What is the fascination with short barrels in the UK
- Thread starter Tulloch
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I really like this and am doing a variation to get one for boar and woodland stalking. However, given that boar get a bit cross and not just upset like deer do, when you shoot at them, maybe a bolt action carbine is the better choice. A short barrelled Bergara in .308 is the goal. Any thoughts on your experiences with the Bergara B13. Ever needed a faster follow up shot?
308rws
Well-Known Member
Looks like something a Prepper or Poacher would carry
Regardless, thoughts on the Bergara B13 for use on boar are as follows. You'd need to know how long it takes you to reload a Bergara B13 and re-engage a moving target - remember it's a non ejector! Let's say, 7 seconds. I think that a healthy adult boar can charge at 7 metres per second. However, let's assume 3.5 metres per second for an 'injured' boar. So in your 7 seconds reload time the injured boar can travel 24.5 metres. Therefore, as long as you don't engage boar at ranges under 25 metres with a Bergara B13 you should be fine. Boar usually get cross when injured and in pain so if you only have one shot best to make it count.
jthyttin
Well-Known Member
7 meters per second is only 25 kilometers per hour. I'd say healthy boar can do double that. Quick glance at internet shows that top speed is quoted at 40-50km/h. Type of injure will affect the speed, but there's wounds that will not affect the charge speed. And you must also account for situation where you miss or you e.g. shoot piglet and the sow charges you. So forget the reload if boar is charging, you're scared sh*tless and it's much more productive to duck the charge, go around a tree or something.
Luckily the boar do not have a habit of charging when shot by lonely hunter. They more or less want to go where their nose is pointing, or other direction they interpret as safe. Of course that direction might be towards you, but it's rarely a charge per se and the boar won't keep haunting you if you just get out of it's way.
The follow-up shots are another matter, people tend to shoot boar too high and with e.g. glancing shot on spine you want to put another shot in as soon as possible. Or at least keep the beast on point for few minutes (if it instantly drops on your shot). Also tracking a wounded boar, like any other animal, you'd like to have more than one shot available in case it's just resting and not immobile (get it down before it decides to go another 100 yards or half a mile...)
Luckily the boar do not have a habit of charging when shot by lonely hunter. They more or less want to go where their nose is pointing, or other direction they interpret as safe. Of course that direction might be towards you, but it's rarely a charge per se and the boar won't keep haunting you if you just get out of it's way.
The follow-up shots are another matter, people tend to shoot boar too high and with e.g. glancing shot on spine you want to put another shot in as soon as possible. Or at least keep the beast on point for few minutes (if it instantly drops on your shot). Also tracking a wounded boar, like any other animal, you'd like to have more than one shot available in case it's just resting and not immobile (get it down before it decides to go another 100 yards or half a mile...)
Some of the time I can shoot from a vehicle. A rifle with a short barrel and preferably a short overall length is desirable. I also at times can walk over rough and steep terrain, so again a short and lightweight rifle is desirable.
I did at one time have a sendero with a 26" barrel, whilst it shot really well it was a pain to carry and use from a vehicle. Then sound moderators came on the scene. I got this rebarrelled from 25-06 to 6.5-284, a lighter profile, threaded and 24inch. My sako 270 has a 20 inch barrel and r8 has a 20 inch barrel with a oal of 36.5inches. All a bit handier. Yes bullet speed a wee bit slower but I dont notice that nor do the deer
I did at one time have a sendero with a 26" barrel, whilst it shot really well it was a pain to carry and use from a vehicle. Then sound moderators came on the scene. I got this rebarrelled from 25-06 to 6.5-284, a lighter profile, threaded and 24inch. My sako 270 has a 20 inch barrel and r8 has a 20 inch barrel with a oal of 36.5inches. All a bit handier. Yes bullet speed a wee bit slower but I dont notice that nor do the deer
Got some with short barrels and some with longer barrels. Most are still as they came from the factory, excepting a .308 which was shortened after being rebored to .358W. They all work just fine, go bang, make holes in targets, and kill tasty animals. None with moderators of course, as they remain illegal here, probably because they are so ugly as to be offensive to the eye, and no one would want to risk actually seeing one in the field. Aesthetics may come last, but they still count! ... jmho
Overlay
Well-Known Member
Always makes me chuckle on barrel lengths, the manufacturers go through significant testing of a calibre, barrel length, calibre, ammunition etc etc etc to get a near as perfect balance for the accurate rifle - we buy it cut a lump off the end and put a moderator on board which has hopefully got the correct thread cut for the mod, then get consumed over accuracy and shot power loss. 
ive got a Annie 22 hornet that’s shoots through the same hole at a 100 yds yep it has a long long barrel and it is a pain particularly in the truck, but would I have it cut down - not in a million years
it is how it was made and performs brilliantly without fault. - if it ain’t broke leave it be and enjoy the expertise of the gun maker
ive got a Annie 22 hornet that’s shoots through the same hole at a 100 yds yep it has a long long barrel and it is a pain particularly in the truck, but would I have it cut down - not in a million years
it is how it was made and performs brilliantly without fault. - if it ain’t broke leave it be and enjoy the expertise of the gun maker
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
scrumbag
Well-Known Member
When necessary... maybe
alberta boy
Well-Known Member
Back in the 80s and 90s, years worth of thought and discussion went into designing a .308 general purpose rifle that met certain specs on weight, length etc with the aim of taking down targets up to 400kg out to the limit of the shooter's visibility (realistically 300m). The result was the Steyr Scout. A 19" barrel - not heavy but sporter profile and fluted. Overall length of a meter (under 39"). Weight of 3kg (6.6lbs). This is a short, light rifle with an intermediate eye relief scope specifically designed for a particular purpose. Indeed, I would suggest many of today's short-barreled rifles have their origin in the Scout concept.
Having purchased one of the early Jeff Cooper .308 Scout packages 20 years ago, I have never had a problem with the execution of the concept and have used it in close forest/woodland on boar, thinner terrain on smaller deer and open countryside on red and sika. So it does what it says on the tin, because this is what it was designed to do.
For the first 20 years, it was not moderated and the quarry didn't notice. However, this year I gave in to temptation and just had a Wildcat mod put on it. No doubt Jeff Cooper will be turning in his grave! I look forward to getting out into the field with it to see how it compares when put to its intended use again.
In summary, define what you want to achieve and then look around at the options on the market to see what is available that meets your criteria.
Having purchased one of the early Jeff Cooper .308 Scout packages 20 years ago, I have never had a problem with the execution of the concept and have used it in close forest/woodland on boar, thinner terrain on smaller deer and open countryside on red and sika. So it does what it says on the tin, because this is what it was designed to do.
For the first 20 years, it was not moderated and the quarry didn't notice. However, this year I gave in to temptation and just had a Wildcat mod put on it. No doubt Jeff Cooper will be turning in his grave! I look forward to getting out into the field with it to see how it compares when put to its intended use again.
In summary, define what you want to achieve and then look around at the options on the market to see what is available that meets your criteria.
Neddle
Well-Known Member
Too many people over look this fact, same with reloading manuals, if your barrel length differs from that on test rifle your buggered
Sonicdmb73
Well-Known Member
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
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