Chop to what length?

[Ringbill27]

I’m ordering two omega 300s and I have a Tikka 30-06 I’d like to chop but I’m concerned the going to 16” make effect my max range too. I always figured it would be 400yd and in rifle and it likes the 168TTSX. I believe my velocity is right around 2900. Is a 16” 30-06 a good idea?

Also have a Tikka 243win 20” I’m thinking of chopping as well. I’ve got the 95gr partition going right 3000fps. Should I be worried about going to 16”?

Both rifles will spend 95% of their life’s shooting whitetail at 100yds and in. With the 30-06 chasing elk and the 243win going for coyotes the other 5%.

I could be over thinking as most can do on here.

Thanks

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Other people will probably disagree, but I would take the .30-06 to 20” and keep the .243 at 20”, or at most go to 18”.

To me, it’s fairly pointless to have a 16” .30-06. I’d just use a .308 or something similar instead.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[hereinaz]

Edited, I missed the 400 yard max… I can’t see 400 yards being a problem, but plug it into your ballistic calculator. My 14” 22 creed was smacking rocks at 619 yards yesterday and I am good out to 700 where I do a lot of hunting.

95% of the time 16” definitely won’t affect anything. Chop to 16”. Shooters are overwrought about this. A 16” 30-06 is like a 20-22” 308. A 16” 243 is about the same.

Don’t keep them longer than 18”.

 

[WSMHNTR]

I wouldn't go less than 20" on a 30-06 if longer shots at elk are a possibility. If strictly a whitetail gun sub 300 yards 16" would be ok but still shorter than I would go.

 

[ChrisAU]

Most hunters are carrying way more barrel than they'll ever use or need. I'm beginning to think my 16.5" and 18" rifles are too long. I limit myself to 500 yards and I don't think there is a 22 cal+ center fire cartridge in existence that doesn't have enough power to kill at 500 yards from a 16" barrel.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Most hunters are carrying way more barrel than they'll ever use or need. I'm beginning to think my 16.5" and 18" rifles are too long. I limit myself to 500 yards and I don't think there is a 22 cal+ center fire cartridge in existence that doesn't have enough power to kill at 500 yards from a 16" barrel.

Not just carrying more barrel than they will ever need, but carrying more cartridge than they will ever need. I am used to carrying long action rifles with 24”-26” barrels, so I tend to cut my barrels to a length that gives me that length when suppressed.

I am probably stubborn and old-fashioned when it comes to barrel length, but I am also probably overly enamored of “efficiency” when it comes to cartridge match to barrel length. For the OP’s shooting scenario, I don’t see the point in using a 16” .30-06 as compared with a 16” 6mm ARC (or 16” .223 if legal for deer) or .243/6mm Creed.

In my world, the modern .30-06 is a magnum cartridge that fits in a long action. It’s a 500+ cartridge and I don’t like neutering it to use it at closer ranges. Or taking the punishment from it to get no real benefit versus something burning less powder.


____________________
“Keep on keepin’ on…”

 

[Taudisio]

I’m ordering two omega 300s and I have a Tikka 30-06 I’d like to chop but I’m concerned the going to 16” make effect my max range too. I always figured it would be 400yd and in rifle and it likes the 168TTSX. I believe my velocity is right around 2900. Is a 16” 30-06 a good idea?

Also have a Tikka 243win 20” I’m thinking of chopping as well. I’ve got the 95gr partition going right 3000fps. Should I be worried about going to 16”?

Both rifles will spend 95% of their life’s shooting whitetail at 100yds and in. With the 30-06 chasing elk and the 243win going for coyotes the other 5%.

I could be over thinking as most can do on here.

Thanks

Considering you picked a mono bullet, you need to determine what expansion is “enough” for your liking and note the minimum velocity that will get you there. Start crunching numbers in ballistic apps to see what muzzle velocity you need to achieve that velocity at whatever max distance you want. Then search around to see if x barrel length gets the muzzle velocity you need. Pushing mono, I would expect a 16” barrel would be on the ragged edge of your expansion threshold at 400 yards, or too slow. 20” is probably a safe bet, but go to Barnes website and do a little homework.

I’d expect your 243 muzzle velocity to drop to around 2750-2900. Not as much of a concern there with the partition and 100 yard whitetail shots.

Another factor to consider is the suppressor’s minimum barrel length restrictions. I wouldn’t go shorter than whatever the suppressor company recommends for a 308 minimum for both cartridges.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

Take your current load data and subtract 25 fps per inch. Then add another 25 fps back on for shooting suppressed (free bore boost).

Barnes claims the 168ttsx has a lower expansion velocity than their other ttsx bullets; what I have read from those who use them, it is still best to keep them over 2000fps. I have no direct experience with this bullet.

So run your new data using the adjusted velocities and see where you land for maximum terminal range.

Also run your adjusted data through a stability calculator to make sure everything still looks good.

Also check the barrel restrictions. I have two Omega 300 cans and I believe their limit is a 16” 308; it’s been years since I looked so just double check.

Also based on my experience of chopping barrels, an estimate of 1oz per inch of barrel is close enough to estimate the weight reduction.

I have a 19”ish 30-06 that weighs 9.5lbs w/omega 300 on a cherry bomb mount, and while the recoil is not painful, it’s jumpy with my 178gr @ 2750 loads, it’s impossible to for me to spot impacts. Obviously your intended lighter weight bullet will have less recoil, but thought I would mention it.

 

[Matt5266]

Personally I feel like 18" is the sweet spot for me regardless of caliber

 

[Diamondback]

I would rebarrel your 243 Tikka to 308 Win, with a 16" barrel, put on 1 titanium can, and it can do it all and either sell your 30-06 or keep it as backup elk / big game rifle without changing it.

308 Win,
125gr Coyotes / Deer
150gr / 165gr Elk

 

[Ringbill27]

I would rebarrel your 243 Tikka to 308 Win, with a 16" barrel, put on 1 titanium can, and it can do it all and either sell your 30-06 or keep it as backup elk / big game rifle without changing it.

308 Win,
125gr Coyotes / Deer
150gr / 165gr Elk

Well I have a 308 already that’s going to be chopped to 16”. The 30-06 has always been intend to be my out west rifle. I have many rifles but now that I have cans I need to thread them all so figured I may as well chop them we I’m at it.

 

[Harvey_NW]

I don't like to give up performance but after jumping on the suppressor bandwagon and chopping a few barrels I just don't see any less than 20" being worth the tradeoff. My current primary rifle sports a 21 1/2" barrel with a Nomad Ti out front and at first it felt a bit front heavy but after hunting with it for a year it's not been an issue at all. I don't bust a lot of brush where I hunt though so if handy is your ultimate goal shorter might be the best route.

 

[wind gypsy]

I'm an 18" kind of guy.

 

[WhoGarrDen]

Well I have a 308 already that’s going to be chopped to 16”. The 30-06 has always been intend to be my out west rifle. I have many rifles but now that I have cans I need to thread them all so figured I may as well chop them we I’m at it.

I felt this "pull" too when looking at caliber/cartridge/barrel length. For thick brush / blind hunting whitetail at 100yd, slow and short seemed just fine. Then I pictured myself prone on the side of a mountain shooting at an elk at 600+yds across a canyon and my man-brain told me I needed a 26" barrel with a magnum cartridge to hit it...

Reloading data shows MV of a 24" 30-06 with that bullet at 2,850 fps max. Assume 25 fps lost per inch of barrel (estimate), plug some numbers into a ballistic app and see where you come out at 2,000 fps (or whatever your ideal impact fps is for your ttsx).

--2,650MV (16" barrel, estimate), bullet is going 2,000 fps at 345yds (30*F; 6,000ft elev).
--2,700MV (18" barrel), 2,000 fps at 370yds.
--2,750MV (20" barrel), 2,000 fps at 390yds.
--2,850MV (24" barrel), 2,000 fps at 440yds.

Does all of that really make a difference to you? 8" off that barrel pulls you in just 100 yards on max range in that bullet combo. 350 yds seems perfectly reasonable max distance for most shooters. Do some shooting in field positions with decent wind and see where you need to be. If you're gold out to 600 yards, you'll need an entirely different bullet/cartridge to get you there - that bullet never will.

 

[HandgunHTR]

Unless it comes short from the factory, I am a 17" (SA), 19" (LA) or 21" (Mag) guy because I like oddballs.

 

[Ringbill27]

Unless it comes short from the factory, I am a 17" (SA), 19" (LA) or 21" (Mag) guy because I like oddballs.

So what I’m hearing here is that since I’m an even guy I should go 16”, 18” and 20”?

 

[Taudisio]

So what I’m hearing here is that since I’m an even guy I should go 16”, 18” and 20”?

Whatever you choose, just remember that mono bullets NEED speed-the more, the better. Unless you are restricted by law (or personal choice), I would open up your bulletin selection again and you should easily find a plug and play 16” 30-06 load that will be effective to (probably well beyond) 400 yards if you are open to lead rounds.

Like others, I am a compromiser and enjoy my rifles at 18”. My one magnum is 22” for the suppressor’s sake.

 

[eh254413]

I chopped my Tikka 30-06 to 18” and can’t speak highly enough of it. I shoot it suppressed with 165gr. bullets at 2671 FPS. That gets me over 1,800 fps at 500 yards which is fine for my needs. I plan to tinker with a 178gr load in the future and I think I will still be able to get to the 500 yard mark with that load. I guess you would be restricted a little more with the copper bullets.

 

[ChrisAU]

Unless it comes short from the factory, I am a 17" (SA), 19" (LA) or 21" (Mag) guy because I like oddballs.

Sorta similar

All Round Hunting - 16" 22CM
Dangerous Game - 18" 6CM
Long Range Hunting - 20" 25CM
Long Range Competition - 22" 6.5CM

No need for long actions and 70+ grains of powder for anything except ELR. Which I have done a mile with a ULTRA MEGA MAGNUM - a S/A 6.5 PRC lol.

 

[Ringbill27]

Dangerous Game - 18" 6CM