What is the fascination with short barrels in the UK

[Neddle]

I have never had a rifle meet the “box” or table speeds. That’s what a chronograph is for. Or ballistic software and speed correction over two distances

There's manys a man takes those figures as gospel, I prefer to find out for myself with quickload and the chrono

 

[Ingy]

For me the benefit of a shorter barrel outweighs the reduced range capacity of the rifle. The vast majority of my deer are taken sub 200 metres and usually in or around woodland. Having a more manouvetable and quicker to point rifle will translate to more animals on the ground, it's as simple as that for me. If I want to take a longer shot I still can but maybe with some dialling involved. I dont need to kill out to 800 metres. So, for me the shorty is just more practical and makes more sense, nothing to do with any perceived fashion.
Ingy

 

[dropmdead]

I would suggest that barrel length, cartridges and expected use plays a big part in it.
300wm in a 16" barrel has its uses, but not many, but retrospectively, a 308 with similar barrel is certainly a better use of bullet/powder/cartridge combo.
For woodland, a short pointable barrel feels somewhat more at home, than a hillside use and cartridge.

 

[Ade8mm]

I have 26 1/5 " barrels on my 8mm double rifle. Its overall length is still less than my 20" barrel bolt action (without the moderator).
One might well ask with reference to the OP, What is the fascination with "longer" barrels?

Overall length is the key and for most UK stalking (highlands excepted) I think a lot of it is to do with "handiness", especially in woodland.

 

[Dorset Shakari]

I used to shoot a short 19 inch 6.5x55 which I never really liked as it felt too short

I now shoot a 7x64 with a 23 inch barrel and it’s great I’ve thought it’s a bit long even with a mod

Exactly the same here. I love my short Swede, but the 7x64 has the edge on versatility.

 

[NP435]

The yanks have some silly rules about rifles. Sub (I think) 16" is not allowed without paperwork. I may have got this wrong, because they love their AR15s which where designed around a 14" barrel, including gas ports, to shoot .223 or the Nato equivalent.

Whereas here, for .22 LR, 14" is about optimum, and for those who want to go shorter, 12" is the minimum.

A 16" .308 gives up very little to a much longer one. Hence things like the RPA Woodland Stalker,. Though in .243 it doesn't work, legally.

I've shot an RPA "stubby" .308 16" folding stock job out to 900 metres and it performed perfectly. Wish I could afford one.

We like our moderators (yanks can't have them without paperwork, taxes etc.), depending on design they add back a few inches.

Why carry a long rifle to no purpose ? Unless you think that a "magnum cartridge" is necessary to shoot anything hereabouts.

I may be wrong

but I think the original AR-15 was 20 inches, the 14.5 developed for specialized missions in southeast asia, revived later as the M-4 carbine. Thus began the work for a decent cartridge that actually had stopping power for service use hense the 77 grn otm. Later the 6.8 spc for specialized use. Under 16 inch barrels in the USA are defined as a short barrel rifle and tax and permits required(a real pain in the ass). Same with moderators or full auto. Many feel you need long barrels and magnum cartridges to shot pronghorn at extended range, My last one was at 30 yards with a 7x57 Ruger no1 RSI 20 inch barrel, my longest was at 300 with a 270 Ruger no1 26 inch. Carry and use what you like I prefer a longer barrel for most of the shooting I do. Nato spec 5.56 is much higher pressure than .223 thus the chamber throat was changed in service rifles to allow higher pressures.



































yes

 

[alberta boy]

The original Armalite AR15 / Colt 601 had a 20 inch barrel .

AB

 

[Kalahari]

Lot of four foot tall ladyboys stalking?

David.

 

[alberta boy]

Lot of four foot tall ladyboys stalking?

David.

I'm not sure of the laws in the UK , but I'm pretty sure it's illegal to stalk four foot tall ladyboys , and it's kinda mean , just saying .

AB

 

[pendle]

Lot of four foot tall ladyboys stalking?

David.

With me having short legs all my rifles are 20" then sound mod . I carry my rifles barrel down so as too leave a furrow so I can find my way out of the woods. I did start leaving a bread trail but the birds eat it all . . So Kalahari if you fall over a furrow in the Cwm area it was more than likely me years ago

 

[Bavarianbrit]

This surprised me, a shorty Bergara B13 single shot .308 and a biggish scope being used on a driven day. A cheap setup too.

 

[jthyttin]

And resulting in missed shot opportunities. Maybe Germans have some sentimental value in Kipplauf, although Bergara is quite agricultural compared to traditional design.

I don't think the scope is so different from what many people use, low end mag is 2.5x. But it does seem to sell for approx twice the value in the shop the hunter is advertising (looks like rebrand from LOW or something).

 

[scrumbag]

A beater / dog man had a similar set up which he slung over his back on a shoot I was on in Croatia last year. Was very handy and light but it would not be what I would choose if I didn't have to carry it a long way.

Scrummy

 

[Pkiernan]

This surprised me, a shorty Bergara B13 single shot .308 and a biggish scope being used on a driven day. A cheap setup too.

I learned a few years back only to shoot animals above me, never ones at the bottom of a ravine!

 

[Mauser243]

Not sure if I can give any insight as to why or if there actually is a fascination on short barrels and on reading through these posts and to break from the norm, i’ll be totally honest. My 243 I’ve had for at least 25years and haven’t got a clue what length it is. My 260 is the same I’m afraid no idea what length that is either. Both work and both are effective.

 

[smullery]

I been speaking to a mate in the States, in fact going through what calibres are available over here and whats on sale as I ma thinking of getting rid of my .270 and .243 and we come to the conclusion that Uk has a fetish for short barrels and how much muzzle velocity is lost by shortening them

Thoughts.

Stuzens all the way...........

Stan

 

[pendle]

A beater / dog man had a similar set up which he slung over his back on a shoot I was on in Croatia last year. Was very handy and light but it would not be what I would choose if I didn't have to carry it a long way.

Scrummy

More than likely a tracking rifle
Like the mauser trail or tracker rifle .

 

[alberta boy]

I don't think that the popularity of carbines is limited to the UK . They've always been popular here and in the states , they're just handy . I know I love mine .

AB

 

[scrumbag]

More than likely a tracking rifle
Like the mauser trail or tracker rifle .

Oh definitley a break barrel

 

[Doric]

I been speaking to a mate in the States, in fact going through what calibres are available over here and whats on sale as I ma thinking of getting rid of my .270 and .243 and we come to the conclusion that Uk has a fetish for short barrels and how much muzzle velocity is lost by shortening them

Thoughts.

Foxing from a truck perhaps!