Your favorite “shorty”

[Megastink]

I'm on a quest to build/buy a deer hunting rifle with a shorter barrel (16-18"). It will eventually be suppressed, and I primarily hunt PA woods and swamps, so something short and handy appeals to me. I've got plenty of 24-26" barrels of rifles that are just a tad more cumbersome than I'd like.

I'm considering my caliber choices, and it got me wondering what everyone here liked. I'm sure everyone's favorites will be a little different. I want as little recoil as I get get away with while being able to kill easily out to about 500 yards. Short action, manually operated (per PA law), and efficient/clean burning. The option of a short length of pull is also preferable for my little T-Rex arms. I hand load so wildcats are an option (I love me some wildcats).

I'd love to hear about and SEE your shorty rifles.

 

[AZ_Hunter]

My 12.5” 6.8.

 

[Matt5266]

Tikka. 223 18 inches.

 

[waspocrew]

18” 6CM

 

[Tmac]

We use a Ruger American Ranch rifle in 5.56 with a 16 ish barrel suppressed. Very handy. It’s not a 500 yard gun. The new Ranch rifle version comes in a number of cartridges that would do what you seek on a budget, a 22 or 6mm ARC perhaps? .

 

[H80Hunter]

Sig cross

 

[onlybrowning]

Browning BAR in any short action caliber in 18 inches. ShortTrac, MK2, MK3.


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[ChrisAU]

16.5 22CM. Have killed a lot of stuff with it in the last 4 months. So compact. I’ll never go back to a big boomer with a long barrel. I built a twin for night hunting and are awaiting a Rokstok for my 18” 6CM build for where .22 cal isn’t legal.

 

[B23]

Mine is pretty basic semi custom 6CM built on a SA Rem700 but it shoots really well and gets the job done. For a minimal recoil deer gun the 6CM or 243 Win are both good choices.

 

[Sierra Hunter]

Tikka 300 WM cut to 19” and love it. Gonna do it to them all. 18-20 “

 

[eric1115]

6mm ARC is a great short barrel cartridge for the use you described, suppresses incredibly well too.

 

[deerhunter628]

My Q Fix 16” 308 is my go to hunting rifle.

 

[justinspicher]

We use a Ruger American Ranch rifle in 5.56 with a 16 ish barrel suppressed. Very handy. It’s not a 500 yard gun. The new Ranch rifle version comes in a number of cartridges that would do what you seek on a budget, a 22 or 6mm ARC perhaps? .

I have the same rifle, also suppressed. Why is this not a 500yd gun?

 

[Turkeygetpwnd38]

Tikka 16” .308. Just waiting on rings and have a rs1.2 to mount on it for now. Was my idea for a handy 500 yard and in brush/fun gun.