Between a 24" and 26" tube the real world difference WILL be negligible on game. I wouldn't even give it a thought. I use a .338-06 and my 225's leave the barrel at a leisurely 2600 fps. The .338 mag will add what? Two hundred+ fps to that! I still kill all my game cleanly with some of it at longer ranges. (I hope THAT statement gets missed by the LR hunting Police!) It may be as much as 100 fps or as little as 20 or 40 fps. As I'm sure you know each barrel and its performance/accuracy can be a bit different.
Personally I prefer a 26" barrel on a magnum. It helps a bit with muzzle blast and it does let all that powder burn a bit more efficiently. Plus I like the way a longer and to a degree heavier barrel "hangs" when I mount a rifle to my shoulder. Then again the folly to THAT one is I seldom if EVER shoot unless I'm off a bipod or a rest! I'd go the 26" route. Then again two silly inches aren't a big deal.
FN in MT
Posts: 950 | Location: Cascade, Montana USA | Registered: 11 June 2000
Actually, the only way to know for sure is to take a 26" barrel, fire a given load in it, then cut it off to 24" and measure the difference. If you did this, you would likely find perhaps 60 fps difference. But in reality, since you can usually only compare two different barrels, it can happen that a "fast" 24" barrel will give you more velocity than a "slow" 26 incher.
As Frank said, I wouldn't worry about the velocity difference -- I'd go with whichever suited my aesthetic tastes better.
By the way, I kinda like a 24.5-25" barrel the best. Again, a matter of taste.
Brad, would you mind sharing your 210 load details with us? I've mostly used Sierra 215 gamekings in my .338 but have recently picked up a box of Nosler 210's I want to make a one load gun out of. thanks
Posts: 19 | Location: Snohomish, WA | Registered: 13 February 2003
I did exactly what Stonecreek suggested, once upon a time. Started off with a 26" tube and got down to the 23" my gunsmith was trying to talk me into. Because of temperature differences on the successive Thursday I was shooting I could not discern ANY loss in velocity though I know there had to be some. Most shooters believe the loss is about 30 fps for each inch of barrel.
I prefer 23" in my 338's so I can just beat out Brad on velocity! My new 338 WSM will sport a 22" tube.
Posts: 1261 | Location: Placerville, CA, US of A | Registered: 07 January 2001
Ostlund, depending on the powder/bullet lot I run 210's with WLRM primers and 72.5 to 74.0 gr's H4350. RL19 is a much touted 338 powder but has always given about 50 fps less than H4350 with no better (and sometimes lesser) accuracy. RL22 beats H4350 very slightly in terms of velocity (maybe 20 fps) but H4350 is "temperature insensitive" which can mean a lot more than 20 fps in -15 temps!
Bob338 runs, I believe, Vihtavuori powder in his 338 WM's (and 338 WSM?) though I don't remember which one. I'm just happy he's seen the light and is toting a 22" tube
Hi 4x4SNEAK; I have 2 338's. 1 with a 26" barrel and the other with a 24" They both should the same loads at the same velocity. One barrel is a Pac-Nor and the other is a Hart. I think the barrel is more of a concern than the length. If you have a slow barrel such as my 26" Pac-Nor then you may not gain anything by the extra length. However, my 26" barrel is more accurate. Good luck, Steve
Posts: 48 | Location: British Columbia | Registered: 27 July 2002
Good responses so far. I think that in the .338 Win Mag you will find about as much difference from barrel to barrel as you will between a 24 and a 26 incher.
The .338 Win Mag is "relatively" efficient as magnums go and really gains little by going to a 26 inch barrel. I have found that the 300 and 340 Weatherby's on the other hand gain quite a bit when using longer barrels.
Back to the .338 Win Mag. My first one was a Ruger Number One that wore a 26 inch barrel. When Remington came out with the 700 Classic chambered for .338 Win Mag I just had to have one. I was worried that I would loose some velocity, but the chronograph assured me that the speeds from the two rifles were virtually identical.
I wonder how many folks remember that the original Winchester Model 70 Alaskans in .338 WIn Mag had an odd ball 25 inch barrel?
R F
Posts: 1220 | Location: Hanford, CA, USA | Registered: 12 November 2000
Thanks Brad. It has been suggested to me to try H4350 too. I've only used RL22 behind the 215 Sierra and get 2,959 fps out of my 26" factory Winchester barrel.
When I saw you get almost that with a 24" barrel and granted 5 less grains of bullet I figured maybe there is something else to try.
I recently learned through personal experience about the temperature sensitivity of RL22. I was at the range the other day with around 80 degree temp and I experienced heavy bolt lift, a split neck, and it printed higher and to the right (which is something my rifle does as the powder charge goes up when developing a load). Scared me. These problems don't occur at 60 degrees and lower, but I've also never used it in extreme cold either. So, I will try the H4350 route with the 210's, and for the remaining 215's and RL22 I have will back off a few grains. thanks again, Dale
Posts: 19 | Location: Snohomish, WA | Registered: 13 February 2003
let me tell you what i did. twenty six inches made the gun look strange to me. i worked up to 70 grains of 4350 with the nosler 210 part. was real accurate and was over 2900 fps. so i set up the chrono and decided to cut the barrel an inch at a time. my goal was till it looked "right" and since i was going there i figured i learn something. i cut and tested after each inch until i got to 22 inches, all in the same day. although i didn't crown it until the finished length i found i only lost an average of 9fps per inch. still have an accurate shorter rifle that still shoots the 210 nosler over 2900 fps.
Posts: 128 | Location: southeastern pa | Registered: 23 July 2003
quote:Originally posted by hm2: Still have an accurate shorter rifle that still shoots the 210 nosler over 2900 fps.
I could have saved you the trouble if you'd asked! OK, just kidding. Your excellent post illustrates how unecessary a barrel over 22" is... just as with a 30-06.
Ostlund yes, by all means, whack off some tube... it really isn't loud as those who haven't tried it would have you believe!
Guess I've found a mission in life... convincing others that a 338 WM works to perfection with a 22" barrel... pitiful isn't it!
It's a little off topic but I have a Mauser cut down to 17" and an unmodified k98 with what, 26"? Anyway with military surplus ammunition there is an average of 210 fps difference between the two. Jason
Posts: 575 | Location: VA | Registered: 20 March 2003
quote:Originally posted by ostlund: I recently learned through personal experience about the temperature sensitivity of RL22. I was at the range the other day with around 80 degree temp and I experienced heavy bolt lift, a split neck, and it printed higher and to the right (which is something my rifle does as the powder charge goes up when developing a load).
A split neck is not typically a result of excessive pressure. I think some other problem, like fatigued brass, may be the cause of the symptoms similar to a pressure excursion.
Posts: 13256 | Location: Henly, TX, USA | Registered: 04 April 2001
Stonecreek, you're right about the split brass more than likely indicating fatigued brass, this was the third reloading on full length re-sized brass and at obviously max loading. I did forget to mention I was getting an exractor mark on the case head too. The mark, bolt lift, and different POI definitely told me something was up though.
Posts: 19 | Location: Snohomish, WA | Registered: 13 February 2003
I have a M70 Custom Shop stainless in .338 with a 26 inch barrel. Believe me don't worry about the velocity loss. The 26 inch barrel just seems to snag a lot in the woods & is also inconvenient getting in & out of cars.
Get the 24 inch barrel. Don't know if I would go any shorter than that for a Magnum due to greater muzzle blast in the shorter barrel. Just seems that a 24 inch barrel doesn't not snag, nearly at all.
I would have to agree with Brad. My .338's have 22" tubes and all my standard calibres have 20" tubes. I like handiness in a rifle and I've never felt deprived with shorter barrels. It comes down to personal preference, either way you decide to go will get the job done.
Posts: 2092 | Location: Canada | Registered: 25 April 2003
I have to agree with most about 4350 and 210 Partitions. My A-Bolt (26" barrel) loves that combo. I do, however, think that you can use the extra barrel length. My rifle chronos 3050 fps with a 210 Partition and 73 gr of IMR 4350. The accuracy in my gun is phenomenal, I get sub 3/4" MOA with this load. It's the only load I use. It is deadly on elk!!
quote:Originally posted by bowhuntrrl: I have to agree with most about 4350 and 210 Partitions. My A-Bolt (26" barrel) loves that combo. I do, however, think that you can use the extra barrel length. My rifle chronos 3050 fps with a 210 Partition and 73 gr of IMR 4350. The accuracy in my gun is phenomenal, I get sub 3/4" MOA with this load. It's the only load I use. It is deadly on elk!!
bowhuntr
I, too, have an A-Bolt .338 WM with a 26-inch barrel, and I, too get phenomenol accuracy, currently from 71 grains of H4831 pushing a 250 gr. Partition.
But I'm very interested in this thread. Is there any accuracy reason for me not to cut off four inches? Our deer camp is in deep brush, and last year the .338's length just didn't cut it. I had decided to take the 30-30 this year.
But I'd love to cut off four if it won't affect accuracy.
To me this tube length thing comes down to one simple thing--at which length do you feel the gun will handle the best.
I've used the 340 probably about as much as most around--I do have a preference for a barrel that will mike between .67 and .7 at 23". I've shot em at 23-26" and to me it feels the best shorter and a bit stouter!
Honestly, the lil difference in speed to me is no issue at all--it's all about feel.
"GET TO THE HILL"
Dogz
Posts: 879 | Location: Bozeman,Montana USA | Registered: 31 October 2001
The expansion ratio of the 338 Win Mag and the 30-06 are nearly identical in equal length bbls. The optimum length (97%of velocity in a 30 inch bbl) for an '06 with 4350 and a 180 grain bullet at 2700 fps is 23.67 inches. For the 338 with the same powder and a 250 gr bullet, its 23.90 inches. Go with 24 inches and feel good about it!!
Posts: 1111 | Location: Afton, VA | Registered: 31 May 2003
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