T/c prohunter barrels........questions about velocities achieved

[sgt.rock]

I have 3 different prohunter barrels and have not done any load development or CHRONOGRAPHING yet. (I acquired at least 20 rifles this year and am working my way through them to develop loads)
I am curious as to the velocities one can get with the extra runway ( versus the same load in another rifle they own with a normal 22" barrel)
What do you think is the longest barrel one can utilize to still gain velocity before the pressure starts to drop and the barrel's friction start slowing down the bullet. Have any of you Nutters shot their T/C full length barrel, chrono'd the results, then cut the barrel shorter and chrono the velocity difference?
I have seen more than a few T/C owners cut their barrels to 22 or 24" and wonder if the extra handiness of the rifle in a shorter version would trump any velocity loss. (a shorter barrel would probably be easier to tune in with less "whip" and more rigidity I think??)
I am not against having the barrels cut shorter, but if I am going to lose 300f/s or some retarded amount, I won't do it. Please discuss if you have any knowledge of the long vs shorter barrel dilemma regarding these T/C rifles.

 

[agilent_one]

It'll depend a lot on caliber, that way we at least have an idea of the power burn rate we're dealing with.

 

[sgt.rock]

I have a .308win, 7mm rem mag, and 25-06

 

[Sakoman .308]

Americas gun culture is so much larger than ours. I would ask this question on a huge american forum as well as our fine CGN.

 

[agilent_one]

For the .308, quick load says you'll lose an estimate of 20-30fps per inch removed......between the lengths of 26 and 20". This assumes a "normal" 168gr load.

 

[nowarningshot]

IIRC, overbore magnum calibers burning a scoop full of slow burning powder, benefit/lose the most with longer/shorter tubes.

Believe big.magnums lose 50-75 f/sec per inch; whereas, non magnum calibers more like 30/sec. Three members whose opinion on this would be Cfbmi(?), Ganderite, and Dave..aka eagleeye.

 

[bigedp51]

I boils down to how thick and cushioning your recoil pad is and how annoying you want to be at the range shooting next to someone else.
My Savage Hog Hunter .308 with a 20 inch barrel has a thick recoil pad and some people don't like sitting next to me at the range.
If your longer barrels are accurate then don't cut them down and if you need a short barrel then buy a 454 Casull.
Sorry my 2 cents, my Hog Hunter is not a rifle I would enjoy shooting all day at the range unless reduced loads were used.
Think about shooting 50 rounds in a No.5 Enfield Jungle Carbine at the range and ask yourself if you will like shorter barrels.

That being said my favorite rifle for hunting deer in the woods in central PA. is the Winchester 30-30 Trapper model with a 16 inch barrel. But it would not be my first choice to spend a day at the range with. Bottom line, shooting should be fun and short barrels can sometimes be a pain to shoot.

The Truth About Barrel Length, Muzzle Velocity and Accuracy
http://www.thetruthaboutguns.com/2013/10/daniel-zimmerman/the-truth-about-barrel-length-muzzle-velocity-and-accuracy/

Short barrel 16.5 inch 308 Winchester load development
https://rifleshooter.com/2017/01/short-barrel-16-5-inch-winchester-load-development/

 

[Camp Cook]

Check out this thread... https://dandtcustomgunworks.websitetoolbox.com/post/tc-pro-hunter-test-4637984

I have 3 Prohunter stainless barrels started life at 28" I had them all shortened to 25-06 shortened to 24" 30-06 & 375H&H shortened to 22" I also have a 24" stainless Encore 45-70 barrel plan to shorten it to 18.5".

My main reason for shortening the barrels was I couldn't stand the feel and length of the full length barrels getting better accuracy was a major bonus.