. I have thought of a 6.5cal. but if i went that route i would think i would need a break for it. I have not really screwed around with breaks in my builds and do not know what works best. I am looking for something that will be efficiant in the barrel length i am looking to do.

 

[holy cow]

Re: short barrel varmint build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: gebhardt02</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The first question that comes to my mind is what type of varmints and do you save the pelts? If you are saving pelts, then I'd recommend a 22 cal of some sort with the lighter weight bullets. If you don't care about pelts and need the distance, I'd be recommending something along the lines of a .243 Win or .243 AI, but that cartridge is almost requiring a minimum barrel length of 22" for efficiency.

I like your idea of sticking with a BDL though, much simpler.

Geb</div></div>

Well....I don't save pelts and just whacking any varmint that needs it.

 

[bmarc69]

Re: short barrel varmint build

Why not a .223? It will work fine with 69-77 grain bullets in a 16" barrel. Will feed well and is plenty for varmints.

 

[Dantrom]

Re: short barrel varmint build

I'd like to build a 6.8spc short barrel (16") bolt gun for varmints and deer.
From what I read you get great performance out of the short builds with this caliber.

 

[CrazyDonkey]

Re: short barrel varmint build

Go .223 with a 16" barrel and call it a day.

 

[sr15match]

Re: short barrel varmint build

I had Black Ops Precision put together a rifle for my wife. A R700 receiver, 223rem, 16.5" Brux 1-8" twist M24 contour tube, tuned & tweaked factory trigger and Badger M4 bottom metal all stuck in a McM A5.

If you aren't a hand loader then stick to maybe the 223rem but if you are planning to roll your own and like the 22cal selection maybe look at 223AI.

Here:

 

[The_FNG]

Re: short barrel varmint build

For something different, .220 Swift pushing 70 grainers.

 

[nobearsyet]

Re: short barrel varmint build

My suggestion is a 22-250.

 

[InkedIan]

Re: short barrel varmint build

No reason to get a big cartridge and a short barrel.. Very counterproductive.. I would get a very efficient cartridge like 22br or 17 fireball so you get the best velocity to barrel length ratio. Trust me they both will put down any varmint you point it at out to 500yds+/- if you do your part. Just my opinion.

 

[KYS]

Re: short barrel varmint build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: nobearsyet</div><div class="ubbcode-body">My suggestion is a 22-250. </div></div>

A 22-250 needs a 24" barrel at minimum to fling the heavies down range. Otherwise you are wasting your time with the cartridge. I have a build coming in 24" and did a gain twist barrel from Bartlein. Im looking to send the 75gr Amax at 3200 fps.

 

[Boltfluter]

Re: short barrel varmint build

My choice, as already stated, would be a .223 with an 8 twist. Will cycle like butter and a 75 A-max at about 2900 will knock the stuffing out of most any critter. This combo has drilled many a coyote for me over the years.

Regards,
Paul

 

[holy cow]

Re: short barrel varmint build

The BR is for sure out as i am not going to full with single loading it and this will be a BDL setup so far. I am thinking of 223. Barrel life is not an issue as i will not be punching paper. It will get setup and run some dopes on it. After that when the trigger gets pulled something is going down. Why not a 22-250 or 220 swift at a 17 or 18 inch barrel? What powder in these last 2 could be used and burnt up in a short barrel. Regardless of not being able to push some heavier bullets out as fast using a longer barrel it still has to have more on it than the 223.

Paul,
You have 2 beautiful looking dogs their. I will be calling you soon. I am having Moon build a couple for me and kicking around some things i would like to do.

 

[InkedIan]

Re: short barrel varmint build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Dan Tucker</div><div class="ubbcode-body">The BR is for sure out as i am not going to full with single loading it and this will be a BDL setup so far. I am thinking of 223. Barrel life is not an issue as i will not be punching paper. It will get setup and run some dopes on it. After that when the trigger gets pulled something is going down. Why not a 22-250 or 220 swift at a 17 or 18 inch barrel? What powder in these last 2 could be used and burnt up in a short barrel. Regardless of not being able to push some heavier bullets out as fast using a longer barrel it still has to have more on it than the 223.

Paul,
You have 2 beautiful looking dogs their. I will be calling you soon. I am having Moon build a couple for me and kicking around some things i would like to do. </div></div>

Before you count out the br it can be magazine fed reliably. Just ask Gary Eliseo(sp?) and 6mmbr.com. But if you're dead set against it the 223rem is hard to beat all round

 

[nashlaw]

Re: short barrel varmint build

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: CrazyDonkey</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go .223 with a 16" barrel and call it a day. </div></div>

Yes.

I have a factory .223 Remington that I chopped to 18" and it is .75 moa rifle out to 200 yards (not shot it any farther). No wildcatting involved and ammo is easy to come by. A very accurate combo has been Winchester white box with the bullet replaced with a 52g Sierra Match King.

 

[my human host]

Re: short barrel varmint build

You could also neck up either the 223 or 22-250 case to 6mm.
Both would make for an efficient round that feeds well.