i'm getting ready to order a barrel from pacnor to use on the 6.5-06 that i'm slowly putting together. would you guys go with 24 or 26 inches. i'm not a velocity nut but i do want to get the most out of 140 grn bullets without hot rodding it(not much anyway ) on the other hand, if that 2 inches of barrel won't make any significant difference, i'd rather have a little handier rifle. opinions???

thanks...bud

Go with the 24 inch and have a handier rifle. You are building a "Thinking Man's .270" anyway, so design accordingly. A 6.5-06 is a great rifle!!

LLS

Either way there are pluses and minuses but not enough to really mean anything.This is one of those what do I really want calls. Enjoy, make a purely emotional decision. roger

I'm a fan of the short and easy to swing barrels. My (in process) 6.5-06 will sport a 21" barrel and have no reason to go longer. The velocity loss is about 125'/sec from a 26" barrel and that's an easy trade for me.

Be your own judge, it's your money.

thanks for the replies. sounds like 2 inches of barrel is not worth the trouble. 24 inches it is.

I helped my friend put a 6.5/06 AI together with a stainless fluted 25" Pac Nor barrel. Because of the flutes, the longer barrel ballanced out nicely.