Short, Fat Barrels Available?

[Salvo]

I have a model 16 in .243 with a 24" magnum contour barrel.

http://i239.photobucket.com/albums/ff206/arwatch/Firearms/Custom%20Savage/th_2303fc56-86de-4e40-a622-6218e76608e5_zpsc6afb155.jpg (http://s239.photobucket.com/user/arwatch/media/Firearms/Custom%20Savage/2303fc56-86de-4e40-a622-6218e76608e5_zpsc6afb155.jpg.html)

The thing is phenomenally accurate but weighs ten pounds. Also, the .243 is a bit light for the mule deer and elk in my area. - I thought that the mule deer were big until I saw a bull elk, one day.

I would like to have a switch barrel in the same contour so that it will fit the stock well, but in a larger caliber and only 20" long so I can stand to haul it around in these mountains.

Can't decide yet between .260, .308 and .338 Federal. Comments on which would work best with a shorter barrel will be appreciated.

Do any of the manufacturers offer short, magnum contour barrels? - Or should I buy a new hacksaw blade and a barrel crowner do-dad from Brownell's, and use them on a 24" magnum contour barrel?

If I can order the barrel already short, that would save me the cost of the barrel crowner do-dad.

[foxx]

My unqualified opinion is you order them how you want them. Of course, that does not mean they are readily available that way. I guess it's obvious, though, that you can have a qualified smith cut and crown one for you...

I'll shut up. :)

[thomae]

Is this what you are looking for?

It's a Savage Pre-Fit Small Shank, Varmint Contour, 20” length, 260 Rem, 1-10” rate of twist, 416R Stainless Steel, Threaded Barrel With Thread Cap

http://www.gunshack.com/barrels?product_id=651 (http://www.gunshack.com/barrels?product_id=651)

They are a paid advertiser on this forum as well.

[Salvo]

That looks pretty good. It's even stainless to match my action.

The varmint contour may be a problem, I'll have to check the specs to see how it compares to a Savage "magnum" contour. - I'd prefer a perfect match so it will slip right into the existing barrel channel.

The new barrel will only be on there during hunting season, most of the time I'll be using what I already have.

The .243 barrel I have is great for the range shooting that I do most of the time, it gives me 1/2 moa or better and is cheap to reload for.

Heavy though, and .243 is a bit light for the critters here in the mountains of the Big Bend area.

.260 Remington should do just fine.

[goinssr]

Of the calibers that you mentioned there is only one that I would consider....338 Federal. It is by far the most under-rated short action round in existence. It is absolutely phenomenal for what you want to do with it in the barrel length that you have chosen. Compare it's ballistics to the 30-06 and the 7mm Rem. Mag. The 200 grain .338 caliber bullet and the .308 case capacity are pure magic together.

[earl39]

Of the calibers that you mentioned there is only one that I would consider....338 Federal. It is by far the most under-rated short action round in existence. It is absolutely phenomenal for what you want to do with it in the barrel length that you have chosen. Compare it's ballistics to the 30-06 and the 7mm Rem. Mag. The 200 grain .338 caliber bullet and the .308 case capacity are pure magic together.

+ 1

[wlleven]

Of the calibers that you mentioned there is only one that I would consider....338 Federal. It is by far the most under-rated short action round in existence. It is absolutely phenomenal for what you want to do with it in the barrel length that you have chosen. Compare it's ballistics to the 30-06 and the 7mm Rem. Mag. The 200 grain .338 caliber bullet and the .308 case capacity are pure magic together.

Even though I have two Hog Hunters in 308, and they are great for hog hunting and deer/elk, etc..... The only thing better would be if they were chambered in Federal 338. IMHO that is a great cartridge, and would be a better hog gun for large dangerous hogs. It
would also be a great caliber for elk and moose, and loaded with 200+ grain bullets would be a brown bear gun.......all in all a very versiital round that needs to be pused by Federal more !




wll

[goinssr]

The .338 Federal would benefit substantially if the major gun manufacturers would chamber their rifles for it and if they don't then I'm afraid it may go by the way side like some other great calibers have. If that were to happen then we would be losing out BIG! With Federal owning the patents on the cartridge there may be some issue along those lines that is keeping it out of many rifle manufacturer's model lines. I'm not the smartest guy on matters like that but I'm sure it plays an important role in the process. If so, then my suggestion to Federal would be "make it more available...please".

[BoilerUP]

I have one of the McGowen 20" threaded 260 barrels from Gunshack. Its called "varmint contour" but is only .8 at the shoulder of the threads, almost identical to my light varmint Criterion. Definitely skinner than a traditional Savage Varmint contour.

[Wildboarem]

Remember that the 1/10 twist on the short mcgowen is for the 107-120 gr class bullets and not the heavier 130gr-160gr that one would probably want for elk.

[JCalhoun]

How about a .358 Win?

[FW Conch]

Yes! I love my 358 Winchester ;-)

[missed]

I have been wanting to build a 16" barrel 308, I have thought about the 338 federal, and I have thought about 458 socom but brass prices keep me back to the 308 base cartridges since I have a good supply of 308 brass.

[Rifleshooter308]

1:10 Twist will spin the 140's just fine in .260.

[BoilerUP]

1:10 Twist will spin the 140's just fine in .260.

At 500' ASL and 59F a 140gr Hornady HPBT @ 2700fps from a 1:10 barrel has a stability factor of 1.22 and the 140gr A-Max is 1.09; drop the temperature to 30F and the A-Max is @ 1.03.

I mean it could do it (I had a 1:9 Savage 223 that shot 75gr A-Max about 0.7MOA @ 200yd) but there's just not much margin there for low pressure altitudes and cold weather.

There are two 20" 260 McGowens listed on Gunshack, one a 1:8 and the other 1:10. My 1:8 is a shooter, thats for sure.

I'm not so certain the 1:10 barrel shouldn't be a 308 and 260 is a typographical error, but I'd call Josiah at Gunshack and confirm.

[BillPa]

The .338 Federal would benefit substantially if the major gun manufacturers would chamber their rifles for it and if they don't then I'm afraid it may go by the way side like some other great calibers have.

Unfortunately the 338 Fed is one of the "Why" cartridges. When I put my little 270s together(270-08, 270-08 Imp) I was asked more than once why not a 260 or 7-08 ? Its the same with my 30-338 WMs, Why not a 300 WM?

Firearms manufactures make what sells. Its almost a sure bet of the 1366 members at the club I'm the only one that shoots a 33-08 ...errr 338 Federal. Until the demand increases it will languish in the "Also Ran" category.

Fortunately brass is a snap to make. Simply run 308 Win brass over a 338 expander button and wallah, instant 338 Fed brass. You can use the gauge(s) for the existing 308W family (243,7-08 and etc).

Bill

[Salvo]

My unqualified opinion is you order them how you want them. Of course, that does not mean they are readily available that way. I guess it's obvious, though, that you can have a qualified smith cut and crown one for you...

I'll shut up. :)

I'm a retired gunsmith. I have a lathe, mill, etc. but it is all in storage as I have moved to a new location and have not built a new shop yet.

[Salvo]

The 358 Winchester is a great cartridge, but I have to be ready for long shots, according to the local ranchers.

My son is trying to talk me into just buying a new rifle instead with a long action that will give me better options for long shots. - I'd have to sell my M1A to finance that though, and I have developed a certain affection for that rifle.

I think any of the cartridges I mentioned would work, but the only one I have experience with is .308.

Seems like the 260 might be the flattest shooting, but the other two have more horsepower. I'm thinking that a short, thick barrel ought to give me the accuracy for a long shot without being too hard to haul around the mountainous terrain.

The good news here is that the game is not going to run off in the brush and get lost - because there isn't any brush to speak of.

The bad news is that getting close to the game is unlikely because of the general lack of cover here in the high Chihuahuan desert.

[JCalhoun]

Salvo,

Never sell the M1A, you will regret it. On the other hand, why not hunt with it? It'll kill as far you need to shoot.

My brother has an older one in National Match configuration that he puts a scope on for shooting deer/coyotes across bean fields.

[CharlieNC]

If you want a short/ fat barrel just wait until its 64 years old like me!