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Looking for opinions here.

Hunting rifle set-up only, no long range target shooting. Shot distances from 50 to 400 yards.

Looking to purchase a fairly inexpensive bolt action rifle with a short threaded barrel, most likely a 20", that I will probably put a suppressor on.

What caliber would you consider?

I just don't have much experience with short barreled rifles.

What's your thoughts?


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Old Mossy Horns
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Considering 1/1/26 that SBR’s will no longer get hit with a $200 stamp, I wouldn’t let barrel length minimum be what steers the ship.

Do you reload?

What immediately comes to mind is a Ruger American Ranch in 300Blk

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A 20” barrel is not a short barreled rifle for NFA purposes. A .308 in a 16” to 20” barrel is handy for the ranges you mention and subsonic is available for suppressor use if short range very quiet is also something you are interested in. 16” and longer does not require the stamp, free or not.

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300 blackout is great, especially if you handload (I have three) but 400 yards is probably a bit much to ask from it.

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10 point
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.308, but you could make an argument for 7mm08 or. 338 Federal

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Originally Posted by AU7MM08
Considering 1/1/26 that SBR’s will no longer get hit with a $200 stamp, I wouldn’t let barrel length minimum be what steers the ship.

Do you reload?

What immediately comes to mind is a Ruger American Ranch in 300Blk

Don't reload, will be using factory ammo exclusively.

The particular rifle that I am looking at is offered in 7 different calibers but all come only in the 20" barrel.

.308, .30-06, .270, .243, 6.5 CM, .350 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster.

Just wondering which of these would be the best performing out of that short barrel?

Only reason I'm considering anything at all is that I would like to own at least one rifle with a can on it.

Currently, don't have one at all.


Cuz-Pat

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Freak of Nature
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Originally Posted by Cuz-Pat
Originally Posted by AU7MM08
Considering 1/1/26 that SBR’s will no longer get hit with a $200 stamp, I wouldn’t let barrel length minimum be what steers the ship.

Do you reload?

What immediately comes to mind is a Ruger American Ranch in 300Blk

Don't reload, will be using factory ammo exclusively.

The particular rifle that I am looking at is offered in 7 different calibers but all come only in the 20" barrel.

.308, .30-06, .270, .243, 6.5 CM, .350 Legend, and 450 Bushmaster.

Just wondering which of these would be the best performing out of that short barrel?

Only reason I'm considering anything at all is that I would like to own at least one rifle with a can on it.

Currently, don't have one at all.
Of the ones you listed, definitely the 308 which works very well with a 20" barrel.


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.308!!! Next question please!


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This is what I am considering. Ruger owns the Marlin and Glenfield names and they have just recently released this rifle under the Glenfield name. It's basically a Ruger American clone with just a few slight changes but it's less expensive than the RA is now.

https://www.glenfieldfirearms.com/rifles/


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Originally Posted by marshmud991
.308!!! Next question please!
Way more versatile selection of bullets in a 308. 130 grain TTSX would be great and you can also buy subsonic ammo.


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12 point
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Why would you want a 20” barrel?
It’s gonna be like a stick of pulpwood when you add a 6-8” suppressor to it.


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12 point
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Originally Posted by Cuz-Pat
This is what I am considering. Ruger owns the Marlin and Glenfield names and they have just recently released this rifle under the Glenfield name. It's basically a Ruger American clone with just a few slight changes but it's less expensive than the RA is now.

https://www.glenfieldfirearms.com/rifles/

That is absolutely a recreation/rebranding of the Gen 1 Ruger American. We have killed a pile of deer with that platform, and both our integrally suppressed rifles are built on that platform. Only weakness is the factory magazine. It is flawless with 2 rounds, but can be problematic with 3. I solve this by loading the rifle, then dropping in a mag loaded with 2 rounds.

With the Glenfield selection offered, I would choose .308 Win, but if you can find a 7mm-08 in the Ruger American that is threaded, that could be a serious contender. Our integrals are 308 and 7mm-08. Bunches of critters have died from both of them.

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I have Remington Model Sevens in 308 and 7-08 with 20” barrels. Both are great little rifles. If I were gonna be using a suppressor, it would have a 16 or 18” barrel at most.


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It’s funny I just saw these rifles on a YouTube video. Looks exactly like the Ruger American Gen 1. I’m surprised they are at that price point.

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I’m using a 16” in .308 for a woods gun this year. Smoked two at 150yds with 150ttsx with good results this year.

7mm-08 is also a good choice.

If you’re regularly going over 200yds, just go with the a 20” barrel for the velocity.

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Freak of Nature
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Anyone mention 308? 😆
That meets and exceeds what you want.
For a short overall rifle Encores are back in business I think I saw


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In a 20” barrel I’m going to.308

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If you really think shorter distance (under 200 yards) give 338 Federal a look. Efficient cartridge with a shortish barrel

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I’ve been wanting a Howa mini action in either a 6.5 Grendel or 6 ARC.


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Shorter bbls in 308 or whatever... Will need to pay attention to down range velocity and the bullet construction. If you get down to 16 or 18" bbl, MV is going to suffer a decent amount. Reduced MV means reduced velocity down range. A stout bullet like just about anything bonded, or even a 165 gameking (in 308) may not have the velocity and energy to expand well at the longer distances you mentioned. Just be mindful of that. You may want to play with the expected velocity numbers and choice bullet parameters in a ballistics program to get 300+ yard velocity estimates and cross reference them to minimum velocities needed for adequate expansion


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