Barrel length?

[ObiWanKannoli]

I'm done with long barrels personally. If you dont NEED the length to shoot very far youre just making the tool more cumbersome for no gain. I am building a 20 inch 300 prc currently. Do the math, see what X barrel length with Y cartridge is going to deliver on target, and figure out what your max distance is for hunting based on that.

 

[VinceMule]

20" barrels put a LOT of concussion on your head and skull, which goes right to your inner ear. I am not running cans.

I tried running 18-20" barrels on my coyote hunting where the thought of fast swinging had it's allure, till I pulled the trigger on my 20" 243 Winchester loaded with 48g of Win 760 with a 60g HP. I had some 22" 6mm benchrest barrels cut to 20-21"chambered for a number of calibers to varmint hunt with. No more sort barrels for me.

An 8.5 lb rifle does not crimp my style at all, and I have never seen where a 24" deer rifle was ever a hindrance, even when they were being carried in a scabbard, pulled up and down ladder stands with a rope, or when hunting out of a small box stand where windows were smallish.

There is a HUGE difference in concussion between a 20" and a 24" barrel, especially when you are dealing with slow-burning powders where the muzzle pressure is high. This is a hobby, you have to have confidence in the way you do things...to each his own.

 

[ObiWanKannoli]

20" barrels put a LOT of concussion on your head and skull, which goes right to your inner ear. I am not running cans.

Yeah, caveat, I always put ears in and run a can.

 

[Rosebud]

The 6.5 Creed, NEEDS,.. ALL, the "Juice" it can, Muster,.. IMO
I Aim to, KEEP My Tikka at, 24" and 2,750 FPS with, 143 gr. ELD-X's for,.. Mule Deer.
I've never had, a problem with, any of, My 24 inch Barrels for sneakin thru, the Woods ( OR for, killin',.. chit ).
SKIP the Suppressor and put that Money, into a GOOD,.. Scope.
Yup,. I know that, the Suppressor,.. IS,.. TRENDY and ya gotta, keep up with, the Jones's ! LOL !

Been my experience you still have to wear ear protection while using a suppressor when its a super sonic load. It helps, but its not the pew pew its made out to be.

 

[bear41]

As other have suggested you lose velocity. The amount of velocity drop depends on the cartridge but if I remember correctly if is about 50 to 100 fps for each inch. There is an optimum length based on powder speed and cartridge. The idea is got get most of the powder to before the bullet leaves the barrel. All this said, for a deer gun none of this will matter at most of the distances folks take game at. You will be giving up speed and some accuracy depending on the cartridge. Best of luck

 

[Rick Richard]

As other have suggested you lose velocity. The amount of velocity drop depends on the cartridge but if I remember correctly if is about 50 to 100 fps for each inch. There is an optimum length based on powder speed and cartridge. The idea is got get most of the powder to before the bullet leaves the barrel. All this said, for a deer gun none of this will matter at most of the distances folks take game at. You will be giving up speed and some accuracy depending on the cartridge. Best of luck

Speed yes, but I have not see any degradation in accuracy. However, every shooter is not the same.

 

[Damage Inc.]

Wow… almost as many Wive's Tales as the Break-In thread.

1. Short barrels, all things being equal, are more accurate than longer barrels. That's just science.

2. Velocity loss will vary by cartridge, but I have yet to see it average anywhere near 50 fps per inch… it's more like 20-30 per inch.

3. The powder which gives the best velocity at 26"… almost always still gives the best velocity at 20".

4. The only people who typically talk trash about suppressors, are those that don't own them…. and are worried about losing their tinfoil hat.

 

[ObiWanKannoli]

Wow… almost as many Wive's Tales as the Break-In thread.

1. Short barrels, all things being equal, are more accurate than longer barrels. That's just science.

2. Velocity loss will vary by cartridge, but I have yet to see it average anywhere near 50 fps per inch… it's more like 20-30 per inch.

3. The powder which gives the best velocity at 26"… almost always still gives the best velocity at 20".

4. The only people who typically talk trash about suppressors, are those that don't own them…. and are worried about losing their tinfoil hat.

Amen brother

 

[choprzrul]

I hunt out of a ground blind, so OAL matters to me. My bolt guns I prefer at 22", and my Ruger #1 is 26"…..and both are roughly the same OAL, so I look at it as free velocity out of the single shot.

Additionally, weight isn't important when just sitting in a chair, so IMHO the shorter medium sporter barrels are probably more accurate than longer thinner barrels.

When I had my X Bolt 30-06 Long Range barrel shortened from 26" to 22", the piece the gunsmith cut off weighed all of 4oz on my postal scale, so I don't see weight savings as a good reason to shorten a barrel unless you are climbing mountains

Just my $0.02 worth….

 

[ObiWanKannoli]

My opinion on ultra light weight rifles is that you can absolutely shed the weight elsewhere in your gear...but you absolutely cannot replace the increased shoot-ability of a heavier rifle.

 

[VinceMule]

the difference between a 20 and 26" barrel is about the same as between a 280 Remington and a 7 Mag with hand loads.

I do not run cans on anything. Therefore, the amount of Concussion on my head is important. I prefer 24,25,26" barrels and my 28" 7 Rem mag runs 160-168's at 3200 fps, 26" runs 3100, Retumbo and Fed 215. A 20" 7 Rem mag runs in the area of 2900 fps with the 160s, 280 Rem(24" runs 2930 with 160s), and 25" 280 AI runs 3000 with 162s. The 20" 7 Mag sounds like a cannon, my nephew bulged the barrel when he tripped and fell in the mud, tried to shoot a doe, and bulged the barrel. Gunsmith cut it off and re-crowned it, shoots great now.

I am unsure what this means to you, as it is all personal preference, and good shot placement trumps all.
Climbing trees with a climber, and hunting out-of-box stands with small windows is where my family is at.

Short barrels are better suited for truck guns, and a Thompson Center Carbine in 7 Waters or 30/30 is what we start out the kids and grandkids on as they handle it very well...best kid's gun we have found...trumps model 7's!

 

[bamban]

Wow… almost as many Wive's Tales as the Break-In thread.

1. Short barrels, all things being equal, are more accurate than longer barrels. That's just science.

2. Velocity loss will vary by cartridge, but I have yet to see it average anywhere near 50 fps per inch… it's more like 20-30 per inch.

3. The powder which gives the best velocity at 26"… almost always still gives the best velocity at 20".

4. The only people who typically talk trash about suppressors, are those that don't own them…. and are worried about losing their tinfoil hat.

I took my 20 inch 308 down to 16-1/2 suppressed. I lost 100 fps (around 2500 now) using M118 LRs.

The 175 SMKs at 2500, I've taken hogs with them, farthest was 300 yards.

 

[dogz]

Always build for balance to suit you, and when in doubt....build for balance to suit you

 

[Shane Lindsey]

I took my 20 inch 308 down to 16-1/2 suppressed. I lost 100 fps (around 2500 now) using M118 LRs.

View attachment 440574View attachment 440575

The 175 SMKs at 2500, I've taken hogs with them, farthest was 300 yards.

I took my 16" to 20