What SA caliber for 16-18” Barrel for hunting?

[evilsvt]

After sitting in a blind this weekend I quickly realized a 24” barrel with 8” suppressor is a huge no go.

Right now I have a 24” 6.5PRC, 22”
6PRC, 24” 300PRC, and 22” 300WM

I want something that can shoot flat enough for easy head shots at 200 for does and has enough ass for Axis / Audad if I have to make a body shot at 500.

Throwing around the idea of a straight 7mm-08 or maybe 7SS. Haven’t heard much about how a short 6.5PRC would do.

 

[Whhood]

My 16.5” 308 pushes 165 game changers at 2700 and only has about 30 rounds through it so it will probably speed up some. Plenty for what you’re looking to do.

 

[HaydenLane]

A short 6.5 PRC would be fine. You’d get similar ballistics to a 24-26” creed. Short and fast don’t go together unless you don’t care about barrel life. The 6PRC suggests you don’t.

Depending on bullet choice, a short 7mm-08 could be tough to get to 500 with enough velocity to reliably expand. A 6.5 PRC would do it with ease. If you want a 7mm, I’d go with one of the short mags.

I think you’re overthinking what you need to kill an animal at 500. I’m planning on an 18-20” 6GT for my next rifle, and would be comfortable on any NA game short of brown bears out past 500. Bullets, not headstamps.

 

[RHutch]

I have both a 308 and 6.5CM in 18” bolt guns.
155 Scenars in the 30 and 120NBT in the 6.5. Both are drills and both can accomplish what you are needing.
However, a short 7-08 would also be a sexy beast.

 

[samson7x]

I have a 20” 6.5prc that gets 3000fps with 140 bergers.

Could also just build a 16” or 18” 308 or 6.5 creed. That’s plenty for your stated task.

 

[acudaowner]

308 for cost 6.5creed could be fun it will be loud 300 winmag for the 4 ft fireball .

 

[Eagle1899]

I have a 30cal 1-8 16.5" Proof Carbon blank on the way. It is going to become a 300WSM with a Trash Panda on the end of it. Subs and PVA 178 Cayuga bullets will be the focus. Powder burner for sure but for a hunting a gun that will get shot much less than my comp guns I don't care.

 

[smacha538]

For your application, I’m grabbing a 16 inch three oh hate every time. 6.5 would be perfectly fine too. Just depends on what your preference is.

 

[evilsvt]

I have a 16” Fix in 308 and shot some 130TSX out of it, but just wanted something a bit faster.

I found a 22” 6.5x47 barrel I ended up with a while back and I’m going to chop it to 18” this week and see what kind of velocities I can get with a 110 hammer hunter.

 

[n2ishun]

308 is the most short barrel friendly caliber I know of for a short action.
It's either that or a 350 rem mag.....but you don't have that bolt face dooya ?