Yes, by a wide margin.

Except a running shot is one that can hardly be practiced at any gun range. How would you know with certainty that the animal would not suffer at all after you pulled the trigger?

It is sad, but not surprising that the troll poster here has no knowledge of how to practice for running shots.

He's a 'long range game shooter' as opposed to being a hunter, his idea of 'hunting' is to be so far away from the game animal that it cannot possibly detect him. You know - the type who wouldn't know sportsmanship if it slapped him upside the head.

Looks like it's not much of a step from being a "long range game shooter" to being a pathetic troll with nothing intelligent or civil to contribute to the discussion. Good old JG is proving that, over and over.

Yes, by a wide margin.

It is sad, but not surprising that the troll poster here has no knowledge of how to practice for running shots.

He's a 'long range game shooter' as opposed to being a hunter, his idea of 'hunting' is to be so far away from the game animal that it cannot possibly detect him. You know - the type who wouldn't know sportsmanship if it slapped him upside the head.

Looks like it's not much of a step from being a "long range game shooter" to being a pathetic troll with nothing intelligent or civil to contribute to the discussion. Good old JG is proving that, over and over.

Ok, relevant to the topic. Seems to me that if off hand, standing shots are the goal, you'd be far better off with a light contour barrel than a heavy barrel. Gunna be easier to hold an off hand shot steady with a lighter rifle.

I go back and forth on this. Sometimes it seems as if a little extra weight helps me get steady and slow the wobble. Other times I hold a lighter rifle steady for longer. I think its a balancing act. Long varmint barrels are too heavy and sported barrels are too lite. I've come to like a heavy sporter barrel if its a 26". I have been contemplating cutting my varmint barreled 243 from 26 to 16.

The FNAR's are nice, one of the very best but I am looking to use a bolt gun for this.

I already know what hardware I intend to start with, either a Howa barreled action, or a Weatherby Vanguard with the heavy barrel if I can find a used one that is priced right. The main difference between the two is that the Vanguard metal will be finished differently from the Howa, and the Vanguard will come with a plastic stock that I will proceed to remove and replace.

I am uncertain about the scope, I know that I want a 2-7 compact variable but have not decided between Leupold and Ziess.

Here I am asking for comments about the handling qualities of short bull barrels in the field, more than anything, and the kind of stock designs that seems to work out best with them. - I may step away from the thumb-hole stocks that I generally prefer, this time around.

One issue is that I will either have to do a good deal of whittling to lighten up a Varmint stock - or open up the barrel channel on a Sporter stock. I much prefer Varmint stocks for shooting at the range of course, but the same features that make a Varmint stock great for firing prone and from the bench would make one too heavy and ponderous for lugging around in the field. - I'm a fair chase hunter, so camping out in a blind in front of a feeder is not on the itinerary here. I have camped out in blinds in the past, and it's a good way to get the venison, but I find it more enjoyable these days to be on the hoof, moving around seeing the country in the sometimes forlorn hope of outwitting the game in its own element.

My theory, still untested is that a short bull barrel should be great for running shots and impromptu shots that often have to be taken without the benefit of a support or stick. As we all know though, reality does not always cooperate with theory. I'd like to hear experiences from hunters who have stalked either game or varmints with short bull barreled rifles.

How does it work out in the field?

You may be dead on about balance. That's probably has just as much to do with it as anything.

Wow, those shots you describe are ethical sportsman shots that don't increase the chance of wound and lost game?
And all of a sudden 300 yard shots are OK?
I can't believe you came back with a post like this. Are you bipolar?

Balance, and stock fit make a big difference. One reason that I tend to lean toward the thumb-hole stocks from Boyds is that they always seem to fit me pretty well.

I have Contender rifles with 16" bull barrels and use a thumb hole stock fitted to me, long pull. It works well for offhand shots. Short barrels are great in the blind or walking in the forest.
Sure there is a velocity loss but if I am going to need more range or knock down I will use a different gun, I doubt may on this forum have only one rifle.
Cutting a normal sporter weight barrels to 16-18" can leave a pretty good diameter, cut the fore end also so it looks right, pull butt pad and drill out wood till it balances.

Mark

I work for a gun smith, we make a lot of Contender and Encore barrels, rifle and pistol
We recently did an Encore rifle in 308 Win, 18" with just a slight taper (looks better). With a Leupold 1.5-5x it was sweet handling and looking.
Would be perfect for still hunting.
Compared to a bolt gun a single shot starts 5-6" shorter with same barrel length.

Mark

Ok, relevant to the topic. Seems to me that if off hand, standing shots are the goal, you'd be far better off with a light contour barrel than a heavy barrel. Gunna be easier to hold an off hand shot steady with a lighter rifle.

My 16.5" Contender gets mistaken for an SBR from time to time.

I have been advised to ignore the troll posts for a while.

Anybody have anything relevant to the topic that does not involve a personal attack or harassment?

When trolls take over a discussion, it winds up being all about them, and readers who actually want to enjoy the forum are prevented from doing so.