I'm looking at buying a pre-64 Model 70 Featherweight in .30-06. The barrel was shortened to 21.5" because some wise guy had a muzzle break installed, and later had the barrel cut and re-crowned to do away with the threads.(Why anyone would need a muzzle break on an 8 pound .30-06 is beyond me.) I personally can't see that this would cause any real world, substantial difference in velocity. Any opinions?

Thanks,
Chet

How could there possibly be a problem with a 21.5" barrel on an 06. It ought to make the price better for you.

Chuck

Most factory rifles today are 22" so what's another half inch off?

I really cannot see where a half inch more or less would affect you. Best wishes.

Cal - Montreal

I have one with 18 1/2" barrel.....and it kills stuff just fine.....go for it!!

Chet, I had my SS M70 Fwt bbl. shortened to 21"... still getting 2,750 fps with 180's... don't worry about 21.5"!

Hello the campfire!
Buy it, try it. If you don't like the short barrel get anther barrel put on. Barrels are cheap.
Judge Sharpe, a poor widows son.

Nothing to worry about at 21.5 in. The best thing is most likely drops the price way down.

The first rifle I built was done on a Browning Safari barreled action in 30-06 that someone had cut to 19 1/2". I shot the s$it out of that rifle for years. It is still my favorite rifle. Somewhere along the line, I got a chronograph and started to check velocity on my favorite load, 180 Noslers. Lo and behold, it occurred to me I was way under published velocity and decided I needed a new barrel. I went with a 22" one. I stll don't know what made me do it. That other barrel was just fine. That chrono was doing mind games with me.
It killed a lot of animals with the old barrel.

The only thing it will hurt is the resale value of a pre 64 Win...so it would be determined on price of thd gun...

Ruger puts a 20" barrel on their No.1 Internationals. I've never heard about any problems with them (related to barrel length, at least).

What's more, Remington puts an 18" barrel on their 7600 Carbine.

Also, modern powders are usually completely burned in the first 4 inches, or so, of the barrel. So, no worries, there.

RSY

I shoot an HK SLB2000 with a 20.6" barrel in '06 and its a fine shooting rifle, just don't pay a collectors price since the barrel has been shortened, other than that it will still kill anything in North America (and most other places).

My 30-06 is an Huqvarna HVA lightweight with a 20 and 1/2 inch barrel it's the best 30-06 I have owned, the barrel is plenty long enough. I havn't a clue what the velocty difference is in comparison to a 22 inch barrel and quite frankly I do care to know. It shoots straight and kills animals.
As has already been said the main consideration is the effect on it's rifles value since it has been "customised".

Chet, if you get the gun and are not happy with the barrel, drop me an e-mail and I will look out back in the shop, I've got a pre-64 takeoff you can have, I just have to remember where I put it

I wouldnt think so my ruger barrel is 22" from the factory so I doubt the 21" will make any real world difference, I say go for it !!

Whoever installed the muzzle brake substantially devalued the gun. Whoever cut that abomination off of the gun at least partially restored some of the value.

While I'd rather have the orginal 24" barrel, you'll likely only suffer velocity losses that only your chronograph will know for sure. Nothing you shoot with it will know the difference, and although you'll have more muzzle blast with the 21.5" barrel than with the 24-incher, you'll still have substantially less than with the muzzle brake installed.

Just don't pay a collector price.

Go for it Chet, no problem with 21".

Roland