I have decided to buy a new Sauer 202 rifle in 30-06. Today I visited a gunsmith who showed a wonderful Classic with a 22" barrel in 30-06.

Is 22" enough barrel length for 30-06 or should I really go for 24"?

22 is fine...it will not make much diff in performance but it is more about ballance asthetics and handling imho

quote:

Originally posted by boom stick:
22 is fine...it will not make much diff in performance but it is more about ballance asthetics and handling imho

I agree completely. You can get 3000 f.p.s. from 150 grain bullets and 2800 f.p.s. with 180 gr. ones from many 22 in. barreled 30-06 rifles. You don't need more velocity than that, and even if your velocity is 100 f.p.s. less than that, who could notice, except the chronograph?

22" is about perfect. The velocity loss will be insignificant.

you can get 2800 with a 180 gn proj in a 22 inch 06, but at what pressure...been there done that...stick with a 24 inch and use the slow burners like NORMA MRP, R 22 , AND WXR....then you can run your 06 at about 2850 at reasnable pressure with the 180 proj
just because you dont get physical signs of high pressure does not mean your not running over the pressure threshold
Daniel

I have 18' to 26 inch 06's pick the one you like. I quess I would go with a 22 but then I jsut got done hunting hogs in thick brush with a 24 inch 338 and did not mine it.

If you've never hunted in deep woods with a slightly longer bbl you can't begin to understand the agravation it can cause just by nicking overhead limbs, etc. when slung. I once sold a great .243 with a 24" and replaced it with a .22", loved the difference even tho it seems a small one. IF you only hunt open country the longer barrel will be of no consequence and the ballistics, though small, are real.

My 30-06 has a 22" tube and don't think I lose anything noticible, ballistically.

I have several 30-06s of both lengths. For hunting the eastern deer woods in the US 22" is fine. My preference however is for the 24" since I hunt a lot out west and hand load so I get a little more out of the 24" barrel and rarely use 150 gr bullets.In fact the M70 30-06 I use the most is the rifle I use for 90% of the hunting in the US.

I like the balance of a lightly longer bbl. so I would probably go w/ the 24". My fav. bbl. length for non magnums is 23".
BTW, you can limit the branch snagging w/ a slung rifle by going to a end of the forend or bbl. band swivel, or like me, don't sling your rifle while moving through the thick stuff.

I prefer the 24-26" barrels. I have hunted with 18" barreled '06s and did not find them any handier in the "deep woods" of the Pacific NW. I've also not found the shorter barrels any "handier" in the jungles of central America or the Jungles of SE Asia. But then I didn't hunt with the rifle slung either. A 22" barrel is certainly ok but but I consider the 24" barel to be better and the 26" barrel is "enough", which is what you asked.

Larry Gibson

You will appreciate the 22" barrel when getting in and out of narrow blinds, the car or need to stalk in heavy vegetation.
- mike

i think it depends on where you hunt. If your shots are likly to be long , you might do well with the 24 inch. but if you are more likly to be close cover hunting or covering long ranges on foot a little lighter weight and faster handeling might be that way to go .
Either way you will have a very versital hunting rifle.
...tj3006

24" is two inches further away from your ears than 22". How those two inches could make the gun so much "handier" I never figured out.

quote:

Originally posted by Bent Fossdal:
24" is two inches further away from your ears than 22".

A fact that is often overlooked. No matter what the caliber, the extra two inches makes a significant difference in muzzle blast.

If you truly need a short barrel for handling purposes (in and out of an auto or in a tight blind, then use a 20 inch barrel. If not, use a 24 incher. The 22" barrel is neither "handy" enough nor is it long enough to optimize velocity and dampen muzzle blast. In other words, it's a "just wrong" length.

Make mine 22" please!!

DM

Buy which ever you'd get the best deal on. I have a 21.5" on my '06 and that's fine. Its accurate, points well, and in the deer stand is still too damn long. I doubt seriously that you'll miss two inches either way.

Enjoy!

22" just perfect, I would go for it. I own 20" - 22" - 24" and like the 22" the best.

Roland

quote:

Reply

I have 06's with both 22" and 24" barrels. I can't tell much difference either with handling or with the chronograph. My current pet has a 22". To me stock fit is more important for handling than barrel length.

I will go with the 24 inch barrel every time. If I don't like it, I can cut it off but its tough to add on.

On non-magnums I prefer 24 inch barrels and on magnums I want 26 inch barrels. I have a 375 H&H with 23 inch barrel and I think its an abomination but that was all I could get at the time...its a Ruger...I think Winchester originally used 25 inch barrels on their Alaskan...barrel length makes no difference in woods or open country whatsoever. Their was a craze in the 70s for short barrels and that was a load of crap pure and simple by gun writers...not hunters and not performance shooters. Stay with the better ballistics.

I had an m70 7x57Fw 22".
I ended up loading her with 55gn/760win.
Instead of straining her, I went to .270 with 24" with very similar loads, glad I did.
I would not prefer a 30/06 with much less than 23"(about 22" forward of the receiver ring.)
If you are pedanticly concerned about vel.loss, but still want shorter than 24", get a.30cal Polygonal bore from Pacnor or WaltherLothar. that will easily give you velocities typical of a more traditional rifled 24" tube.

22"

Woodjack--

I like the 22" barrel I have on my 06 now, but the velocities have always been disappointing. How much difference does a Pac-Nor poly barrel make?

I'd like the shorter barrel but am considering rebarreling in 24"......

Thanks,

Dan

22" is perfect

but take the Sauer 202 with steel action not the alluminum one! It´s better. And if You need some nice toys for the 202, please have a look at my website, especialy the LED-Sight

Klaus
www.titanium-gunworks.de

I like a 24" but the 22" is enough barrel length.

quote:

Originally posted by Dan H:
Woodjack--

I like the 22" barrel I have on my 06 now, but the velocities have always been disappointing. How much difference does a Pac-Nor poly barrel make?

I'd like the shorter barrel but am considering rebarreling in 24"......

Thanks,

Dan

Dan I contacted three companies.

Pacnor indicated that they get 50-100fps increase with
308win/24" poly, over a normal rifled 24" tube. results obtained through White Labratories.

Broughton C5 barrels, indicated a 50fps increase based on same 308win/24"

WaltherLothar indicated around 50-100fps increase, depending on powders used.

Schneider is another company that does them, but have not contacted them as of yet.

I have done research on Snip.rifle forum sites, and the reports are all very similar.They offer added benefits of easier cleaning and notably extended barrel life, cause of the seal between the bullet and bore(much less throat erosion).
D.Tubb a well respected guy, who shoots poly bores, mentions Schneider has a marineCorp poly rifle that still performing very well after 14,000+ rounds ie; 1 5/8 10shot groups at 300yds with issue ammo.
You might also want to look up Boots Obermeyer 5r barrels and Mike Rock 5r barrels they both seem to have fine reputation.

Some would say why bother? I say why not? a lot of folk push their nrmal rifled tube rigs to the limit chasing max velocity be it 308win or 300RUM, so why not take the 50-100fps that comes from a polygonal for no real extra effort? makes sense to me.
Even with a reduced load 30/06 for comfort or hot climates,you would not loose much at the muzzle.
Im looking at the Walther barrel 17-4 stainless, where most if not all others are 416 grade.

Woodjack--
Thanks for the info. I suspect that's the way I'll go with my rebarrel....now to decide on the barrel length...

Cheers,

Dan

22 or 24? There isn't much of a difference unless you're hunting in really thick woods. If you don't mind the weight gain, go with the 24. I hunt in NY State which is known for thick woods and I carry a 24 inch rifle.