Compact rifle question

[e007dw]

I'm interested in buying a compact rifle before deer hunting season starts this Fall.

My questions are about barrel length and action.

It seems that most compact rifles use a 20" barrel. Ruger just came out with a compact rifle with a 16.5" barrel. I'm targeting the 7mm-08 caliber model. I've heard that any compact rifle with the shorter barrels suffer from lesser bullet velocity. I understand the reason why but is there going to be a significant velocity difference between a rifle with a 16.5" versus 20" barrel with the 7mm-08 cartridge? Comments? Suggestions?

The next question is regarding actions. I've already owned a Ruger rifle action and have not had any problems with them. One of the other models I'm looking at is the Winchester model 70 classic, compact. I've never owned a model 70 before. Any feedback?

Thanks for your feedback!

 

[Glamdring]

You will probably lose 150-250 fps going from 20 to 16" barrel.

Remember the numbers in ammo catalog are from 24" barrel usually. Probably lose 300-400 fps going from 24" to 16" barrel.

So a factory 140 @ 2800 fps in 24" barrel would probably do around 2400-2500 fps in a 16" gun.

Muzzle blast will also be worse.

Can I ask whay you want a real short rifle? Don't get me wrong I have a Steyr Scout, 19" barrel, but unless your carrying it in a vehical I don't know why you would want a 16" for hunting. With a 20" barrel you can use Federal's High Energy or Hornady's Light Magnum ammo (or full power handloads) to equal performance of regular ammo in 24" gun.

A single shot will give you shorter OAL without giving up barrel length. Have you looked at Ruger's No. 1?

 

[Glamdring]

Where in MN do you live? Where will you be hunting? I live about hour west of Twin Cites.

 

[e007dw]

Thanks for the feedback.

I want a compact rifle mainly for pushing through brush when overall rifle length becomes an issue. Also, I want to have a lightweight rifle because I often carry it all day.

I actually hunt deer in Western Wisconsin in Glenwood City. Lot's of hills and valleys. Great deer hunting but tough on the body.

 

[ChairborneRanger]

I have a T-26/Tanker Garand that I use for deer up in the U. P./Keweenaw of Michigan----short, compact, but a bit heavy sometimes----like carrying your own, personal, cannon!

 

[WYO]

I have been experimenting with loads for our son’s Rem. 700 Youth model in 7mm-08. It has a 20 inch barrel. Remington publishes its 140 gr. PSP Core Lokts as going 2860 fps out of a 24 inch barrel, and we’re getting 2716 fps, so we dropped 144 fps. I worked up some light loads for a 120 grain Speer bullet. The Speer manual shows a starting load of 40 grains of IMR 4064 pushing 2720 fps out of a 24 inch barreled Remington 700V, and we got 2502 fps using the same powder, new Winchester brass and CCI primers, and using the published COL. I bumped the load up a half grain and am still only getting 2562 fps (very consistent and accurate, BTW). I can’t imagine what chopping another 4 inches off the barrel would do.

You also can search THR and The Firing Line for posts by labgrade. He has 18.5†barreled Remington Model 7's in 7-08 and .308, and has written some about velocity loss in those barrel lengths.

You may want to consider a lightweight rifle with a longer barrel. There are a lot of light 7-08 rifles out there with barrels in 20-22†lengths. If you can get one handed maneuverability from the light rifle, it might make up for the longer length.

YMMV

 

[Art Eatman]

e007dw, in today's world it's harder to find a bad rifle than a good one. Very few centerfire bolt-action rifles won't shoot close to one MOA, regardless of brand or model. If there are functioning problems, there was a quality control problem and not an inherent design or manufacturing problem.

As near as I can tell, one's notions of aesthetics plus fit and feel and then cost are more important parameters than reliability and accuracy. Reliability and hunting accuracy can be pretty much taken for granted. Today's world, we're spoiled as to our expectations--and rightfully so.

 

[MolonLabe416]

I've done a bit of experimenting with bbl length btw 16.5 and 22 inches. I've found that the best comprimise is 20". You retain enough velocity to be effective at any pratical range while not suffering from the really severe blast of a 16.5" rifle. The 20" length seems to handle better as well. Although I admit it's subjective, I don't see a large improvement in portability between 16.5" and 20", but do appreciate the diff between 24", 22", and 20".

I'd recommend a Winchester Model 70 Featherweight in 308. Any of the .308 based cartridges will do as well - .260, 7/08, etc. I prefer the 308 because I shoot a lot and like to use surplus ammo for training.

I prefer the Model 70 because I prefer controlled round feeding. I prefer the Featherweight over the compact becuse the compact has a 4 round magazine while the Featherweight has the traditional 5 round magazine.

You can have any good gunsmith cut the bbl from 22" to 20" and recrown.

Jim Brockman at http://www.brockmansrifles.com/ does really good work building practical rifles.

Good luck.