Short Action vs Long Action rifles

[Rockrivr1]

Ok, I'm sure this has been covered before to death, but I couldn't find what I'm looking for while doing a search. I'm looking at getting my first bolt rifle and I have been looking at a couple of Savages. I've looked at the 110FP in long action and the 10FP in short action.

I've put together that it has to do with the amount of pull to eject the cartridge, but besides that is there any other differences? I'm assuming they both can use the same .308 ammo and the rifle characteristics seem to be the same as well.

If this purchase is just for punching holes, does one type beat out the other? If it does then could you explain why?

Thanks for the information.
Troy

 

[Steve Smith]

I'll try to list what I know, but I am sure I'll miss something so someone else will fill that gap.

A long action can accomodate all of the "long cartridges" as well as the .308 length "short" cartreges. The short cannot accomodate the .30-06 lenth and longer stuff. Advantage is to the short, IF you are shooting a short cartridge, due to faster and shorter bolt throw, less movement of your head off the stock, and less action flex. Disadvantage of the short is if you ever want to rebarrel it to a long cartridge.

 

[Edward429451]

They're making .308's in long and short action? Didn't realize that. A 308 is a short action cartridge. 30/06's and the like are long action cartridges, needing a longer action, ejection port, and bolt to cycle the longer cartridge. My guess is that if they're barreling 308's to long actions, is that they had more long action receivers laying around and needed to make up some 308's so put em together for sale. Could be wrong.

But if you're getting a 308, I'd get the short action for sure. As Murphy's law goes, the more that can go wrong will go wrong. With the longer bolt throw of a long action, there's more potential of a short stroke on cycling it, is the only downside I can think of. Maybe more chance of binding with the long action's greater travel, if that were to ever occur.

Didn't they create the 308 from the /06 just to get a shorter throw which would make the MG's more reliable while still aproxximating the ballistics of the /06? I think so.

 

[Omaha-BeenGlockin]

The short action is also stiffer(ie..better accuracy) and will recoil less due to the smaller shells being used.

It also makes for a lighter---handier(sp?) rifle.

 

[Rockrivr1]

Thanks for the information. I've been leaning towards getting the 10FP, but I was looking at a 110FP yesterday. That had a 3x10-40 scope, a Harris Bypod and a sling for $400. The 10FP was more then that without the assesories.

I was trying to decide if it was worth getting or to just hold off and get the 10FP.

 

[uglygun]

Edward429451, the 7.62x51mm Nato was an adaptation to the 308Winchester which was adopted by the military after the civilian market led the way first.

The 7.62Nato showed that it could deliver like 90% of the capabilities of the 30-06 with bullets in the 150grn weight range plus it was more compact. Compare a BAR 30-06 detachable magazine to that of a M14 308/7.62Nato detachable magazine.



As for 308Winchesters in long action rifles, there aren't a whole lot being done this way. The most common long action 308Winchesters are probably the Army M24-SWS sniper rifles built on Remington 700 long actions. Currently the M24s are 308Winchester but they were built on long actions so that if need be the guns could be easily adapted out to 300WinMag.

I'm not sure what type of goofy feeding problems might arise from trying to feed 308Win. from longer than typical actions, special followers possibly.

 

[Edward429451]

Interesting.

 

[AZRickD]

Savage had been making the long action receiver for the .308 for years.

I have a 10FP and I would bet that it is more likely to short-stroke the 10FP than the 110FP.

If you take the the bolt of the 110FP all the way back with your cheek on the stock you will come close to jamming your thumb in your eye.

Rick

 

[Kcustom45]

Tikka's new rifle the T3 is long action only, so short action cartridges like .308 and .22-250 are going to be put into long action guns. This was one of the main reason I went with the older style short action Tikka.

 

[Steve Smith]

FWIW, Savage only recently (4 years ago?) started making the short actions. They might have made them a long time ago, but I know that they had not made them in many years until recently.

 

[yzguy]

Also, when I was looking at savages and figuring out stuff about long vs short, I was told that Savages "short" action was more of a medium compared to other makers, but better than their long actions (which are very long apparently).