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What is the Correct Mannlicher Barrel Length

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02 November 2015, 06:42
dpcd
What is the Correct Mannlicher Barrel Length
I want everyone to chime in here and give us your opinion as to the "best" Mannlicher barrel length. Use any criteria you want, even if it is '"just because I want it".
02 November 2015, 06:53
ramrod340
Too me in the 18" range. Made a 600 at I believe 16.5 years ago it was sure pretty. I have one that is 20.5 and too me it is WAY too long. Just doesn't look right.


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
02 November 2015, 07:13
N E 450 No2
I agree, 18 inches seems perfect to me.


DOUBLE RIFLE SHOOTERS SOCIETY
02 November 2015, 07:15
ColoradoMatt
I am a fan of the Commercial Oberndorf type "M" stutzens. They usually have pretty light 20" barrels. They just look good and balance well between the hands. I think the type "S" is the same except for the not having a forend cap.


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
02 November 2015, 09:20
Savage_99
I would favor a short barrel to keep the rifle handy and as light as can be.

The two full stocked rifles I have are not light.

One is a ZB Brno in 7.9 that's 0.610 at the muzzle and weighs 7# 14oz with it's Kahles 2-7X. The barrel is 20".

The other is a Steyr Daimler 358 Win that's 0.640" at the muzzle and weighs 8# 8oz!

The Steyr is at the top of this picture.


02 November 2015, 16:57
theback40
I used to think 18-20" was the right length.... until I saw an H&H 24" barrel mauser in 375 H&H with a full length stock and it was a thing of beauty. That's why my 10.75x68 has a 22" barrel.
I have others, from 16" on up, and like them all.
02 November 2015, 18:07
Toomany Tools
This one I recently finished, Sako in .243, has a 21" barrel. I think it looks pretty good proportionally.




John Farner

If you haven't, please join the NRA!
03 November 2015, 00:11
montea6b
I agree that the shorter carbines are the best candidates for a Mannlicher style stock. However, there are innumerable examples of full stocked rifles in all kinds of different length barrels, (Kentucky rifles, muskets, Mausers, Enfields, etc.) so the question is completely in the realm of personal preference.

My friend thinks 23" is perfect! Wink
03 November 2015, 00:59
dpcd
All those full stocked rifles you mention handle like fence posts, except for swamped barrels on flintlocks.
The correct answer is 18.5 inches.
03 November 2015, 01:32
ColoradoMatt
quote:
Originally posted by Toomany Tools:
This one I recently finished, Sako in .243, has a 21" barrel. I think it looks pretty good proportionally.



I only like varmint caliber Sako's, but I have to say that looks absolutely outstandingly!


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
03 November 2015, 01:38
ColoradoMatt
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
All those full stocked rifles you mention handle like fence posts, except for swamped barrels on flintlocks.
The correct answer is 18.5 inches.


That must be a misprint, because I'm absolutely certain it's 20". Wink


Matt
FISH!!

Heed the words of Winston Smith in Orwell's 1984:

"Every record has been destroyed or falsified, every book rewritten, every picture has been repainted, every statue and street building has been renamed, every date has been altered. And the process is continuing day by day and minute by minute. History has stopped. Nothing exists except an endless present in which the Party is always right."
03 November 2015, 02:30
ramrod340
quote:
The correct answer is 18.5 inches

That's good because I'm not sure I can measure close enough and my 18 might be 18.5 rotflmo


As usual just my $.02
Paul K
03 November 2015, 02:52
montea6b
quote:
Originally posted by dpcd:
All those full stocked rifles you mention handle like fence posts, except for swamped barrels on flintlocks.


Well, a full stocked carbine will be much more handy that a full stocked long rifle, just like a half stocked carbine will be handier than a half stocked long rifle. If my "customer" wants a full stock on his 23" barreled rifle then that's what I will give him.

quote:
The correct answer is 18.5 inches.


It's your post, you decide what is "correct"!
03 November 2015, 03:59
dpcd
Ramrod gets a gold star; Matt gets a frowny face.
03 November 2015, 06:38
Stonecreek
It depends somewhat on caliber. I wouldn't want a .243 any shorter than 20", but a .358 would be okay at 18", simply because of the different expansion ratios of the cartridges, and therefore the speed of the powders and need for barrel length.

That being said, I have a Sako 7x33 Mannlicher with a 23.6" barrel and it's a real looker on which I wouldn't change a thing, even though the diminutive cartridge would do fine out of a 16" barrel.