calling all gun nutz

Barrel length

  • 22"

    Votes: 41 50.0%
  • 23"

    Votes: 10 12.2%
  • 24"

    Votes: 31 37.8%

  • Total voters
    82

Jayph

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Did alot of searching and got almost all my answers from past threads. Only one question left and thats the optimal length in a .338-06 hunting rifle. Thanks guys.
 
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You should be able to go to the Brownells site to find what specific barrel contours weigh. I would not personally go shorter than 22" for the muzzle blast. Most times I prefer a 24" pipe.

Ron Smith wanted to use a 1:12 in my barrel which should be enough to stabilize a 225gr but there are far more versed folk here on that subject than I. We used a 1-10 gain twist in my 338-06 and it would not shoot 225gr or lighter well at all. 250gr and up it was a great shooter.
RKS barrels are great.
 
I had mine built with a 24" tube with the reasoning that I could have it cut back if I found it too long. 5 years later it is still 24" long. ;)

A more important question is to ask if you want your gunsmith to cut the chamber with a long Weatherby type throat -( in case someone ever fires factory ammo in it )- or if you want to match the throat with the bullet you plan on loading.
 
Oh ya ............

I had mine built with a 1 in 10 twist (Bevan King barrel) and it shoots 180 and 200 grain bullets as well as 225s and 250s.
 
have the improved version at 24" with a 1 in 10 twist. Use 200g hornady at 2950fps and 250g at 2650. It has become my main hunting rifle since I have the weight at 7# with scope. I would try one of Ted Gaillards barrels.

Keith
 
Two things, first what kind of country do you hunt? If you hunt heavy cover the shorter the barrel the better. My .375 Ultra has a 20" barrel and I'm not overly concerned about the muzzle blast. This thing gobbles up to 100 grs of powder per cartridge, and most medium bores don't produce the high pitched crack common to high velocity small bores.

If hunting in heavy cover is not a concern, then balance and handling is. If the barrel contour is light, the barrel must be longer if you want a slightly muzzle heavy balance as preferred by many. This should be combined to what is most pleasing to your eye. Some folks like long pipes on their rifles others do not.
 
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