Wouldn't a heavier projectile used in a shorter barrel be the ideal. Also what's the benefits of a shorter barrel, that's genuine benefits for a practical hunting rifle. We run 24" and 22" barrels on all our hunting rifles most with suppressors and they're not an issue. Some hunters here who're hunting in heavy bush use 308's with 18" barrels and a maximum range of say 200MI've been kicking around ideas for my next build and I wanted to build a 6.5-7 PRC with a shorter barrel, around 20-22", and shoot Berger 156 EOLs. Then I was thinking, why not add some more displacement and do a 6.5 300 PRC? I already know that the more powder you burn down a barrel the shorter it's life will be so there is no need to rehash that argument. I grabbed some info from the 'internets' about approximate case capacity which I've listed below.
6.5 PRC - 68 grs
7 PRC - 73 grs
300 PRC - 77 grs
264 Win Mag - 82 grs
26 Nosler - 93 grs
I've read were Scottw2119 was getting 3200-3300 fps with the 156 EOL out of a 6.5-7 PRC and I think I remember elkaholic saying a customer was getting 3500 fps + out of a 30SM necked down to 6.5. I'm assuming they were using 24"+ barrels. Both of those cases are well below the 264 Win Mag and 26 Nosler in the amount of powder burned and are outperforming them as well. I guess my biggest question is, at what point do you reach diminishing returns in case capacity in relation to speed? Will I be able to find a suitable powder to use in a 20-22" barrel without having a flame thrower? I'm just thinking of ways to add more speed to overcome the shorter barrel length.
Does anyone have any experience with either or both? TIA
I lucked out and got some on Gunbroker.Where are you getting Terminal ascent bullets to reload.
Somebody send this guy a case of beer… or a jug of something…!I have shortened the barrel on numerous rifles recently and have gained back most if not all of the velocity losses by switching those rifles to copper monos. Three things contribute:
1. Less engraving pressure makes more velocity.
2. Less weight needed in good quality monos that perform as designed.
3. Because there is less engraving pressure, you can typically use a faster burning powder without as steep of an initial pressure curve. Faster burning cuts down the flame-thrower and accelerates the bullet in a shorter tube.
Its worked for me in numerous cartridges
Barrel lengths make a difference, trying a 15" beside a 16" on my XP100R's for handgun hunting, deer only. Think I'm liking 16" for the 6.5 and 15" on the 7mm.Somebody send this guy a case of beer… or a jug of something…!
Great post man!
Have a 161/2 bull with a break. It's a xp100 old comp gun in 6.5x284, 1 in 10 twist, does 120 ttsx barns at 3000 fps. Very, very, noisy, double ear protection needed! Just turned it into a rifle. Going to run suppressed .Barrel lengths make a difference, trying a 15" beside a 16" on my XP100R's for handgun hunting, deer only. Think I'm liking 16" for the 6.5 and 15" on the 7mm.
The 264 Win Mag won't perform with even a 24" barrel, needs 26" plus imo. .284 barrels do a little better short but 30 cal and up does much better at 20-22"
I have no experience with PRC's but a lot with the 6.5x284. It has a 66-68gr water capacity so close to a 6.5PRC. 6.5X284 with a 20" or 22" barrel the fps is so close to a 260R or Creedmoor that that I wouldn't bother.
100%, If gonna run a super short barrel might also benefit more from a bit faster powderI'm not arguing with you at all, nor finding fault, but I will say my .257 weatherby surprised the heck out of me with how high performing it is even out of a 24 inch barrel. It's even more overbore than the .264 win mag.
For sure a longer pipe is better and more practical and you see much more benefit with longer barrels in overbore cartridges than you do with efficient cartridges.,.but even out of shorter than ideal barrels, at equal barrel lengths at any length the big drag racers will outrun the efficient ones.
Again, not arguing so much as curious what you mean by "won't perform" regarding the .264 Winnie out of a 24.
I have VERY rarely heard of it that a powder that gives the highest velocity in a given cartridge/bullet combo in a longer barrel gets outrun by a different powder in a shorter one with the same cartridge/bullet. It does happen I'm sure, especially with some of the "weird" progressive burn rate powders like rl26, 17, SUPERFORMANCE, and for sure if we're talking long pistol length barrels shooting full rifle cartridges like those TC contenders or savage strikers and such that's a different ball game too, but it's very much the rule that regardless of barrel length, the powder that gives the highest velocity does so across the spectrum.100%, If gonna run a super short barrel might also benefit more from a bit faster powder