Chopping a 30-06 to 18-20"

[WesternHntr]

I have an extra Tikka barrel laying around that I'm thinking about cutting down to 18 maybe 20" to run suppressed.
I'm wanting a light weight hunting rifle for up close timber action, to 600 yard shots across clear cuts.
I'm already set with open country LR rifles, just wanting to cover the other habitat I frequently hunt.
Anyone have an idea what sort of velocity I could expect with a 180 grain bullet.
I realize there are more efficient shorty options but I already have the barrel, and can swap it out myself

 

[rickiesrevenge]

With the 17-18" barrels I normally lose 250-300 fps over what a full length rifle gets. I'd expect close to 250 for this cartridge

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[Yellowknife]

Yo won't loose anything like 250 fps.

I cut my 30-06 (Tikka) down to 18.5" and use suppressor. A book load of H4350 will get between 2675 and 2700 at the muzzle with a 180gr. RL-17 does somewhere around 2740 fps with a 178 ELDX as I recall.

A 200 gr ELDX and RL-17 from the load manual was about 2675 at the muzzle, which was faster than I expected. I used that load this year to deck a sheep at 368 and a moose at about 50.

As usual, YMMV when it comes to barrels and velocity, but the '-06 isn't overbore enough to see a big drop.

I haven't tried it with a bare muzzle, but might be getting a percentage of the velocity lost by the chop back with the 8" of suppressor screwed on.

Side note... carbon fouling with a suppressor is real. I had my first experience this summer with a carbon ring in front of the chamber.

 

[WesternHntr]

Yo won't loose anything like 250 fps.

I cut my 30-06 (Tikka) down to 18.5" and use suppressor. A book load of H4350 will get between 2675 and 2700 at the muzzle with a 180gr. RL-17 does somewhere around 2740 fps with a 178 ELDX as I recall.

A 200 gr ELDX and RL-17 from the load manual was about 2675 at the muzzle, which was faster than I expected. I used that load this year to deck a sheep at 368 and a moose at about 50.

As usual, YMMV when it comes to barrels and velocity, but the '-06 isn't overbore enough to see a big drop.

I haven't tried it with a bare muzzle, but might be getting a percentage of the velocity lost by the chop back with the 8" of suppressor screwed on.

Side note... carbon fouling with a suppressor is real. I had my first experience this summer with a carbon ring in front of the chamber.

Thanks man that's very helpful information,and great velocity!
Couple more questions:
How's the suppression?
And does the suppressor knock recoil down enough to track your shots?

 

[204guy]

I'm at 2880 for a 150 & 2750 for a 168 using biggame. Factory 06 @ 18"

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[30338]

Mine at 18" lobs out 155 Scenars at 2775 fps. No issue at longer ranges. Daughter shoot a 3 shot group at 500 into about 4" from sitting with bipod.

 

[Yellowknife]

Couple more questions:
How's the suppression?
And does the suppressor knock recoil down enough to track your shots?

1. It's still a pretty good "crack" but the critters have been universally confused as to direction. Nice to be able to hear after a shot, and I can always hear the impact on game now.

2. It does not.... Loaded up to 9 lbs with a bipod, etc, I can sometimes catch hits at 500+. Closer in, and the flight time isn't long enough.

The drawback on a light rifle is that it's front heavy now. I have a Wildcat stock that doesn't help with that. A factory stock would set the balance point back a bit more. Its no problem shooting or strapped to a pack, but it doesn't hang well from a shoulder sling.

 

[corylee4870]

MontanaMarine on the old snipers hide website had a lot of posts about 30-06 cut down to 18-20”. He shot 208 Amax to 1000 with it.