270 Winchester optimum barrel length

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quaticman

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I am considering buying a rifle in this caliber with a barrel length of 23". Will this be a detriment to performance for the 270 or is a 23" tube long enough to obtain decent velocities? Primary use will be whitetail, coyote and maybe some groundhog hunting using lighter bullets. Thanks for your feedback.
 
Most published velocities from ammo manufacturers for the 270 are based on a 24" barrel. Count on being somewhere around 25fps slower for the loss of an inch. Basically, it will do the job just fine.
 
Bbl length will determine rifle handling characteristics more than anything, esp when it's only between 22" and 24".

I would consider what other rifles I own and how I use them. If I already had a shorter "bush gun", I'd go with 24" on the 270.
 
Barrel length can be a factor that is often overemphasized. The velocity difference between a 22" and a 24" tube in a 270 [all other factors even] will be on the order of 50-75 fps.

This will make exactly "squat" difference in 99.9% of all field situations. True, shorter tubes tend to be handier, but I have never felt handicapped by a 24" barrel on a bolt gun.

I have a couple of 22" sporters, a 6mm and a 7x57. Both are 700 "Classics", and they are just fine.

If you like this 270, go ahead and buy it. The 23" tube is a non-issue, IMHO.

Regards, Dave.
 
:)Well stated.

Eagleye said:
Barrel length can be a factor that is often overemphasized. The velocity difference between a 22" and a 24" tube in a 270 [all other factors even] will be on the order of 50-75 fps.

This will make exactly "squat" difference in 99.9% of all field situations. True, shorter tubes tend to be handier, but I have never felt handicapped by a 24" barrel on a bolt gun.

I have a couple of 22" sporters, a 6mm and a 7x57. Both are 700 "Classics", and they are just fine.

If you like this 270, go ahead and buy it. The 23" tube is a non-issue, IMHO.

Regards, Dave.
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I've got a 700 ADL 270 with a 22" barrel, with 130 gr SST's I'm getting 3030 fps. The animals I"ve shot with it haven't noticed the shorter barrel however, if I was to rebarrel it would be a 24" tube or maybe even 26".
 
How about a 25-06 with a 22" barrel?
personally I dont find the extra 2" of 24" barrel that much of an inconvenience.
We gun guys do tend to split hairs, dont we?
 
when reloading manuals post real world velocities you'll have something to worry about, until then it is all a crap shoot
 
quaticman said:
I am considering buying a rifle in this caliber with a barrel length of 23". Will this be a detriment to performance for the 270 or is a 23" tube long enough to obtain decent velocities? Primary use will be whitetail, coyote and maybe some groundhog hunting using lighter bullets. Thanks for your feedback.
Click to expand...

It depends on what you mean by "decent" velocities. I have a .300 Winchester Magnum with a 22 1/2 inch barrel. It actually gives higher (or at least comparable) velocities to another .300 of mine with a 26-inch barrel.

I don't believe you would notice the difference that one inch of barrel made in a .270 at anything inside 1,000 yards, for precision shooting. For shooting whitetails and gohpers at hunting ranges, your heartbeat is going to raise or lower your shot further than the 1/4 m.o.a. associated with a loss of 30 f.p.s. muzzle velocity (which is what you MIGHT lose with a 23-inch barrel, as opposed to a 24-inch one). For whatever it's worth, I wouldn't hesitate to use my 22 1/5-inch barrelled Sako .300 Win Mag for any hunting of any game animal in North America at any reasonable hunting range.
 
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