My best friend is going to get an 06 with a 24" tube, i told hime that its unnessary with that caliber. so he says he wants to get the performance,velocity from federal's high energy loads and he would lose that with a 22' tube. I told him to wait till i ask some experts, such as you guys on here because ya'll obviously know what your talking about.

The 24" barrel will give 50 to 60 fps more velocity on AVERAGE than the 22" barrel with factory loads, perhaps a little more difference with "high energy" loads. But remember, every barrel and chamber is unique, so actual results will depend on the individual barrels involved.

The 24" barrel will also give a slightly lesser report (less muzzle blast) and it will be two inches further from the shooter's head. To me, the 24" also balances better and the "handiness" difference between 22 and a 24 is mostly imagination.

Your friend can always have a 24" cut off to 22", but it's damn hard to do it the other way around.

He's on the right track with a 24.

Of course almost any length will work but I recall the dean of American Rifleman Col. Townsend Whelan extolling the virtues of the 24" bbl and the fact that they "held" better. The 03 Springfield was 24" and so was my first real game rifle a P-17 sporterized with a 24" bbl. These were heavy rifles and not that easy to carry.

When the Featherweight came out in the M-70 it made the standard grades oblsolete. It turns out that shooting big game is not like shooting a stationary target. A ligher barrel is better in most cases.

A 30/06 with a 22" feather weight barrel is a far more useful rifle than a 300 magnum. They are way too heavy and clumsy.

Get the 22" 30/06. You will use it for 80% of your hunting. If you need the extra range then carry a 300 magnum. The 2" will not make any difference.

In true curmudgeon fashion I have been faithfull to the 26" barrel and 9 lb. rifles for many years, because I can shoot them better offhand..that is the only reason..but thats what I'm there for, to make the shot. When I can't carry a 9 to 10 lb. rifle with a 26" barrel I'll hang up the "thang" and play more golf.

"Fully growd boys" that have to have 7 lb. rifles are despicable.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

On the avg my 06's weigh in right around 8 to 8.5 lbs my 300 win mag comes in at 8.75 most 06's are not that much differant then 300 mags. A 22 or 24 doesn't matter cut it to 23 and have the est of both.

I'm with you on this one Ray. My .308. 30-06, and .338WinMag all have 26" barrels. MM

I'm in Don's corner on this one...

If I want to carry a 26" barrel on a LA, I'll get a 300 Wby.

If I want to carry a 24" barrel on a LA, I'll get a 300 Win Mag.

If I want to carry a 22" barrel on a LA, I'll get a 30-06.

Brad

It seems that Atkinson has out curmudgeoned me on this one.

Of course a heavier barrel will hold better offhand on a stationary target. But if there is time to aim offhand there is time to assume a better position. But if the quarry is moving a lighter barrel with the balance further back will follow the game better.

But I am standing pat on my 8 lb scoped rifles. If I go and get a Ultra Light then they will be oboslete. I can make them work and so can Atkinson make his 26" bbls work.

A hunting friend of mine is very strong. He is big and has arms like Arnold. So he got a Ruger Ultra Light in .308 and he is trying to "sell" me on the ultra light concept. He goes and holds the rifle by the grip with one hand and pretends to be aiming it. "See how light it is!" No thanks I am sticking with my M99's for a carry rifle. But they are 22" featherweight bbls.

As far as the 30/06 goes with it's expansion ratio and normal loads the 22" bbl will get about all there is in it. But if someone wants to make it into a mini magnum (which it can be) and pack the case full of powder then maybe a 24" bbl will give some tiny benefit. But I would have to see the chronograph data.

Don, it might surprise you, but I'm toying with the idea of getting a 30-06 made-up on a stainless Win 70 action with Pac-Nor 22" bbl. in the Win "featherweight" configuration. With a Rimrock stock, Leupold 2x7, sling and five rounds the "all-up" weight should come in at 7.75 lbs... good-nuff!

Brad

PS, see my new 300 WSM thread on the "Big Game" section!

OK, yet another opinon:
SA 308 22" barrel. Light and quick.
LA 30-06 24" barrel (like others I can hold off hand better).
La 338 24" barrel.(same reason and my battered 338 just happens to have a 24").
Sorry, but I no longer own a 300 anything. Didn't find them much better than an 06 in spite of all the extra bang and recoil and far short of the 338 when a bigger gun is needed. Just this old hunters experience.

Brad,

Yes I read about your new plan. I am sure it will be a really great rifle. As long as you are putting that much into it make sure that it's bedded so that it stays sighted in. Thats the thing that bothers me the most.

Consider a 30/06 improved. If you can get out of it what Nosler did you might come really close to the WSM. I have a 06 improved and it's not a problem at all and it's a nice looking case. The cartridge gets put down here but it's really not a bad idea.
You can blast away all day with it shooting regular 30/06's and it shoots fine. I use military loads in it just for fun. Of course a load with less powder needs to be sighted in for elevation.

But I just aquired an "Atkinson" rifle. It's a old M-70 in 300 H&H and I am obsessed with it. As you know they have 26" bbls but the bbl is not that thick. I even switched my best scope off of my 300 win mag to that rifle. I can't believe I did that! I will use it for stand hunting. It will be of no advantage in the Vermont or CT forest over a 30/06 but it will be fun. But when I walk for game I am carrying a lighter rifle. Other wise the old H&H will be slung on my shoulder instead of in my hands where it should be.

I also read about primer pockets getting loose in a 300 WSM. When I first heard about the WSM and it's "efficiency" I said that Boyles Law will rule. P=T/V, I still say that. I also say that I think the 300 WSM will catch on. I like the looks of it but I have so many excellent 30's now that I don't need one at all.

Don, Wow I thought the 06 Ackly was a joke according to the AA mafia. sure-shot

Well, I see that we are all in complete agreement!

I started with a Browning 22" 30-06. I was dismayed at its terrible recoil and muzzle blast, and its dismal muzzle velocity. Turns out that they count the BOSS in the barrel length, and what I have is really a 20". Hate it. Very unpleasant to shoot.

Maybe that's why I built my custom job with a 24" tube. It has no recoil pad (yet!), but is more pleasant to shoot than my Browning. When I go to the range for some practice, this is the one I take. I enjoy shooting it.

More practice=more proficiency.

Get something you'll enjoy shooting, so you'll use it more.

Don Martin,
Your getting smarter by the minute, How could one do better than a Savage Mod. 99F, I have several, even a 99 EG which I dearly love, they are my saddle guns...

Then add a Mod-70 300 H&H which I also have packed to all corners of the world. Mine has a thin custom stock and I love that 26" factory barrel, and yes its my choice for running shots and shots taken after I have made a short run. Its got enough heft to hold steady when I'm heaving for air, something no feather weight will do..

That 300 H&H is so worn that a guy was teasing me about secretly having a stainless steel gun until he looked at it closely. I suspect it could use a new blue job, but I remember every nick and gouge on it and I know why the blue is gone and I wouldn't want to change those memories with a blue job and a stock refinish.

Some folks pick guns for carrying comfort and some pick guns for shooting. I'm there to kill, not comfort.

But I gotta say your on the right track now.

------------------
Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com