Efficient Cartridges for Short Barreled Hunting Rifle?

More serious than my last 338 Lapua post; what about 300 Ham'r? It is not super common but is slowly gaining acceptance. It works well and is reasonably efficient in short 16-18 inch barrels. It is a very compact cartridge using the same case head overall length as 223 Rem. Bullets are easy to get as it uses standard mid to light weight .308 bullets. Recoil would be mild and yet it is proving fairly effective on hog and deer size critters. It was designed for the AR-15 platform but you should be able to turn just about any action chambered in 223 Rem to 300 Ham'r with a barrel change (and maybe some magazine work).

 

Pretty much a .30-30 automatic. What's not to like?

 

It misses them.
My guide said to expect 100yd shots and my shot was an estimated 400yds. I wasn't prepared for a 400yd shot on a trotting pig in the twilight using my guides back as a rest......
The next time I went...(different outfitter) we used night vision equipment and a rifle supplied by the guide.

 

Actually, x39 is the perfect sbr round. 12" ballisitcs & blast arent much different in a 16".

 

Just think of all the 3rd world denizens using AKs with barrels shorter than 16".

I know there is a huge difference in shooting my SKS vs the sharp crack of a Mini 14 in 223. 7.62x39 may not be a high velocity laser straight shooter, but it sure is a workhorse. Im also intrigued by its subsonic counterpart, the 9x39.

 

350 legend, 300 hammer, 30 AR, 6.8 SPC

 

35 Remington isn't a bad cartridge. a bit less recoil than 358 Win and works well.
I would also think the x39 would be a good choice as well and much more available than the other two.

 

A really short barreled rifle (16 inches) is going to bark, no matter what.

Have to go with Earl on this one. For a 'short' barrel - short being relative only - a round with greater expansion ratio is more 'efficient'. However, one is not limited to straight sided cases only. The idea of 'greater expansion ratio' is achieved by some combination of larger bore diameter or smaller cartridge capacity. At the lunatic fringe this could be a short barreled rifle in .38 Special. Probably not a winning idea.
On the other hand, some regular cartridges for rifles (any of the belted case suspects) will likely give healthy velocities, but at the expense of really loud report and muzzle blast.

I would consider handloaded rounds of 7.62x39mm (with heavier bullets) or .358 Winchester with heavy bullets.

 

Well put.

.357 Herrett would be the cool kids choice. Lol

.221 Fireball and 5.7 FN would be good choices except for ammo availability.

 

I've actually got a short barreled .308, which is what turned me on to the idea. Realistically, I'll probably just stick with it, it seems to pretty much be spot on for what I'm looking for.

 

Thank you for the agreement and actual thinking on the matter.
.357 Herrett, .221 Fireball and 5.7 FN would be quite efficient. But not very promising for hunting more than deer. Even then, one need be a patient hunter and an excellent shooter.

 

Bigger bore and smaller powder charge is gonna burn all its powder in a shorter barrel vs like a 300WM that will expell much of its energy as noise and flames out the end of a short barrel.

I wouldnt even consider using 221 or 5.7 on a deer unless my life depended on it. 357H will take one within a proper distance, say 150yds.

 

Despite knowing these guys exist who only focus on “efficiency,” I have to say I’ve never understood why so many guys get so caught up in this sentiment. Frankly, the powder is “burned” within the first few inches, only with residual pressure expanding thereafter - and why does a guy need to really care if “more” (cuz it ain’t “all” even in REALLY long barrels) potential energy is used? I’ve never ranked higher at a rifle match based on my powder burn efficiency, or killed any big game more quickly because of minimized muzzle blast.

The reality is simple: a bigger case behind the bullet will outrun a smaller case, even in short barrels. A 10” 300wsm is faster than a 10” 30-06, which is faster than a 10” 308. Despite popular internet speculation, there is no inflection point where the smaller cartridges start giving greater performance in shorter barrels.

 

I think we need to ask what the game, in what kind of setting, at what ranges the OP is looking for.

Certainly what would work for a short handy coyote rifle out in the desert, and a deer/hog brush gun or a bear stopper even, are going to warrant different suggestions.

I've been mentally piecing together a lightweight, short coyote rifle and am thinking a 14.5" P&W'd AR in 6ARC/6.5G might be the ticket.

But if I were to build a short carbine for deer back east, a 10" 350L/450BM would probably be what I was building.

It is hard to argue with a 16" 308win though. It's certainly a Jack-of-all-trades cartridge and doesn't give up as much as some others with the shorter pipe.

 

And there's always the .44 magnum.

 

I think I've heard of there being issues with the .44 in bolt actions, something to do with cycling issues. I know Ruger has been making the 44/77 for years now, so it can't be too bad.

 

1 vote for straightwall or a 35 Rem

 

I used a 77/44 on pigs.
It was a custom barrel with integral suppressor.
Ignore the old fat man....it is the best pic I have of the rifle.

 

Your 308 is pretty ideal for giving performance out of a shorter barrel.

When I look towards shorter barrels a larger caliber with heavy for caliber bullets makes more sense to me, making sure the bullets to be used are designed for the intended velocities for reliable expansion and performance.

A Ruger GSR in 450 Bushmaster with a 16" barrel would fit the bill very nicely, and if one has a suppressor there are great options for subsonic use.

One can also get the 450 Bushmaster in the Ruger American line but my preferences would be the GSR.

 

You're absolutely right.

If he's hunting deer or larger.

If he's varminting or predator hunting, a short, blasty 6mm (6creed or 243Win) will be better suited, even if it's less "efficient".

Although for varminting/predator hunting a 16" 223/6ARC/6.5G might be almost as effective, and much more pleasant.

 

A Remington Model 7 in 7 mm/08 would be ideal if you can find one. They are light and mine was very accurate.

 

Yes, I was assuming a lot with the intended game being hunted.

But for varmints a short barreled 308 pushing 110gr Vmax's will darn near split a coyote in two, or one can use 110gr FMJ's to the head if pelt damage is a concern. My suggestion on the 450 bushmaster is the energies and large entrance and exit hole produced. And a 425gr subsonic expanding bullet suppressed would be a real hoot to hunt with at ethical distances.

 

The 308win might absolutely be the best "middle ground" but I'll give an honorable mention to 7mm-08 as well.

But what's "best" for his intended use, is entirely dependent on whatever his intended use is.

Keeping with his original topic, I think 9x19 is probably the "most efficient short barrel cartridge" but won't be useful for a whole heck of alot.

 

I wasnt really referring to actual ballistics, merely the pressure built by different cartridges within a given barrel length. I would guess that a 300 WM is going to gain more velocity from the 16" to say 24" points in a barrel than a 7.62x39. Thus the 7.62x39 is more efficient in a shorter barrel because it utilizes a larger percentage of its pressure due to it having less pressure.

I agree fully that a 300WM will outrun a 7.62x39 out of a 10" barrel because there is a larger force pushing the bullet.