Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Thoughts on short barreled hunting rifles

The shorter the barrel the closer the muzzle blast is to your ears and face--that's simple physics. Usually it translates into greater perceived muzzle blast, and I think it can contribute to flinching or anticipating the shot. My observation is this may be especially true with youngsters first starting out on centerfires. I have a 25" bbl 270 and several 22" bbl 270's. Same bullet and powder are a bit louder with the 22". And I wear plugs AND muffs at the range.

It must have been a thing in the 90's, because twice I guided clients with short barreled 300 Wthby's. A guy hasn't lived until he experiences the muzzle blast of a 20" bbl 300 Wthby....

It must have been a thing in the 90's, because twice I guided clients with short barreled 300 Wthby's. A guy hasn't lived until he experiences the muzzle blast of a 20" bbl 300 Wthby....

Short barrels suck, end of story. Mb

Below is a lineup I had over 30 years ago - from top to bottom, 1957 Savage 99 EG 24” 308 Win, Ruger 77 RS 19” bbl. 358 Win, Ruger 77 RSI 18.5” 7x57, Ruger 77 RSI 18.5” 250 Savage, Ruger 77/22 20” 22lr.

Brought the show and tell to point out I’m obviously not averse to carbines, but I was also younger then. Now I value my hearing as much as I should have then, and no longer own a carbine anything. In fact, the last short barreled rifle I had was a 21” M70 30-06 I built in 2004, and that’s as short as I’d ever go with any cartridge, barring the 22lr.

You sound unsure of yourself, señor Roberto.

Sort of fail to see how cloverleafing with irons qualifies as sucking, though 🤔 Not sure I got whatever point you were trying to make with that magnificently eloquent post, beyond maybe instigation.

I had/have a Sav.99 in 308 with 16 1/4" barrel that is a handi little devil. I killed a number of deer with it, my best still hunting was three before noon one day. My nephew was the recipient of the rifle to kill his first deer and for the last 25 years also. I wear ear protection when sighting it and never noticed the sound when killing something with it. I bought it for a C-note in the parking lot of a gun show, one of my better purchases.

I packed a Rem 600 in 223 with a 18" barrel doing control work and varmint hunting long enough to wear out the barrel still shoot it with a 20" 6x45 tube on it.

I have a little Mini Howa in 6.5G with a 20" tube that is really handi hunting coyote on the MC along with a 16" barreled 223 AR, it isn't the barrel that kills the critter it's the bullet that comes out the end of it.


A Mannlicher stocked 18" barreled Mini Mauser in 6.5G would be just a handi little rig and really pretty to boot. I wouldn't turn down one of the little Ruger 77 RSI's as a hunter.

Not unsure at all both my m94 Marlins precrossbolt models in 357 and 44 easily shoot at 50 yds like that with select loads of course. Like Brad said I value what little hearing I have left. I have a right to my opinion and short barrels suck. Got it? Powdr solicited our opinions he didn't ask for a bunch of head nodding and jumping on the [bleep] wagon to be part of the crowd. I think short barrels suck got it? Mb

Great minds think alike That's a cut down Howa mini in the scabbard. 16 1/4" barrel is very handy and the Grendel performs great in a short barrel.