What barrel lengths do you prefer on your standard calibers and magnum calibers? It is usually the contention that longer barrels give higher velocities, and many people want to buy rifles that outperform their current rifles in respect to velocity, trajectory, balance, etc. There has been a huge swing towards 24" barrels in standard calibers with Remington, Weatherby and Winchester, and for the most part CZ (23 5/8"). How important is barrel length in your decision to buy, and which barrel lengths do you like to see on your standard and mag calibers? Personally I like 24" bbls on my standard calibers to wring out that extra velocity (270 and 30'06 in mind for this one), and for standard magnums 26" seems to fit the bill quite nicely for powder consumption and truly magnum performance.24" std 26" mag--need that extra 50-100fps22" std 24" mag--would rather have handier/lighter rifle20" std 22" mag--don't mind muzzle flash as long as it handles nicely16"-18"--Ruger's Frontier rifle is ingenious

Certainly it would depend on the cartridge and rifle type .... I voted for the 24"std and 26"mag. but I like 24" barrels for both mag. and std. on standard bolt action rifles.

I voted 22" std 24" mag but I do like the 24" barrel on my Rem 700 Classic in 8x57 and the 23.6" barrel on my CZ 550 in 9.3x62.

-Bob F.

22" and 24" for me....I have a slug of M-70s with 26" barrels and just detest them. Always hitting branches or getting in the way. The loss of 50'/sec don't hurt any cartridge and makes for a better handling gun IMO.

22" is what most of my other guns have.

Even my .300 H&H Rem 721 has a 26" barrel and I've looked at the hack saw a good many times.

Can't pick just one from your list!

Like to select the barrel length based on first and foremost - What and how the rifle will be used.


Have standard calibers in 21, 23.5, 24 and 26" barrels. They all have their use.

I voted 22"-24" but it's really cartridge specific. I like 23" bbl. on std. calibers & 25" on mags. I would rebarrel that way but leave the factory tubes as is (24"-26").

Since my rifles generally don't have iron sights an extra inch or two of barrel is not even noticed, but the results are appreciated for what they generate. Stock design, action weight and scope mounting would seem to be more important areas to me.

My .300H&H has the 26" barrel but it is so nicely balanced I don't notice it's length. My 7MM Rem Mag has the 24 " barrel and it seems just right. I think stock shape and balance are the deciding factor. The .300 is a pre 64 Model 70 and the 7mm is a Sako.

the 300 Win mag that is being built as I post this is going to have a 27" barrel as I have been reading that with powders like RL 25 hand 8700 you need the extra lenght to get a complete burn.

most of my other rifle have 24 " barrels on Standard and 26 "barrels for the mags.


300 Shooter

I personally prefer 24" on just about everything almost.

I prefer 26 inch on about any rifle, regardless of caliber.....

cheers
seafire

None Of The Above!
My barrel length preferences are as follows:

Standard: 21"
Carbines: 19-1/2"
Magnums: 23"

Keep those votes coming!

Thanks for all the replies so far!

Like many have said it really depends on which rifle.

My .338 WM was trimmed back to 22 1/2" and I love it!
I like the 26" on my 7mm RM and .25-06, and think the 22" fits the .257 Roberts better than a 24".

This is part of the reason why we need so many guns! Nate

I pick barrel length depending on the use I plan for it. I prefer 22" on a mountain or dangerous game rifle and 24" or 26" on a stalking rifle.

465H&H

For standard cartridges such as the 30-06 or 270 Win., I prefer 22" bbls. For belted magnums, I prefer 24" bbls. I've hunted with rifles equipped with 26" bbls., but never again....

AD

You mention muzzle flash with 20-22" barrels. I have a Ruger 77 MkII Allweather in 270 WSM. My load is 72gr Magpro with Nosler 140gr Accubond and CCI mag primer. I've never noticed a muzzle flash nor has anyone mentioned one to me. Is that unusual?

For "standard SA rounds" I'll go 19-22." I like 21-23" on "standard LA rounds" and consider the 338 WM a "standard" cartridge which will work well at any of those lengths (course 24" too!). For smaller bore magnums like the 7mm RM and 300 WM I think 24" is about right and I'd not have a rifle in any cartridge that needs more than 24."

quote:

Originally posted by Mr Jim Beagles:
I've never noticed a muzzle flash nor has anyone mentioned one to me. Is that unusual?

No, but wait until you load with a ball powder...H 414 comes to mind.

Jim and Brad,
coincidentally you posted one right after the other, and I was going to address the 22" barrels. The Ruger 22" WSMs and Brad's somewhat Custom 22" WSMs have always perplexed me. Brad, I know we've spoken about the WSM performance in a 22" barrel, but I wanted to touch on it again. With your 22" WSM, did it use up the powder efficiently in that short tube, or was it more or less a glorified 30'06? And Jim, with a 22" bbl 270 WSM, have you chronographed your handloads out of that bbl length? Obviously it works well for you, but I'm trying to determine the feasibility of a 22" bbl, especially with a magnum of any sort. On a side note, there is an interesting article this month in Shooting Times about the 270 WSM vs the 270 Win...both on equal platforms, scopes, bbl lengths, etc...kinda got me thinking and it's one of the reasons I started this poll.

I'll take the 24" to 26". I don't mind the weight. Most of my hunting is done from a box stand. Even when I hunted the high dessert in Texas where most of the hunting is done on foot I carried a heavier rifle. I'm all over the place with a light rifle, with a heavier rifle I'm a little more steady aiming. I guess it's personal taste and fad. Now lightweight and mountain rifles are in fashion. Not too long ago people would hardly buy a rifle with less than 24 and 26 inches.Things change and coming out with new things is how the industry stays alive. Writers write and we buy!

Ben, the 300 WSM's case capacity / bore volume ratio is identical to the 270 Win's. I think the 300 WSM works "OK" in a 22" tube but think 23 or 24" is better. I also think the same can be said of the 270 Win. I found the 300 WSM loses about 40-50 fps per inch below 24" (about exactly what the 270 loses). Mine would (just) push the 180's at 2,900 fps or a touch less. Not sure that means anything over the 06's 2,750 fps... I didn't think it offered anything more and ended up sticking with the tried and true 06' with a 21" barrel. If I'm going to carry a 24" barrel I'd sooner have a 1/2" extra of receiver length and use a 300 WM which will comfortably push a 180 3050 to 3100 fps... something just not feasible with the WSM and enough of a jump over the 30-06 to possibly mean something. Personally I can see no reason for a 270 WSM with a 22" barrel. That round, to me, screams 24"!

Brad,
Thanks for your input--very much appreciated. I can't help but compare the 30'06 with the 300WSM with the development of new powders and ammunition (federal hi-energy, hornady light mag). Plus, I'm just a sucker for the '06.

My option is 24-inch for both standard and magnum.

Aha!

I was waiting for that one! I've thought about that as well...but to me, 24" on both seems redundant. Take for example the 30'06 and 270 vs. the 300 Win/WSM and 270 WSM. All of them with 24" barrels. Modern propellants and enhanced ammunition will have the 30'06 and the 270 nipping at the heels (within 100fps) of their Magnum/Short Magnum counterparts. Thus negating the reason for stepping up into the magnum cartridges. What particular cartridges do you have in mind for 24" barrels Calif. Hunter?

I always thought the handiness of it was based on your size. A 6 ft plus person likely finds a 24 -26 inch OK. Anything it bumps on they are bumping on anyway. A 5’4†person likely finds a 22†cumbersome. In general I think the rifle manufactures are making them too short and the shotgun manufacturers are making them too long. I’d like more 20†shotguns and 28†rifles. JMHO

Well, alot has to do with the rifle's application. For the most part, it seems even the '06 class could use a 26" tube if you don't mind it. Who is it on here with the 25" Whelen and the Fajen stock? That and a 12" twist, for instance, is a great sounding comb. I'd love a 470 Mbogo with a 24" bbl even though the case - strictly speaking - deserves at least 26".
And a lightweight mountain rifle in 6.5 Swede with a 25" bbl on it would be just perfect for me, even though most have 20-22" tubes.
And the 45/70, some love those little 18.5" barreled guide guns, and I'm sure it's a light and handy rifle, but that 26" CB model does it for me. You might even say the smaller cases need the barrel more than the bigger ones.

What is wrong with a 26 in barrel on everything. And maybe an inch or two longer on a singleshot.

Well not on my 260, that is my saddle carbine.

Thanks all for your input!

Hey Ben, got your PM... give a jingle when you're in town. I spoke with Mark and we thought it'd be a good idea for the three of us to gab a pizza some evening.

Best,

Brad

I have three 26" barreled rifles a couple 22" and the rest 24". Like what was already said when I have these out they each one seams the right lenght.

It is probably not for everyone but I have a ruger compact in 7mm-08 that I love to carry. Using it here in the foothills of NC where shots are seldom > 150 yards.. the loss of velocity has not been noticed yet.

i'm a short fat white man and i find that 24 inch barrels on just about everything feels about right. maybe it's has something to do with what i'm use to and grew up using. it helps a lot if the stock fits. i do however, have a 21 inch barrel on a 6 PPC. it almost feels like a toy but it sure makes small groups!

My first rifle was a Husqvarna lightweight with the 20.75" barrel (given to me as a gift). Then I found I had a passion for the Husqvarna fullstock models with that same barrel length. Now a 24" barrel seems very combersome to me. On the other hand, I prefer longer barrels (28" or 29") on my Husqvarna SxS shotguns. Go figure!