From actual users of a 416 Rigby or Rem, what is your thinking on optimum barrel length?

Thanks

20-23" 20 is handy, 23 is at the edge of too long

My 416 Rigby has a 23 in barrel and that works well for me

I own three rifles set up in 416 Remington Magnum with 24" barrels. They shoot well and kill stuff just fine, so I never had the desire to make the barrel shorter or install a longer one for that matter.

I like the 22" on my 416 Remington and 458 Lott.

Mines a Taylor but I went with 21.5” and I’m very happy with it.

I run 20” on my M70 416 Rem Mag, 400gr at 2300fps is a breeze. The rifle is short, handy, accurate and packs a good wallop for the package.

Mine is a Taylor too.

It is 25 inches. The thought was I can always cut it down.

Never saw that need works fine at 25.

Mine started life as a standard CZ550. It's been modified twice. The first time by Match Grade Arms who cut the barrel to 23" and MagnaPorted it. Makes for a handy length to carry and I get 2700 fps with the 350gr TSX.

24-25 inches. These balance and "hang" much better for offhand shooting. I never have liked short, stubby barrels for that sort of work.

I've used 24 inch mostly, but my favorite was a 20 inch 416 Remington and Pierre van Tonder's original, 20" pre 64 model 70 in 375H&H. They are handy, point like a Boss shotgun, and no need for more velocity, those big bores kill by bullet weight and cross section of bullet.

I also had a Win mod 70 416 I bought from 458 Phil Shomaker that had a 20" tube and it was nice.
I was supposed to sell it for him, but absolutely no interest, so I bought it for myself but traded it about year or so later, so cutting a big bore is an option only if you intend to keep it might be good advise..


My all time favorite was a 450-400-3" double rifle I purchased from a friend well known on AR that had been cut to 20"s and regulated for such by ???..Unheard of by self and most, but it was my all time favorite carbine after I shot and hunted with it. If I ever buy another it would be a Searcy with 20" tubes..

Offhand, Id say its an option that every gun nut should give a try!

When I bought my CZ in 458 Lott, they would do it up however you wanted. So I had the 25" barrel cut to 23" and I always liked it.

Then I found an AHR CZ in 450 Dakota, with a heavier 21" barrel and I LOVE the shorter profile when going through brushy areas (which seems to be often when tracking buffalo). Since the barrel is heavier, it balances great. I'm not trying to max out the velocity, so don't need extra length.

I like a 24" barrel, but I confess I lean toward longer barrels. On my last build, not a .416, we had several arguments about barrel length. We compromised at 22". Still like 24".

As one ages barrels get shorter along with everything else!

quote:

Originally posted by Atkinson:
As one ages barrels get shorter along with everything else!

Not a fun prospect to hear.

25" on my previous 2 x 416rigby's being factory CZ550. Always liked the length of them, never got into short barrels. Though I ran mine more like a 416 weatherby so the length was a bonus

My Dumoulin (416 Rigby) has a 26” Lother Walther barrel. I have no complaints.

I’m only 5’7”. Really long barrels do not interest me. I prefer 22-23”, but some rifles I wanted only came with 24” barrels. That is the longest barrel I own. I think ones height/(length of arms) has a bit to do with what feels comfortable or manageable. YMMV.