Barrel length??
- Thread starter Utectok
- Start date
308, which copes with a shot barrel very well and I reload.
Sorry I missed "1k gong" requirement, where a long barrel would be helpful. Personally I would say the OP is trying to achieve way too much with one rifle, they should have two rifles, one with a long barrel for 1k gongs and one with a short barrel for woodland stalking. At stalking ranges eeking out every last fps really isn't needed so chop away, but walking under trees, doorframes or the car boot with a 24 inch barrel and moderator really is grim.
I’d have put money on it being a .308. You have a calibre that is well known for working well with a short barrel, larger surface area for acceleration and less friction for the same bullet weight compared to a 6.5. The bigger bore also allows faster powders to be used without hitting pressure which again lends itself to a shorter barrel.
Because it works for you in .308 doesn’t make it good advice for people shooting smaller bores. .308 also runs at higher muzzle energy than the swede. As mentioned above you may find a 24” barrel grim, I don’t find it an issue at all, if in woodland carry muzzle down, getting in and out of the car shouldn’t be an issue for anyone with basic motor skills and most people don’t stalk out of doors.
1000 yards with a stalking rifle is fine, just put a 24” barrel on a 6.5 cartridge and you’re away…..
Last edited:
Yes that's why I chose the 308, but also why I liked using a chopped 6.5 (now sold) and keep the long 243 for foxing. I'll well aware of the ballistic arguments, but its all irrelevant for me given the enormous mental distraction when woodland stalking with a long barrel. I get it some people can manage, sorry I cant.
A 24” barrel and muzzle forward moderator would categorically not work for me in the woods. I’m 5’10 (well if measure standing on my left leg after a recent accident probably shorter on my right, I’m just hoping the surgeon has done his job when this cage comes off
)This is me with a 16” barrelled .308 and muzzle forward mod. Even then the dog head butts the mod from time to time and I have to be very careful walking up hill. Even carried behind me traditional style it’s very close to the ground. 24” would be a no go for me.
What we will find is that we need to compromise in the OP’s situation and pretty much every situation where it comes to using the one rifle for everything.
I have certainly been chasing unicorns when it comes to finding the one rifle/calibre to cover everything.
Would I really want an extra 4” of barrel for that 1000m play at gongs once a year? Nope.
1000m is a long way even with a rifle specifically setup to shoot that distance. It really isn’t a training aid to benefit stalkers. IMHO.
I have shot a few PRS events and the hit ratio at the extended ranges in these dynamic events, even with heavy rifles and long barrels is very low.
Now train below 600m which is still a long way and the ballistics between a cartridge out of a 20” and 24” barrel are very similar and it certainly won’t be the fault of the cartridge why you missed that all important shot.
Low pressure cartridges and long barrels are relics of the Stone Age and should be left in museums with spears, muskets and rifles with wooden stocks
Attachments
Couldn't agree more. If you reload you have more flexibility with a shorter barrel, for example a lighter bullets, different powder burn rates. This is not a calibre specific thing for me - if someone gave me a nice 6.5 swede tomorrow i'd say thank you and get it chopped.A 24” barrel and muzzle forward moderator would categorically not work for me in the woods. I’m 5’10 (well if measure standing on my left leg after a recent accident probably shorter on my right, I’m just hoping the surgeon has done his job when this cage comes off
This is me with a 16” barrelled .308 and muzzle forward mod. Even then the dog head butts the mod from time to time and I have to be very careful walking up hill. Even carried behind me traditional style it’s very close to the ground. 24” would be a no go for me.
What we will find is that we need to compromise in the OP’s situation and pretty much every situation where it comes to using the one rifle for everything.
I have certainly been chasing unicorns when it comes to finding the one rifle/calibre to cover everything.
Would I really want an extra 4” of barrel for that 1000m play at gongs once a year? Nope.
1000m is a long way even with a rifle specifically setup to shoot that distance. It really isn’t a training aid to benefit stalkers. IMHO.
I have shot a few PRS events and the hit ratio at the extended ranges in these dynamic events, even with heavy rifles and long barrels is very low.
Now train below 600m which is still a long way and the ballistics between a cartridge out of a 20” and 24” barrel are very similar and it certainly won’t be the fault of the cartridge why you missed that all important shot.
Low pressure cartridges and long barrels are relics of the Stone Age and should be left in museums with spears, muskets and rifles with wooden stocks
Weird as I’m 5’9” and it causes me no issues with an SL5 carrying muzzle down on the woods!!A 24” barrel and muzzle forward moderator would categorically not work for me in the woods. I’m 5’10 (well if measure standing on my left leg after a recent accident probably shorter on my right, I’m just hoping the surgeon has done his job when this cage comes off
This is me with a 16” barrelled .308 and muzzle forward mod. Even then the dog head butts the mod from time to time and I have to be very careful walking up hill. Even carried behind me traditional style it’s very close to the ground. 24” would be a no go for me.
What we will find is that we need to compromise in the OP’s situation and pretty much every situation where it comes to using the one rifle for everything.
I have certainly been chasing unicorns when it comes to finding the one rifle/calibre to cover everything.
Would I really want an extra 4” of barrel for that 1000m play at gongs once a year? Nope.
1000m is a long way even with a rifle specifically setup to shoot that distance. It really isn’t a training aid to benefit stalkers. IMHO.
I have shot a few PRS events and the hit ratio at the extended ranges in these dynamic events, even with heavy rifles and long barrels is very low.
Now train below 600m which is still a long way and the ballistics between a cartridge out of a 20” and 24” barrel are very similar and it certainly won’t be the fault of the cartridge why you missed that all important shot.
Low pressure cartridges and long barrels are relics of the Stone Age and should be left in museums with spears, muskets and rifles with wooden stocks
As for your last comment the whole thread is based around a low pressure cartridge so comparing it to modern cartridge barrel lengths is a bit pointless….
600 metres with an accurate rifle in a moderate wind or less isn’t a long way at all, particularly with a 6.5.
Last edited:
And lose a lot of performance, same as if you chop a .243 to 16” you won’t get it deer legal.
With the swede the lowest you’ll go is 100 gr and BC will be crap so stretching out to 1000 yards will not work well as they’ll get blown about in the wind.
Just because you can do it with .308 it doesn’t meant it will work with the swede. Plenty of people out there shooting .243 with 20” barrels that probably aren’t making deer legal. Smaller bore again means slower powders.
Last edited:
The other thing you are ignoring is the OP is hoping to use lead free so is probably targeting 3000 fps muzzle velocity or thereabouts, with your 18" barrel configuration it is limited to around 2800 fps with RS60, few powders are going to develop more muzzle velocity on this cartridge.
As I said in post #9, maybe consider a bigger gun then to achieve the ballistics you need for copper bullets in the barrel length you are willing to carry? Personally I'd rather poke my eye out than lug a 24 inch barrel rifle around with end of barrel moderator in Sitka Spruce, but if someone wants to do that I won't stop them.
Pete1774
Well-Known Member
badmolassesaccident
Well-Known Member
So having read the thread:
- Stalking
- 1k gongs
- Hasn’t bought it yet
The answer is a 308 with a 20 inch varmint barrel.
The weight is about the same as a 24” sporter barrel, but with a varmint barrel you won’t lose accuracy with heat when target shooting. 308 works well with shorter barrels. 308 works to 1000m, even with a 20” barrel. 308 will kill anything in Britain.
- Stalking
- 1k gongs
- Hasn’t bought it yet
The answer is a 308 with a 20 inch varmint barrel.
The weight is about the same as a 24” sporter barrel, but with a varmint barrel you won’t lose accuracy with heat when target shooting. 308 works well with shorter barrels. 308 works to 1000m, even with a 20” barrel. 308 will kill anything in Britain.
Utectok
Well-Known Member
Yep I’m hoping for slightly over 3000fps with a 6.5mm 114gn projectile using n555. I recognise this is a lot to do all with one gun but it’s all a bit of fun and I am sure there are lots of other ways it can be achieved (.270
) if I get bored of the barrel length I’ll chop a few inches off in the future. Incidentally I’m try for a light rifle hence not going for the .270 option.. everything is a compromise….
Stevie/P
Well-Known Member
I’ve been using 6.5x55 for years 3000fps is easily achievable with 120grn bullets.Yep I’m hoping for slightly over 3000fps with a 6.5mm 114gn projectile using n555. I recognise this is a lot to do all with one gun but it’s all a bit of fun and I am sure there are lots of other ways it can be achieved (.270
Incidentally I’m try for a light rifle hence not going for the .270 option.. everything is a compromise….
Nevertheless I’m now running a 270 Winchester with 130 grn bullets
I’m now a convert too the 270
It certainly puts deer down with authority
And too my surprise quit pleasant too shoot.
I did offer it for sale at £250 so glad it didn’t sell
Still the swede is also lovely to shoot and works well.
There’s no difference in weight from 270 rifle and 6.5x55 sporting rifles both of mine around 7.5lb un moderated
Bergara b14
Sako AV
What powder are you planning? I’m getting just shy with RL19.
Utectok
Well-Known Member
I’ve tested the available powders and find n555 is the fastest I’ve used
Video on t'internet somewhere of Lowlight shooting an 18" to 1000 no probs. Think it was a Galdius
Hi
MV 2000-2500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
MV 2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
MV 3000-3500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
MV 3500-4000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.
Best Regards
MV 2000-2500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
MV 2500-3000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
MV 3000-3500 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
MV 3500-4000 fps, the approximate change in MV per 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.
Best Regards
6.5 swede?
Similar threads
