7mm 08 Shortest Barrel length??

[Monkey Spanker]

I'm currently looking at getting a lightweight compact 'woodland stalker' rifle built for small woodlands and high seats which I seem to be doing more of lately. I like the look of the 7mm 08 for this but I'm wondering just how short I can go with the barrel length? I've considered the RPA one which has only a 16" barrel but it is extremely heavy!
Could a 7mm 08 cope with a 16" barrel? It does seem rather short! I've read that this calibre is rather suited to shorter light weight rifles. Any thoughts or experiences welcomed!
MS

 

[Greener Jim]

Set your sights on pistol reloading data | Hodgdon Reloading

Still deer legal out of a 15". These loads will just be the rifle loads through a short barrel so you could gain some velocity by messing around with other powders more suited to the short barrel.

 

[Southern]

20 inches.
At that length, ithe drop off in velocity from 24 ionly about 100 fps. Beyond that, it drops off quickly.

Muzzle blast is not bad at 20 inches, in a bolt action or lever action.
Balance and handling are really nice with a standard weight barrel, just over 6 lbs.

I have a 20-inch Winchester Model 70 Compact and a Browning BLR.
The M70 wears a 1.75-5x22mm Burris. The BLR wears a 4x32 in QD rings over iron sights.
I also have a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08, with 2-7x35 Burris Ballistic Plex for full performance.
All three rifles weigh just under 7 lbs loaded, and shoot the same loads very well.

 

[Monkey Spanker]

20 inches.
At that length, ithe drop off in velocity from 24 ionly about 100 fps. Beyond that, it drops off quickly.

Muzzle blast is not bad at 20 inches, in a bolt action or lever action.
Balance and handling are really nice with a standard weight barrel, just over 6 lbs.

I have a 20-inch Winchester Model 70 Compact and a Browning BLR.
The M70 wears a 1.75-5x22mm Burris. The BLR wears a 4x32 in QD rings over iron sights.
I also have a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08, with 2-7x35 Burris Ballistic Plex for full performance.
All three rifles weigh just under 7 lbs loaded, and shoot the same loads very well.

I'm not too bothered about losing a bit of speed as it is for close work mainly and I'm sure there will still be sufficient to remain 'deer legal' in the UK and drop anything I'm likely to encounter.
Muzzle blast is also not so much an issue for us here as we have those moderator things which you across the pond cannot be trusted with! That always amazes me, how you can have as many big guns as you like, but you can't have a moderator??
I can always use a slightly faster powder too, but the downside of that will be more recoil, but with a moderator it will be fine I'm sure. Somebody must have a short one?
MS

 

[Muir]

I built a 14" handgun on a Remington XP-100 bolt action. The muzzle blast was pretty fierce, IIRC.~Muir

 

[Muir]

20 inches.
At that length, ithe drop off in velocity from 24 ionly about 100 fps. Beyond that, it drops off quickly.

Muzzle blast is not bad at 20 inches, in a bolt action or lever action.
Balance and handling are really nice with a standard weight barrel, just over 6 lbs.

I have a 20-inch Winchester Model 70 Compact and a Browning BLR.
The M70 wears a 1.75-5x22mm Burris. The BLR wears a 4x32 in QD rings over iron sights.
I also have a Tikka T3 Lite in 7mm-08, with 2-7x35 Burris Ballistic Plex for full performance.
All three rifles weigh just under 7 lbs loaded, and shoot the same loads very well.

Have you gotten out with that one recently??~Muir

 

[Southern]

Yes, I did take it out, and shot some more factory ammo through it, to check it out. It shot it all into sub MOA groups.

But i stepped on some snow on top of ice and fell and broke some ribs, so no rifle shooting for another month. The M70 and BLR are gorgeous and a joy to carry, but the Tikka is a joy to carry, shoots like crazy, and is perfect for navigating 45-degree slopes of timber and crossing streams rock to rock - a real workhorse. Next loads to test are the 154-gr Hornady SPT handloads. It loves the Remington 120-gr factory ammo and my 120-gr Nosler BT loads, giving about 2,950 fps with all holes touching - like a 25-06 in a small package.

 

[Muir]

Yes, I did take it out, and shot some more factory ammo through it, to check it out. It shot it all into sub MOA groups.

But i stepped on some snow on top of ice and fell and broke some ribs, so no rifle shooting for another month. The M70 and BLR are gorgeous and a joy to carry, but the Tikka is a joy to carry, shoots like crazy, and is perfect for navigating 45-degree slopes of timber and crossing streams rock to rock - a real workhorse. Next loads to test are the 154-gr Hornady SPT handloads. It loves the Remington 120-gr factory ammo and my 120-gr Nosler BT loads, giving about 2,950 fps with all holes touching - like a 25-06 in a small package.

Sorry to hear about the fall. Fractured ribs are a bi-ch. I am glad you got out with it some more. I am beginning to think mine is going to top my all time favorite hunting rifle. I also have gravitated to the 120's. Fast and hard hitting. The local Trading Post got in the full line of IMR's new "Enduron" powders and I was eyeballing IMR 4166 for the 7-08/120 grain combo as it is supposed to be a clone of Varget. Data shows it to be almost identical in charge weights and more importantly, pressures, giving equal velocities -but at $36.95 a pound I think I'll use up my existing six or seven pounds of proven Varget before I start down that path. (I shoot my 7mm-08 loads between 90F and -25 f. I don't see a lot of powder sensitivity using Varget.) Should Varget dry up completely, I may give it a look.~Muir

 

[Paul 600]

It looks like another excuse for another gun!

 

[jimmy milnes]

I asked the same question last year bud, some on hear pm'd me and one guy ''I'll leave him to get in touch should he wish'' sent photos of his with an 18in barrel, I've gone for 20in from the point of ignition so will probably show about 18in so depending on how you choose to measure, but it's not back yet so can't give any solid information on how it shoots sorry.
Regards
Jimmy

 

[Southern]

Sorry to hear about the fall. Fractured ribs are a bi-ch. I am glad you got out with it some more. I am beginning to think mine is going to top my all time favorite hunting rifle. I also have gravitated to the 120's. Fast and hard hitting. The local Trading Post got in the full line of IMR's new "Enduron" powders and I was eyeballing IMR 4166 for the 7-08/120 grain combo as it is supposed to be a clone of Varget. Data shows it to be almost identical in charge weights and more importantly, pressures, giving equal velocities -but at $36.95 a pound I think I'll use up my existing six or seven pounds of proven Varget before I start down that path. (I shoot my 7mm-08 loads between 90F and -25 f. I don't see a lot of powder sensitivity using Varget.) Should Varget dry up completely, I may give it a look.~Muir

I started loading the 120-gr Nosler in that Model 70 for my son, at 2,600 fps, because that was the only 120-gr bullet I could find at the time. I was afraid it would blow up if pushed hard. Well, it shot phenomenal groups. No else was trying this, so I called Nosler. The engineer said that since they knew yahoos would load it in the .280 and 7mm RM to insane speeds, they made it with a thicker jacket. Sw we shot a deer with it and it fell over like a .257 Roberts would do it. As my son got bigger, I stepped up the loads to the same as the Remington HP, 3,000 fps. The NBT just works marvelously. Of course, at longer range, over 200 yards, the Remmy HP and the Sierra don't blow up; they really drop a deer.

Varget and RL-15 work great. I have not seen any Enduron powders, but I have grabbed some AA powders, which are like Varget and 4350, so will work up some loads and save those. CFE-223 may be a powder to try with the 120s. It is working great in a friend's .308, and I am trying it in 8x57 as soon as I heal up.

 

[Muir]

You're almost making me sorry I passed up some Noslers at a reasonable price. I am getting itty-bitty groups from the 120 grain Sierras though so they aren't much missed.
Let me know how the CFE-223 works. I can get that in large quantities. I may break down and try the Enduron line. If I do, 4166 will be first up to bat. ~Muir

(I dunno though... The Varget Sierra combo is hard to beat. Two deer in the freezer with it...)

 

[scotch_egg]

I shoot a 19.5" barrel using 140gr Noslers at a shade over 2700fps. Of the barrel was not fluted it would be shorter.


But then I ask myself is there any need. I use muzzle mounted can and could change to a reflex design.


I have taken fox under the lamp at 300 yards and a fallow buck in rut at <15 yards. The combination is phenominal.

When stalking woodland I remove the mod. Realistically there isn't much hope for a second shot at an un-injured animal. The muzzle blast from 19.5" is perfectly manageable. I like the 140's for only reason I had them and they worked.

 

[Southern]

I began the 120-gr bullets with reduced loads of 37.0 gr of H-4895.
As I worked up in velocity to 40.0 and 41.0 gr, I also tried Varget and RL-15, and IMR-4350.
Right now, I am happy at 43.0 grains of Varget and RL-15, or 45.0 grains of 4350.

 

[Muir]

I began the 120-gr bullets with reduced loads of 37.0 gr of H-4895.
As I worked up in velocity to 40.0 and 41.0 gr, I also tried Varget and RL-15, and IMR-4350.
Right now, I am happy at 43.0 grains of Varget and RL-15, or 45.0 grains of 4350.

I think I'm at 42.5 Varget with the Sierras. I think I have some unused RL-15...~Muir

 

[Lateral]

I know it's a 308, but 16" barrel, 150g Pro Hunter.

According to QL, using 47.5g N540, 98.87% burn rate, 102.3% fill, "2700fps measured".

 

[robertw]

Have a look at the New Zealand shooting Forums, down here what you are talking about goes under the name "Bush Pig" there are good discussions on the make up of said firearm, most hunters here have a bush rifle and a long range rifle, we hunt in either jungle or mountains some times on the same outing.
www.nzhuntingandshooting.co.nz/
www.fishnhunt.co.nz/forum/YaBB.cgi

 

[pendle]

I'm currently looking at getting a lightweight compact 'woodland stalker' rifle built for small woodlands and high seats which I seem to be doing more of lately. I like the look of the 7mm 08 for this but I'm wondering just how short I can go with the barrel length? I've considered the RPA one which has only a 16" barrel but it is extremely heavy!
Could a 7mm 08 cope with a 16" barrel? It does seem rather short! I've read that this calibre is rather suited to shorter light weight rifles. Any thoughts or experiences welcomed!
MS

I am looking at doing the same with a 6.5x55. I have just bought a 6.5 barrel for my RWS Titan 6 . I want it short for woodland stalking . Approx 65 yds . So if useing the skan load instead of the swede load how short can i go with the barrel

 

[baguio]

When stalking woodland I remove the mod. Realistically there isn't much hope for a second shot at an un-injured animal.

What are you talking about? Clearly the fallow buck that I shot on Saturday hadn't heard of this theory? It walked into view to see why it's mate was twitching with a bullet between her eyes! Would it have done that if I was using an un-moderated rifle? I doubt it!
Baguio
PS You don't need another rifle MS of any calibre!

 

[geordieh]

I have a stainless synthetic Remington Model 7 in 243 it weighs in at 6.5 lbs without scope and moderator.If I wanted a bit more power I would be looking at a Model 7 compact in 7-08, 6.1 lbs with an 18 inch barrel and then fit a small 3-9x36 zeiss scope and lighteight ally mod good enough for anything in this country and light enough to carry all day