someguy2800
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Best caliber for a 16" deer rifle
- Thread starter Balrog
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BreechFace
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I ran the numbers and a 10" 243Win with a 95gr Nosler and max charge of 47gr of Reloader 25 yielded 26,000psi muzzle pressure and 2,160 fps.
someguy2800
Member
I noticed something interesting. I was curious how much less a 6mm ARC would be compared to 243 using a random bullet, and also how much lower the velocity would be. Quickload predicts the exact same velocity lol
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someguy2800
Member
The pressure rise is so much slower that they end up with the same area under the curve. So I guess if the simulation is accurate there is a limit to the rule that the fastest cartridge in a long barrel will be the fastest cartridge in a short barrel. I have heard from quite a few people that they have been able to get faster velocities from 30 herrett than its parent 30/30 in 10-14" contender barrels.
Just out of curiosity what happens if you add 1/2" to the 243 since the longer OAL would effectively shorten the barrel.
P Flados
Member
I have been watching this thread and am a little surprised that a few had a general correct feel for the issue, but no one came up with what I thought was obvious from the start.
I ran some Quickload cases looking at velocity loss for going from say 22" to 16". The results were as I expected.
100 gr 243 Win: ~275 fps
150 gr 308 Win: ~200 fps
150 gr 30-30 Win: ~175 fps
165 gr 35 Rem: ~ 150 fps
200 gr 450 Bush: ~150 fps
165 gr 350L: ~100 fps
Bigger bullet diameter, smaller case capacities and higher allowed chamber pressure are the significant factors affecting velocity drop vs barrel length. The 350L seems to hit the sweet spot of the cartridges I tried. The same factors that reduce velocity loss also reduce muzzle pressures.
Muzzle pressure for the 350L is in the 4000 psi to 5000 psi range for the best loads in a 16" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 35 Rem is in the 6000 psi to 7000 psi range for the best loads in a 16" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 308 is in the 9000 psi to 10000 psi range for the best loads in a 22" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 243 is in the 12000 psi to 14000 psi range for the best loads in a 22" at the defaults settings I used.
I ran some Quickload cases looking at velocity loss for going from say 22" to 16". The results were as I expected.
100 gr 243 Win: ~275 fps
150 gr 308 Win: ~200 fps
150 gr 30-30 Win: ~175 fps
165 gr 35 Rem: ~ 150 fps
200 gr 450 Bush: ~150 fps
165 gr 350L: ~100 fps
Bigger bullet diameter, smaller case capacities and higher allowed chamber pressure are the significant factors affecting velocity drop vs barrel length. The 350L seems to hit the sweet spot of the cartridges I tried. The same factors that reduce velocity loss also reduce muzzle pressures.
Muzzle pressure for the 350L is in the 4000 psi to 5000 psi range for the best loads in a 16" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 35 Rem is in the 6000 psi to 7000 psi range for the best loads in a 16" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 308 is in the 9000 psi to 10000 psi range for the best loads in a 22" at the defaults settings I used.
Muzzle pressure for the 243 is in the 12000 psi to 14000 psi range for the best loads in a 22" at the defaults settings I used.
Gordon
Member
I have found 18-20" ..308 about optimal for general hunting or combat. 7.62x39 or .35 Remington works very well in 16- 18" barrels. .22-250,.243 .6.5 CM , .270, 30-06, .375H&H work great in 22"-24" barrels. Overbore Magnums like 24" up barrels tho exceptions like Winchester Short mags or really big bore stuff like .458 or .425 and some Nitro express can work very well at 20-22". This is just what I have found fooling with many hundreds of rifles in 60 years of use .
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horsemen61
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260 Remington
someguy2800
Member
If you continue the trend to even smaller and lower pressure rounds like pistol rounds and 22lr, it will eventually cross over to where a shorter barrel is faster than the long barrel because bore friction is slowing the bullet more than the pressure is accelerating it.
someguy2800
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It adds about 40-60 fps to the top 10 powders shown
Varminterror
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Why would you pick such a slow powder as RL26 for 100grn bullets in 243win? Super slow powder for the case and bullet choice.
brewer12345
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- Nov 29, 2015
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I found the velocity drop in 6.5 Grendel to be pretty modest. A handload with a 123 grain bullet that did 2400 FPS out of a 20 inch barrel did about 2300 out of a 16 inch barrel. Very modest muzzle blast out of both.
someguy2800
Member
Because that was the powder gave the fastest velocity in that barrel length. See post 28
T.R.
Member
44 MAG is always a good choice for a 16 inch barrel. - TR
Well that would give the 243 a little velocity advantage, but obviously it's well past the point of diminishing returns. More than 25% more powder for 2% more velocity.
Captains1911
Member
Don’t know the best, but my .308 Ruger GSR with a 16” barrel works well for me, and the deer sure don’t know the difference. I prefer the shorter barrel because with my suppressor it brings the overall length to just under 22”, and I’ve never shot a deer past 250 yards, so the minor velocity loss isn’t an issue.
The .350 Legend dose really well in shorter barrels.
Anchorite
Member
I’m hearing good things from hunters who are required to use it in their states.
rayatphonix
Member
Question: If I was to add a 6” suppressor to an 18” barrel, would I see a meaningful increase in velocity or does the suppressor ”absorb” the pressure and minimize velocity increases? Let’s assume I’m shooting a 308 win. I believe the answer is “no”.
It won't be meaningful
rayatphonix
Member
That’s what I figured.
45/30-06OKIE
Member
Dad and I are in the process of testing this out as part of our FFL/SOT actually. Haven't really gotten around to actually cataloging anything yet...
md7
Member
You may pick up some velocity via free bore boost, but it probably won’t be much. Pure guess…. 10 to 20 fps.
Remember, every barrel is a law unto itself. You’d need to chrono before and after suppression to really know for certain.
someguy2800
Member
I guess, but if the point of getting a 10” barrel is to get a short OAL then the most reasonable comparison would be to compare the length from the back of the action to the muzzle. A 243 will already have a half inch longer action so a 10.5” 243 will be 1” longer than a 10” 6mm arc or more in some actions. If we want to know what gets us the most out of the same total length we should be comparing a 10.5” arc to a 10” 243
Most people haven't heard about 7mm Valkyrie. Here's some info from their site for a 16" barrel.
If you have an AR-15 lower, you can put a 7mm Valkyrie upper on it. The round with was built hunting in mind and is extremely accurate.
16” Actual Data
110 TNT 2843
120 sierra 2804
130 Speer 2800
139 sst 2700
140 nosler bt 2600
If you have an AR-15 lower, you can put a 7mm Valkyrie upper on it. The round with was built hunting in mind and is extremely accurate.
16” Actual Data
110 TNT 2843
120 sierra 2804
130 Speer 2800
139 sst 2700
140 nosler bt 2600
About
7mm Valkyrie AR The 7mm Valkyrie AR is a wildcat hunting round being developed for the AR15. It is based on the 6.5x47 Lapua case with the shoulder pushed back to allow it to run in the ar15 at ...
www.7mmvalkyrie.com
