Hi
federal says that their HE cartridges generate 2880 fps. is it in 26 inch barrel? what can i get in my 22 inch barrel ruger 77?
regards
yes

you will probably lose 100'/sec in the 4" shorter barrel

I think they chrony them in a 24 inch barrel. So yours should be around 2780-2750 I reckon. Depends on your barrel.

quote:

Originally posted by yes:
Hi
federal says that their HE cartridges generate 2880 fps. is it in 26 inch barrel? what can i get in my 22 inch barrel ruger 77?
regards
yes

For rounds like the .30/'06, we use a rule of thumb which says that you'll lose about 25 FPS per inch you chopp off the barrel down to 20", and more below 20". And we say 35-50 FPS/in. loss for magnums.

However, when actually tested, it turns out that such rules of thumb are quite unreliable! Two rifles that come off the assembly line, one after the other, made with identical materials on the same machines, and chambered for the same cartridge often will show as much as 100 FPS (or greater) difference in MV with the same ammunition. This proves once again the old adage "All rifles are individuals."

So, you can use the rule of thumb. But only a chronograph will give you the true information for YOUR INDIVIDUAL rifle. It may, OR IT MAY NOT, LOSE ANY VELOCITY AT ALL due to the difference in barrel length! So get several boxes of the same lot number of ammo, and test it in your rifle - then you will have exact information!

quote:

So, you can use the rule of thumb. But only a chronograph will give you the true information for YOUR INDIVIDUAL rifle. It may, OR IT MAY NOT, LOSE ANY VELOCITY AT ALL due to the difference in barrel length! So get several boxes of the same lot number of ammo, and test it in your rifle - then you will have exact information!

Yes, and there have actually been documented cases of folks gaining velocity cutting barrel down.

It happened to me once when I cut a 26" to 19" and actually saw a 100'/sec gain in velocity!....believe it or not!

Hi
thanks for replies. the only cases i've seen bbl shortning may increase the velocity was in shotgun and 22 LR. i don't know which kind of powder is used by federal,but slow burnings lose more than fast burning powder too. i hope somebody has actually chronied the round and can give me more precise data.
regards
yes

quote:

Originally posted by yes:
Hi
federal says that their HE cartridges generate 2880 fps. is it in 26 inch barrel? what can i get in my 22 inch barrel ruger 77?
regards
yes

I tried a box of the Federal HE 30-06 rounds in two rifles. a 22" and a 24", both on FN Mauser actions. I can't find my notes on them, but as I recall the 24" rifle was fairly close and the 22" about 50 FPS behind it. WI also tested the Hornady Light magnum rounds, also in 30-06 from the same two rifles and velocity was also close to the HE ammo. The one thing hat caught my eye, and ire, was that both loads were horribly inaccurate in my rifles. The best I could wring out of that ammo was 2.5 to 3.0" and this from rifles that do from .75" to 1.25" depending on the load. Just what happened in my guns. YMMV.
Paul B.

quote:

Originally posted by yes:
Hi
thanks for replies. the only cases i've seen bbl shortning may increase the velocity was in shotgun and 22 LR. i don't know which kind of powder is used by federal,but slow burnings lose more than fast burning powder too. i hope somebody has actually chronied the round and can give me more precise data.
regards
yes

I picked up a few boxes last year to try just to see what they shot like. I only shot them in one of my 30-06's 24" barrel. Gave me 2914 average and groups ran 1" - 1-1/4". This rifle has a pretty quick barrel and shoots 3/4" or better with loads it likes.