TOO MUCH BARREL

[8x68s]

I have a 6.5-06 custom-built with a 30" heavy barrel, 1:7 twist. The result is a 12.2# rifle. Thirty inches seems to me to be overkill and I'm considering cutting as much as 4" off to make a more portable but still heavy for caliber rifle. Not worried about giving up velocity and that loss is understood. Not interested in going "AI" to make up velocity. I load 130-140 grain bullets. Any tech thoughts or advice? Thanks for weighing in!

 

[Andrew Massi]

I'd be willing to bet anything over 24" is negligible from an 06 case cap. I'd cut it back to 22-24".
I have a 23" bartlein 3b and it's the most handy rifle barrel I have. It just balances very well with about any scope I put on it.

 

[KMLampson]

I'd cut it down to 24" and call it good.

 

[jjmp]

Besides cutting 4 off you could have it deep fluted if you like that look and it would probably save another half to 3/4 pound .

 

[huntsman22]

130's out of a 1-7? What bullet? how's it shoot?

 

[FEENIX]

I have a 6.5-06 custom-built with a 30" heavy barrel, 1:7 twist. The result is a 12.2# rifle. Thirty inches seems to me to be overkill and I'm considering cutting as much as 4" off to make a more portable but still heavy for caliber rifle. Not worried about giving up velocity and that loss is understood. Not interested in going "AI" to make up velocity. I load 130-140 grain bullets. Any tech thoughts or advice? Thanks for weighing in!

Nonsense, my .270 AI has a 30" Lilja 1:8" sendero + MB or suppress.

 

[8x68s]

130's out of a 1-7? What bullet? how's it shoot?

it likes and shoots 130 &140 Berger Targets into .4-.5 moa with .75" change in POI.

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

If you want to go Ai I would consider 22 inch. This makes them very handy and gives optimal length if you ever decide to run suppressed!

 

[8x68s]

If you want to go Ai I would consider 22 inch. This makes them very handy and gives optimal length if you ever decide to run suppressed!

not considering AI or suppression. just going with a shortening...

 

[North Idaho Hunter]

not considering AI or suppression. just going with a shortening...

Whoops! I still stay with the recommendation of 22'' - for years i packed long barrels, not anymore!

 

[8x68s]

LOL, me too, me neither... shorter and/or lighter is the focus now.

 

[memtb]

With your case capacity…..I suspect that anything over 26" is getting into "diminishing returns". For hunting (carry use), a 24" barrel should give you good velocities and a very practical/comfortable/manageable firearm! JMO! In my preferred hunting environment…..a 30" barrel would need a "barrel hinge" just forward of the forearm! memtb

 

[8x68s]

With your case capacity…..I suspect that anything over 26" is getting into "diminishing returns". For hunting (carry use), a 24" barrel should give you good velocities and a very practical/comfortable/manageable firearm! JMO! In my preferred hunting environment…..a 30" barrel would need a "barrel hinge" just forward of the forearm! memtb

that's the sort of tech I was hoping to hear... thanks! 24" length is where I am going with this.

 

[BrentM]

I had a couple 28-28.5" 6.5-284's, basically a twin to the 6.5-06. I also had several 24-26". It's a bit odd i suppose but I hunt with a can exclusivly now and run shorter barrels, overall length hasn't changed much. Obviously the shorter barrel isn't really shorter due to the can. For example 1 of my prc's is 18" and with a 7" can is 25". So having played with this entire process for quite some time I think 24-26 is fine for that cartridge but the contour etc will dictate how the rifle balances for you. It's a compromise game and generally for long range hunters that 100 fps doesn't mean a lot but it does mean something regardless, and that's a personal choice.