I'm building a 416 Rem Mag and haven't decided on the barrel length yet. My two choices are 22" and 24". What velocities are y'all getting with your 22" with the 300, 350, and most important 400 grain bullets?

I doubt you'd see more then 50 fps difference between the two, pick the one that ballances better for you.

I like a long barrel to get the muzzle blast away from my face. I will pick 26" every time, and maybe 27". And don't believe that crap about not being able to move around in the brush. If that were true, then tall guys would have to get their arms shortened.

Also, if you get a long barrel and do not like it, you can shorten it for very little cost. But if you cut the barrel too short and want to lengthen it later, getting the rifling lined up and re-welding the barrel can be really difficult.....

A 25-inch barrel would be about perfect.

B

I second the motion on 26" barrels and 27"'s wouldn't bother me at all, my old 404 had a 27" barel....long barrels really enhance off hand shooting and I do a lot of off hand shooting with big bores, most of my buffalo have been shot off hand....and they are a charm on a running shot. I have no trouble in think jesse with long barrels and I consider that the mother of all myths and comes from those who imagine rather than know...carbines are for saddle scabbards only...

I like the feel of the shorter barrels. The .416 Rem I bought came with a 22". If it had been a 24" I would have trimmed it to 22". I am getting 2650+ with 350gr X's and an honest 2465fps, standard deviation of 12fps with 400gr lead core softs and solids and RL-15 from a 22" barrel with no pressure signs. This 400gr load yields 5400fpe at the muzzle and should perform very well for anything on the planet with bonded or monometal bullets. I am of the opinion that RL-15 is absolutely THE powder for the .416 REM. Also, I have found that BELL brass is vastly superior to the R-P stuff. Midway has the BELL cases for $18.88 per twenty, I just stocked up.

Everyone's opinion differs but I would go with the 24" and trim it down to 22" if you find that you would rather. I see no need to go with an ultra-long barrel unless you just want the bullet to start out that much closer to your quarry. Barrels of such great length should always say Weatherby or Lazzeroni on it.

...Catter

I would opt for the 24" I have a 25" on my cz and I like it. But if it were a .458 lott I would opt for the 22" or even a tad shorter. I don't know why thats just how I feel about .416's.