Gentlemen... I'd like to hear the opinions of those with more experience than me. My step-father recently gave me his #1B in 25.06. He had some custom work done to it including fluting and shortening the barrel. It's now just over 23". Is that too short to maximize the potential of the cartridge or will I just lose the typical 50fps p/inch of barrel. Or, did I just answer my own question?

Thanks!

I would prefer a 24 or 26 " tube on a 25,06 but that does not mean the one you have is not a great hunting rifle, Probably handels great and if it shoots strait it should be a very good deer antilope caribu rifle.
...tj3006

quote:

or will I just lose the typical 50fps p/inch of barrel.

It's probably closer to 25'/sec...

Barrel length for velocity is far too overworked. Your 23" barrel is just fine.

A Lot of the factory barrels are 22. 23 will be fine. You will give up less than you think.

I am getting 3250 fps out of a 22",with a load that is very common.54 gr 4831.I have heard of guys getting 3450 with the same 100 grain bullet I am using out of a longer tube,but for everything I need it to do it will work great.

Every barrel is different. I did an experiment with a 7x57, it was a fwt m70 with a 22" barrel, accuracy was poor and the owner decided that I could play with it. I took off 1" at a time down to 19". Using factory ammo on hand the Norma 150gr lost 44.3 fps/inch removed, Rem 140gr lost 32fps/inch, and Fed 140gr lost 48fps/inch. Sounds like the Rem would be the winner except that the Norma 150's were still going 2595fps and the Rem 140's were only going 2497fps(they were 2592 with 22") Hornady 154gr were 2605fps with the 19" barrel. Accuracy went from a 2.5" avg to 1.25" avg. Happy customer interesting results.

My 25:06 barrel length is 22 7/16" with 10" twist and it shoots just fine with alot of different bullet weights

FWIW, I prefer 24" to get a little more velocity.

I have a 24" and it works fine, but I'd like it to be 20" and my only concern is muzzle blast since it will still have plenty of speed to do the job. I think the 20" .25-06 makes a .257 Roberts with a 24" which is a GREAT gun!! I'm concerned about the noise.

I have a Ruger Number 1B which has a 26" barrel. I never saw any reason to cut is down; the single-shot action has a real advantage over the bolt guns in keeping the overall length down.

I expect you are going to loose about 30 fps per inch, so not a big deal.

jim

I would stay with the 23" bbl unless you just WANT to rebarrel...then I would go with a 27" on a No 1.

I am hearing about some good vel. with shorter barrels now & you can allways have a fast barrel that is short, but I will use a 24", but prefer a 26". I use other guns like a 308 or 30-06 in the woods anyway & rig up my 25-06, (25-06AI now) for long range Varmits/Deer/Antelope.With the 06 sized cases & bigger in a small bore, I think that is a safe bet.