r/canadaguns • u/smfdblol • 19d ago
Buy recommendations Looking to build a short, handy hunting rifle. Looking for cartridge suggestions
Gonna build a short, handy rifle on a JTAC Screech Owl chassis with a 14.5” to 16” barrel. I’ll be using a Terminus Zeus action and probably a Proof barrel. Must be capable of taking everything up to and including moose. I have a few schools of thought on cartridge choice and can’t for the life of me decide on something. Max range I consider ethical for hunting is 300 meters, and moose will probably be taken under 200 meters. Other considerations are using it for coyotes on the farm. (Yes I know each of these are heavy for that purpose and yes I do have a dedicated coyote rifle, and yes I already have dedicated hunting rifles). These are my top choices but I’m open to other suggestions as well, although it must fit in a short action. Thanks for any help and feel free to call me an idiot for wanting a rifle that fits this purpose
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u/Content_Sky_2676 18d ago
22 Cheetah. I will not be answering questions.
Honestly, based on your statements everything but the 375 fits the bill. With a fast twist and good quality bullet any of those will do what you want.
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u/smfdblol 18d ago
What makes you say the .375 doesn’t fit? Out of my research using a 16” barrel specifically and using a 260 gr accubond, it has the highest retained energy of them all at 300 yards. Biggest downside is it’s a reloaders special
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u/Content_Sky_2676 18d ago
I'm a fan of flatter shooting cartridges for hunting outside of 100m. Flat shooting cartridges reduce the error from misjudged distance, and in my experience most of the time it's inaccuracy that causes animals to run after being hit, rather than insufficient energy being applied to the right place.
Your barrel length does lend itself to 375, but at that length you'll be reloading most cartridges to get full burn in a short barrel.
The nice thing is that whatever you choose you're only a barrel, brass, and dies away from a change if you don't like what you choose.
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u/buji8829 IBl Precision 18d ago
Either 300 WSM or 308 Winchester, IMO 300 WSM is peak cartridge design, but 308 Winchester is undeniably good and you can find ammo everywhere.
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u/smfdblol 18d ago
Too short of a barrel for 300 WSM. It’ll already be pushing it with a lot of these cartridges. Just don’t think there’s much to gain over 308 at this length
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u/buji8829 IBl Precision 18d ago
If you want to get really experimental with it, the 300 WSM could probably work on the 16”, or go 20” but yea, that 16” length would be kind of odd there. 308 win is a known performer at that length.
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u/ReturnOk7510 18d ago
Not in a short barrel. I love 300 WSM, but it really needs a 24" barrel to make the most of it, and my head hurts just thinking about shooting a short barreled one with a muzzle brake.
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u/DougMacRay617 18d ago
30-06 . The lords caliber
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u/hafetysazard 18d ago
.375 Raptor carries a ton of energy out to 300m at velocities that bullets will still expand reliably.
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u/Remarkable_Vanilla34 18d ago
308 or 6.5 cm. i have loaded and bought light bullets for both and shot coyotes, they will get turned inside out by what becomes a lead laser beam lol but it works for livestock protection.
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u/Iokua_CDN 18d ago
I will simply say this.
I have a CZ trail in 7.62 x39. Just a 16 inch barrel. That thing is LOUD! Way louder than a 20 inch barrel 7 62 x39 barrel. So just expect that it will be quote the blast with a more powerful round! So maybe look into a flash hider, or linear comp or Brake of some kind.
That being said, it's sweet having a little compact rifle, being able to have a little compact rifle that folds down to 28 inches is really really handly and cool. Just prepare for the blast
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u/duckin-depressed 16d ago
I wanted to build something just like this in 7mm BC, then I realized the JTAC chassis are all short action so there goes that idea
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u/smfdblol 16d ago
Yeah, honestly this exact set up with a 7mm-08 +Peak would be the perfect rifle, but I highly doubt Federal will +Peak it anytime soon because it’d kill 7 Backcountry. JTAC REALLY needs to make the Screech Owl in a long action
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u/Traditional-Pop-8748 14d ago
My uncle in Iroquois Falls Timmins Ont area has shot more moose with a 308 then anyone for decades.
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u/smfdblol 11d ago
I have a handful of rifles chambered in .308. My main concern is how well it’ll perform on moose since it’s such a short barrel and velocity will suffer
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u/Riddell4 18d ago
I think 6.8 would do a nice job plus I have a feeling it's going to become more popular as the rumor is it's the new 556
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u/FD4L 18d ago
If youre going for coyotes to moose, id say 308. You can get rounds with projectilesfrom 110 to 210 grain and normal hunting ammunition from 150-180 grain and fmj are sold everywhere.
308 is boring but its versatile, its available everywhere and its cost effective compared to most other options.