Ok, got a simple question

[MUP]

Forgive the lack of understanding here, but what is the difference between a long action, and a short action? Other than the obvious distinction between long and short, what differentiates between the two? I even looked online and couldn't get a description that I could grasp, other than long cases = long action, and short cases = short action.

 

[Grizzly Johnson]

That's basically it.... long action is just a longer bolt throw compared to a short action....

 

[MUP]

So, I heard a guy on the classifieds mention on a thread wanting to sell a .308 rifle, that, if it was a short action, he would want it....? Does that just mean that if the rifle was a smaller caliber then? I kinda took it that he may have been referring to the .308 being available in a short action, and that this one was a long action. :crazy:

 

[JimFromTN]

You will see 308's in long action rifles. Its the same cartridge as the short action. I believe that savage used to make a long action 308. I also believe the m24 sniper rifle in 308 that the military uses is a long action as well. Most of the time when you see a long action rifle in 308, its a custom build. Its quite common to take a savage 110 long action and do a custom build for a short action cartridge. I have a savage 110 long action that I rebarreled with 308 barrel. The 308 and 30/06 have the same bolt face so all you have to do is exchange the barrels.

 

[Deer Assassin]

advantage of a "long action" short action round is seating the bullets out to lands and them fitting in the mag box

ie a long action 7/08

my 7/08 and 7 saum are short actions i seat out to lands my rifles are 2 shot one chambered one on feed ramp

i still kill 3 at a time no problem

 

[KPH]

The way I always under stood it. Short action was like a 308 and simler cartages the advantage of the shot action was you could throw the bolt faster to reload. Long action would be some like 30-06 ect. Of course the bolt in a short action is shorter than a long action.

 

[BigD_625]

Is this the ad you're speaking of? The gun was a 7mm Rem Mag, which is a long action with a magnum barrel.

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... ost3494792

 

[DaveB]

Okay, a short action is a 308, a 243, a 22-250. 06, 280, 7Mag, long action.

However, many rifles are only long action as it cuts costs for manufacturer. So you can buy a short action round in a long action, hence the question is it a short action 308.

 

[KPH]

Yes 308 is short. Now that is not saying some one couldn't build a 308 on a long action, but that would be un usual.

 

[TNReb]

So, I heard a guy on the classifieds mention on a thread wanting to sell a .308 rifle, that, if it was a short action, he would want it....?

As others mentioned... the .308 is a short-action round. However, a manufacturer may produce a rifle "Model XYZ123" in multiple calibers, but all built around a long action "size".

The advantage of a short action is that it can provide a platform a for a smaller, shorter, lighter rifle. However, is common for manufacturers to build the rifle the same size for all calibers to save on manufacturing costs.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

http://www.fieldandstream.com/answers/g ... action-gun

FDXX75

 

[MUP]

That's the very link I looked at FULLDRAW. Still confusing as heck for me. Where is the measurement "cutoff" point at for cartridge length anyway? :crazy:

 

[MUP]

Is this the ad you're speaking of? The gun was a 7mm Rem Mag, which is a long action with a magnum barrel.

http://www.tndeer.com/tndeertalk/ubbthr ... ost3494792

Yea, that was it BigD, I got confused as I was looking at a couple different rifle ads at the time, but still got me to wondering what the difference was.

 

[wsm]

You can learn some good things on here.

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

That's the very link I looked at FULLDRAW. Still confusing as heck for me. Where is the measurement "cutoff" point at for cartridge length anyway? :crazy:

If you go by the articles and then reloading data, a .308 at it's longest would be 2.80", a .243 is 2.85" both short action. Now, the 30-06 is only 3.06". That is not a lot of difference in my book, not like the difference is 1" or more.

FDXX75

 

[MUP]

Very confusing, to me anyway. Guess I'll just stick to trying to shoot them, and not worry about the design characteristics. :grin:

 

[FULLDRAWXX75]

The only time I need to know the difference is when I am buying a new stock for one..................LOL

If the bullet fits, it shots straight and it pulls the empty out...........I don't really care if it long or short.

FDXX75

 

[infoman jr.]

So, I heard a guy on the classifieds mention on a thread wanting to sell a .308 rifle, that, if it was a short action, he would want it....?

As others mentioned... the .308 is a short-action round. However, a manufacturer may produce a rifle "Model XYZ123" in multiple calibers, but all built around a long action "size".

The advantage of a short action is that it can provide a platform a for a smaller, shorter, lighter rifle. However, is common for manufacturers to build the rifle the same size for all calibers to save on manufacturing costs.

That's basically the long and the short of it.

 

[MUP]