Ultimate barrel lengths
- Thread starter rascal1
- Start date
Sorry gents but I am in the "long" barrel crowd. I like getting the full velocity out of my hand loads or factory ammo. I agree that in some calibers and bullet weights that the loss in smaller and my testing shows about 30 fps on average per inch. That however is important when you shoot long range and building tables for accuracy (or hunting). Personally, my parameters are 26 inch minimum for magnums and 24 for standard calibers. I do have a 20 inch in 308 Win but that is an exception. Right now the trend seems shorter for the tactical precision rifle but with the interest in long range hunting and precision shooting I think it will go the other way shortly. Each to there own I guess! It all good.
M12shooter
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- East St. Paul, mb
What he says...
I also have a remi semi, but in .308 with the 18.5 barrel. As a semi, recoil is already favorable. As for muzzle blast, it has a factory recessed crown, which pushes the gasses slightly away from the shooter and helps to insulate you from the noise and blast. It's effectiveness is in my opinion good - another .308 I have with a 22" barrel has noticeably more noise (to the shooter) and more felt muzzle blast (to the shooter). Not much, but noticeable. The 22" has the slightly rounded muzzle face that was popular in the 50's, and the crown is just about the farthest thing forward on the gun. The 18.5 is definately louder, has more muzzle blast, and makes pretty impressive muzzle flashes at dusk. However, only those standing beside the gun notice it. Never the shooter.
Not sure if it's in the cards or not, but if I were you, and cutting down the 30-06, I'd consider having a smith or machine shop recess the crown for you.
The first time I shot a moose with the 18.5, the first thing that popped into my head (after "HELL YEAH!") was "hey? My ears aren't ringing. That's weird. " So that's been my limited experience. Your mileage may vary.
Not sure if it's in the cards or not, but if I were you, and cutting down the 30-06, I'd consider having a smith or machine shop recess the crown for you.
The first time I shot a moose with the 18.5, the first thing that popped into my head (after "HELL YEAH!") was "hey? My ears aren't ringing. That's weird. " So that's been my limited experience. Your mileage may vary.
- Location
- Somewhere on the Hudson Bay Coast
Relative to the length of rifled bore ahead of it's chambered cartridge, the .30/06 barrel is effectively shorter than the .308, in any given barrel length, when measured from bolt face to muzzle. That said, when loaded with 220 gr bullets, in barrels of equal length, the '06 has the edge. The moral of the story is, load heavy bullets in short barrels. Maximum heavy bullet loads have lower muzzle velocities, that are less affected by reduced barrel lengths due to the time available for acceleration, and are loaded with lighter powder charges, that requires less time to make an optimum gas volume in that particular application, than maximum light bullet loads. At least that is true when both light and heavy bullet loads are compared with the same propellant, even though it might be considered unreasonable to load 150s with Re-22 or 220s with 4895. Because its generally agreed that loads that produce the highest velocity in long barrels, will also produce the highest velocity in short barrels, only so much tweaking can be done to adjust loads for short barrel lengths.
yup
my 300 winmag has a 26" fluted and I wouldnt shorten it . I have short bush guns and like them but they wont do what the 300WM can do.
canadaman30
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Far from the City
Walking through bush with a 18.5" barrel gun on my shoulder doesn't get hung up on branches and other stuff compared to a 24" gun on my shoulder. I would take a shorter gun any day when covering lots of ground. I don't care about the noise, muzzle blast, not concerned when hunting
I think the 24" is better in the 270... Just my humble opinion...
Agreed, I have had 270s with 18.5", 22 and 24 with the most consistently accurate being the 24 "...
Your understanding is very much in error, depending on the cartridge 20fps to 50fps is far more realistic For a short rifle,a single shot like the Ruger number 1 is hard to beat, because the action is so short, you can have a 22" barrel, and have an overall length similar to other action types with an 18" barrel.
If a fella cuts a barrel for overall balance on the rifle, everything else falls into place. Lots of opinions, and very little facts. If a fella hand loads, most velocity losses can be made up, while still being ridiculously safe. A 22" barrel handles very nice, and almost always balances on, or very near the front action screw.
R.
R.
I will comment as per my own observations, hoyt.
1. This is true in most cases.
2. The same handloads will still be faster in the longer barrel.
3. This is quite true, in my experience.
4. Because the muzzle is closer to the shooters face, the noise is perceptibly louder. [Agree that all guns are too loud for hearing preservation.]
5. In most cases, this is true.
6. In fact, accuracy may actually improve slightly with the shorter [and now stiffer] tube.
Regards, Dave.
Sounds contradictory to your previous comment Dave.
If speed is the only thing you're going for in a gun, and you only pack it from the car to the bench at the range. Go for a long truck axel barrel. Hiking over hill and dale all day, I'll take a 16.5" to 20" meat getter any day.
I agree, I think smaller bullets (.243 to .270) should get a bit longer if a barrel to get up to speed, where as something short and fat (.338 federal 200-210 grain, most .358's or a 250 grain .336 bullet) have a fatter arse to push on and seem to get up to speed fairly quick, and are better suited to shorter barrels.
The .270 and 6mms would be nicer for knocking deer down in more open country at comparatively longer ranges, and so by where their strengths are applied would often be more open country, keep the barrels longer.
A .338 federal and .338 mag are quite different here, but the federal being shorter has more barrel to get up to speed, that or a .358 win would be a good candidate for a 18-20" barrel, the .338 WM I'd say split the difference, 22-24"
A lot of years ago I was buying a high quality 270. The final choice was between a Sako L61 with 24" barrel or the Belgium Browning with 22" barrel. I decided on the (maybe) bit more speed and bought the 24 inch Sako.
I later, many times, regretted that move.
