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

evilsvt

Gunny Sergeant
Full Member
Minuteman
Aug 4, 2005
749
920
39
college station, TX
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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.
 
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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.