Performance from carbines

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saskcop

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Took two 7600's in .30-06 to the range today along with my chrony and other range stuff to satisfy a question I have been wondering, "How much performance do I lose with the shorter barrel?" One is the weathermaster 7600, the other a carbine I just picked up from a fellow Gunnut. The ammo was Federal Power Shock 180 grain loads as well as my staple handload of a 180 grain Interbond over 57 grains of H4350.

First up were my handloads. The 22" barrel drummed up just over 2720 fps. Not bad. The surprise came from the 18" carbine's barrel which churned out 2605 fps. Four inches less barrel and I don't think that there would be an animal that could tell the difference.

The Federal loads were mirror images of the results from my handloads with the carbine producing slightly less than 100 fps less than the 22" spout.

I think that 7600 carbine will hunt.

Anyone else chrony their carbines and compare the results to full length barrels?
 
there was a study in guns and ammo mag awhile back where they took off an inch systematically in a 44mag, a 30/06 and a 12 guage- the conclusion was about 100 fps/inch in the pistol, and about 50/100 fps with the rifle- their conclusion was that there was NO discernable differences for all practial purposes between a carbine and a "full length"
 
I am agreeing with that from my tests to a point. I think .44 mag, .30-06 and the like have only so much powder to burn. My .338 RUM on the other hand ... I am not going to chop that barrel to find out either. But, it does make a guy wonder how much barrel you really need. The shorter guns can be a lot handier to hunt with.
 
"...2605 fps..." Just a bit less than .30 M1 ammo's 174.5 grain bullet out of an M1 Rifle. Muzzle blast must be astounding out of that wee barrel though.
 
sunray said:
"...2605 fps..." Just a bit less than .30 M1 ammo's 174.5 grain bullet out of an M1 Rifle. Muzzle blast must be astounding out of that wee barrel though.
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I'm going to chrony mine next chance I get, but I took it out a couple weeks back, very consistent groups all under 1.5" at a 100 with a healthy dose of IMR 4350, but as you are guessing about muzzle blast I can confirm. My whelen with a 22" pipe and 250's seems tamer to me.
 
I know that you may think I am fudging, but I did not notice much more - if any more - muzzle blast. Granted I had good ear plugs in etc. I wear ear defenders when hunting (at least in my left ear) so I don't fret it too much.
 
saskcop said:
I know that you may think I am fudging, but I did not notice much more - if any more - muzzle blast. Granted I had good ear plugs in etc. I wear ear defenders when hunting (at least in my left ear) so I don't fret it too much.
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Ask the guy on the bench next to you what he thought of the muzzle blast.:p

Mark
 
t-star said:
there was a study in guns and ammo mag awhile back where they took off an inch systematically in a 44mag, a 30/06 and a 12 guage- the conclusion was about 100 fps/inch in the pistol, and about 50/100 fps with the rifle- their conclusion was that there was NO discernable differences for all practial purposes between a carbine and a "full length"
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Good to here...I've always like carbine models better...them being lighter to carry is alway nice too:)
 
I have been saying for sometime that the difference in performance between a long barrel rifle and a short one makes little practical difference and few shooters could take advantage of the difference in the field. If you like the handling and aesthetics of a short rifle, there is no reason not to use one.
 
t-star said:
their conclusion was that there was NO discernable differences for all practial purposes between a carbine and a "full length"
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I would assume better barrel harmonics given a less whippy barrel as it gets shorter.

Also potentially more noise. :p

And for the record I have read about similar cut down tests with a 12 gauge that note only a 6.5fps loss per inch below 30".
 
Boomer said:
I have been saying for sometime that the difference in performance between a long barrel rifle and a short one makes little practical difference and few shooters could take advantage of the difference in the field. If you like the handling and aesthetics of a short rifle, there is no reason not to use one.
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Just took 3" off my 458. Whole new rifle.
 
Anyone else chrony their carbines and compare the results to full length barrels?
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Fired on separate days with different temperatures noted - so not a very scientific comparison.

7600/35Whelen RIFLE (22") -4C
- 59.5ReL15 with Hornady 250SPs gave 2430fps uncorrected

7600/35Whelen carbine (18 1/2") - 17C
- 59.5ReL15 with Hornady 250SPs gave 2392fps uncorrected

However IMO my 35s for the most part give up very little in 18 1/2" carbines. However my 16 1/4" barrel carbines in 358Win and 35Rem are more of a challenge to keep em running up to acceptable levels. They lose steam. But with strategic handloading some can be gained back and it's all good.
 
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