I want to change my front sight on my CZ550 416 Rigby and shorten the barrel somewhat.

The overall length of the CZ550 is 47" (with the Pachmayr F990) - I want to reduce that to at least 45" by cutting it right behind the original front sight. I know I wont recognize the 2" in performance.

I want to shorten it by 2" first - see how it shoots - if I'm finding it doesn't do as good as before (1.0") - I'll shorten it another 1/5" and see how it does.
When I'm sadisfied I'll get the new front sight installed.

So what is the practical minimum length for a 416 Rigby barrel?

Cheers, Franz

I would think that 21" would be as short a barrel as you would want. Muzzle blast would be be getting annoying I would think. But hey what ever floats your boat, I am thinking when I begin my .458 lott project I am toying with a barrel of between 18-20".

I would check the regulations for minimum barrel length of the country's that you think you may ever want to take the gun into.

Not exctly sure but in the USA it's in the 16.5 inch range for a rifle.

How short can you go? - Some folks shoot these large catridges in pistols with 10 - 16 inch barrels.

I would not go with less than 18 inches and more likely 20.

I wouldn't got as far as cutting it down less than 20" - it will be 23" at first - cut and recrowned I will try for accuracy.

When there is a hint of dis-harmonics at that point I will reduce it in 1/5" increaments to find a nice harmonic spot.

Will try some kind of the OCW methode to check. (400grn Hornadys Interlock with Norma MRP 102-106grns in 1,0grn steps).

Cheers all - got my info...

Franz

Franz, Additional to the good advice you have already received. The noise component appears as you cut barrel back to where you start to see Blue flame at the muzzle together with the Orange.Some powders will still be burning their last bit of fuel at 22", depending on the primer used as well as the powder. This is slightly noticeable in terms of a sharp noise increase. A good plan would be to enslist the help of someone using a digital camera to record the firing in poor enough light that the blue flame will be visible. Simply sawing off the barrel at the site of shooting, beyond amazing your fellow shooters, to determine when the blue flame starts to show will explain far more than cut and try beyond where you should have stopped. 22" is handy for a P.H. or guides, back-up rifle, shorter than that doesn't balance the negatives.