Wanting to rebarrel a savage .243 to a 7-08. Was wondering if i should go to a 26" barrel. The Nosler manual indicates that was what was used for their testing. I would also like to know where i can get a barrel nut wrench and a go no go gauge and the cost if anyone knows,
7-08 Barrel Length?
- Thread starter Brad925
- Start date
Fps
Not sure were you can get your items from but if the Nosler books is stating velocity with a 26" barrel, you'll be about 50-75fps slower for every inch shorter of a barrel you choose. Just something to keep in mind if you find a good deal on a 22" or 24" barrel.
Not sure were you can get your items from but if the Nosler books is stating velocity with a 26" barrel, you'll be about 50-75fps slower for every inch shorter of a barrel you choose. Just something to keep in mind if you find a good deal on a 22" or 24" barrel.
I'd be more interested in how well the barrel will fit in with the woods where you typically hunt. If it's open around the base of the trees or open field then a long barrel won't be a big deal. But if it's thick underbrush I'd prefer a shorter overall rifle length so there's that little less chance of catching it on brush while handling it.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
The length of the barrel should be dictated by what the rifle is ultimately used for. A 26" barrel isn't too handy in thick cover, but it can be tolerable if all of your hunting/shooting is in open country. The fact that you are referring to the Nosler manual suggests that you might be more interested in a hunting rifle than a target rifle, so lets begin with the premise that a 20" 7-08 will provide you with suitable ballistics to take big game out to a quarter mile, and that it would require a very talented marksman to make use of the velocity difference you would observe between a 20" and a 26" barrel. Conversely, if you hunt in difficult terrain, a light rifle with a 20" barrel can be a joy to carry, but a heavy rifle with a 26" barrel can be a drag after just a few hours. A light sporter contour will keep the weight down, and might even give the piece a pleasing slightly muzzle heavy balance, but in heavy cover it will be slow and cumbersome.
The head space gauges and barrel wrench can be purchased through Brownells on line catalog.
I have had them in lengths from 18 to 22 inches. The extra tube will give you more speed, but the short rifles are a lot handier. The tools you are looking for are available from Jerry at Mystic Precision. - dan
There is a couple of reasons for madness. First i have a short action rifle for a donor in .243. second i feel the 7mm bullet is better suited to the .308 size case. As far as the barrel being 26", i just wanted to get the most speed out of it i could. Trying to get as close to a 280 rem. in a short action. As far as handling i live on the praires and don't hunt the bush so that is not really much of an issue. I guess the reason i was asking was because other than the Nosler reloading manual i had never seen a factory gun with that long of a barrel on it. As for where to get the wrench a gauge thanks. A friend of mine recommended Mystic Pecision when buying a barrel.
Rem used to sell varmint guns in 7mm-08, but I don't recall if they were 26" or 24" long. - dan
I suggest you have jerry or a gunsmith remove the old barrel. In addition to the wrench, you need a barrel vice.
I find the factory nut very difficult to remove, and I have a vice and wrench supplied by the factory and use an old 28" barrel as an extension on the wrench. Without the right equipement and some experience, you can twist the action out of shape. I accused them of having a 300 pound gorilla installing the nut.
At a subsequent visit to the factory, they introduced me to the nut installer. She might have weighed 100 pounds.
I think the nut bites into the receiver a bit. It should be smoothed on some emery paper before beign reinstalled. Don't tighten it very much. I use factory virgin cases as a guage to install new Savage barrels.
As for a barrel, the advantage of the 24" is that it is a little stiffer (and handier).
I find the factory nut very difficult to remove, and I have a vice and wrench supplied by the factory and use an old 28" barrel as an extension on the wrench. Without the right equipement and some experience, you can twist the action out of shape. I accused them of having a 300 pound gorilla installing the nut.
At a subsequent visit to the factory, they introduced me to the nut installer. She might have weighed 100 pounds.
I think the nut bites into the receiver a bit. It should be smoothed on some emery paper before beign reinstalled. Don't tighten it very much. I use factory virgin cases as a guage to install new Savage barrels.
As for a barrel, the advantage of the 24" is that it is a little stiffer (and handier).
My TC Pro hunter is a 28 inch tube if I remember correctly and it is a very accurate hunting rifle. My last range session was a 3 shot group .75 at 200 yds with an average muzzle velocity of 3050 fps at 15 ft. I only shoot 139 gr Hornady Interbonds out of it, but just bought some 150 gr Swift Sciroccos to play with...
My wife shoots a 7mm-08 Rem Model 700 SPS with a 24 inch tube and currently it is equal with the TC on a target for accuracy and still delivers a chronyd 2915 fps at 15 ft from muzzle.
Neither of the 2 Moose we harvested last year could tell the FPS difference between the barrel lengths. ;-)
We use 42.5 grains of Varget with Federal Match Primers...it works well for us...oh yeah Savage puts a 22 inch tube on their 7mm-08's...
My wife shoots a 7mm-08 Rem Model 700 SPS with a 24 inch tube and currently it is equal with the TC on a target for accuracy and still delivers a chronyd 2915 fps at 15 ft from muzzle.
Neither of the 2 Moose we harvested last year could tell the FPS difference between the barrel lengths. ;-)
We use 42.5 grains of Varget with Federal Match Primers...it works well for us...oh yeah Savage puts a 22 inch tube on their 7mm-08's...
Did she show you the 8 foot long wrench she hangs her 100 lbs off of?
Savage uses a 22" barrel. That'll do nicely. The trick will be finding one.
The barrels seen in loading manuals are just what the bullet or powder maker had at the time. Velocities will be different, but not enough to worry about. The game doesn't care how fast the bullet that killed it was going anyway.
Remington currently uses 20 and 24 inch barrels.
The barrels seen in loading manuals are just what the bullet or powder maker had at the time. Velocities will be different, but not enough to worry about. The game doesn't care how fast the bullet that killed it was going anyway.
Remington currently uses 20 and 24 inch barrels.
Saw a Ruger Compact Laminate in 7-08 at P&D's before Christmas. 16.5" bbl just like the 260Rem my daughter got for Christmas.
Almost bought it. Anyone else shoot the "shorties"? I can't think you'd lose more than a couple hundred feet on a 20" bbl?
Later.......
Almost bought it. Anyone else shoot the "shorties"? I can't think you'd lose more than a couple hundred feet on a 20" bbl?
Later.......
