What is the ideal barrel length on a 416 Rem and how much performance would be lost with a 20" tube?

I'd say 24 inches is right for me. I like a muzzle-heavy rifle for offhand.

QuickLoad says you lose 100 fps at 20 inches even using the best powder for each barrel length. You would drop from 2400 to 2300 fps. That's still respectable, but muzzle flash and jump would be worse also.

Don

I put 24 on most 416's, and 22 to 23 on the 458 and 50 cal. Just finished a 416 Rigby with a 25. If you are rebarreling, think hard about the contour and final rifle weight. Too light a contour leads to excessive muzzle rise. 9-1/2 to 10 pounds is a nice weight, however, I assembled a 7-3/4 pound 416 last year, you sure can tell the difference in recoil!!

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Currently in Exile on the Beautiful Olympic Peninsula of Washington State.

My Warden sometimes allows me to respond to email. NEW Address is rifles@earthlink.net

***********Jail Flash*******
Web site under construction: http://home.earthlink.net/~rifles/

John -- I read you last post with interest, because I am wanting a 416 Rigby built. I have just discovered the action can be a BBK by Olympic Arms in your state. I would appreciate an E-Mail as to your services in building a rifle and approximate cost. I need an action and barrel with brake, or a complete rifle. Thanks in advance for your information.

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Another vote for a 24" tube. Two of the best reasons for a 24" barrel are ballance and weight. Somewhere along the way, the concept of a short barrel was perpetrated on hunters. The theory was a short barreled gun would not catch on brush and it would point faster. My opinion is - this theory is categorically wrong on both counts.

Hooey!

I just whacked my CZ 550 Lott from 25" to 22" and can't tell any difference in muzzle jump. There might be more muzzle jump but not that I can notice.

The shorter barrel will make it "feel" alot handier in the bush, whether it is or not in reality. It feels a lot handier...maybe just my imagination.

It just depends on what you are going to do with it. It doesn't look as sexy with the shorter barrel, though, but at 25 yards max for me, I don't need a Kentucky squirrel rifle!

Will

I might use a 20" barrel if I new beforehand, like some, where the brush was going to be just before just before I threw up and shot!! An extra 6" never bothered me atall.besides short barrels are for panty waists, whiny butts that can't pack a real gun.

I have 26" barrels on all my guns now simply because I like the weight up forward and it helps steady my off hand shooting and is a real plus for running shots. It keeps the blast further from the face and I can tell the difference with the real big guns. I also like guns in the 9 to 9.5 lb. weight. I like a short barrel for hunting on horseback, such as my 308 Sav. 99F or 250 Sav.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com

OK....now.....what if the rifle in question has a bull barrel?? Does this change your opinion?

The rifle would still weigh at least 10 pounds, even with the barrel cut to 20".

[This message has been edited by GonHuntin (edited 03-17-2002).]

Ray:

Just call me a puss.

I heard one time that guys with long rifle barrels were trying to over compensate for their "short"comings.

Is that true?

Have a good weekend, or what is left of it.

Will

Ray,

I seem to recall that you have(had) a 9.3x62 in a 20" tube. I've been considering a CZ FS in 9.3x62, but I don't know if that 20" tube is going to affect the way I feel about other things(: What do you think about the CZ FS in the 9.3x62?

i have a 416rem cut to 22" and love it , lost about 50fps not a big deal still at 2400fps with 400gr hornadys.

I would prefer a barrel in the 24-26 inch range.

Ovis,
Being the whore that I am, I sold that lovely little 9.3 with the half Oct/half rd. full ribbed gun out of pure greed because I didn't like that short barrel as it brought out my short commings.

I never had a chance to chronograph it..It was a joy to hold and shoot...Unfortunately I took it to Safari club for show only and greed seized me.

I would send someone a picture from my new digital camera if they could post it here..

I am going to build me one on a G33-40 Mauser action with a 26" round barrel and a piece of Turkish thats been screaming "use me, use me" for the last 30 years. I believe the 9.3x62 needs a 26" barrel to compete with the 375 H&H with a 24" barrel.

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Ray Atkinson

ray@atkinsonhunting.com
atkinsonhunting.com