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25-06 barrel length

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31 December 2007, 23:32
260encore
25-06 barrel length
How much faster would a 25-06 be with a 26" barrel vs a 24"? Was thinking about building a 264 WM, but seems like a 25-06 with a 26 incher would shoot as flat as a 264.
01 January 2008, 04:25
R Flowers
I am on my second 24 inch barrel on my 25-06 and I think it is just right. I really would not want it any shorter, and 26 inch barrels just are not that handy to hunt with.

I am not sure how much velocity you would gain with the 26 inch barrel. The 25-06 does not burn that much powder. If it were a .257 Weatherby I would not consider anything less than 26 inches, but in a 25-06 I htink 24 inches is fine.

Funny that this came up. A long time ago when I got my first chronograph we had a funny situation occur. I had two buddies with custom made 25-06 rifles with 26 inch McGowan barrels. They were SO anxious to chronograph those things, they thought they were really going to go fast. Interestingly enough, another guy showed up with a stock Ruger Model 77 with a 24 inch barrel that beat the pants of those 26 inch barrels. Those guys were sure upset!


R Flowers
01 January 2008, 04:34
260encore
R,
Thanks, I would have thought it would have made more of a difference. Was leaning towards the 264, but the 25-06 does it almost as good with a lot less powder. Already have a 25-06, just felt like building something fast in stainless. May as well go that route since I have all the stuff anyways.
01 January 2008, 05:00
jjmp
on a fac. barrel 25 to 30 fps per inch,on a custom 35 to 50 fps per inch,this can and does vary from barrel makers. 26 inch barrel on my 25-06 and she''ll shoot Flatter than that there senderoooooooooooooooo! banana regards
01 January 2008, 07:52
AK Hunter
In my experience, barrel length is only one of many factors in velocity in a 25-06. I've had both 24 and 26" barrels in 25-06, and longer does not always mean faster when comparing 2 individual guns.

I am more inclined to get one that balances well on the particular rifle. On a single shot I prefer a 26", on a bolt I will take a 24".
02 January 2008, 02:57
vines
i think the 25-06 will produce all the energy it can in 24" 120s with 51 grs imr 4831..3000+ fps i load a 280 rem 22" with 140s with 57 grs. RL-19 i also load my 7-08 with 44 grs. RL-15 24" my 7-08 is a little faster. I load for 3 different 30-06 all with 52 grs 4064 all with 22" 150s they vary about 110 fps remington, browning and vangard. the vangard is fastest 2960