Results: Cutting a 7mm-08 Barrel From 26" to 20"

In my opinion, there's not enough threads with data from cutting down barrels!

I cut down my 26" 7mm-08 barrel to 20". I tested 7 loads before and after and wanted to share the data. Bullets and powders were picked based on what I have on hand. ***Disclaimer, all loads were max in my rifle and should not be attempted***

Why 20"? I figured it would be a good balance between too long to hunt with the can and too short to be tolerable from a noise perspective.

Speer 130gr50.2g H4350LostSpeer 14548.0g H4350LostInterlock 13948.0g H4350Lost162 ELD-M45.0g H4350Lost150 SPFB 45.9g IMR4451Lost162 ELD-M45.1g IMR4451Lost162 ELD-M46.0g IMR4831Lost
26"20"26"20"26"20"26"20"26"20"26"20"26"20"
131262993298628652972285527302649276527052710262226602587
231082995298028702974284727172653282026772688261026602595
331262990298028712982285827232658277226842731259426482584
AVG31202993127298228691132976285312327232653702786268997271026091012656258967
SD1033356753015221476
ES185661011139552843281211

Average Lost: 100 FPS
Average per Inch: 16.63 FPS

Sadly my rifle prefers much lower charge weights than the max, but the FPS lost per inch was less than I expected. The difference in velocity won't be missed as the rifle is much more enjoyable to shoot with a silencer on it now and the speeds are still quite good. In many cases the choice in powder will have a larger impact on the velocity than having cut down the barrel. I still need to pick up some of the more traditional 7mm-08 powders to try, once supply improves.
Did you do this test suppressed or not?
 
In my humble experience, if the data is consistent, even in small samples it will carry through. As long as the range data holds with the paper data just shoot it as it stands. I was obsessed with tiny groups before I shot my first PRS style match. Then I realized that a 3/4 MOA rifle was perfectly competitive. Same for game animals. The target is big enough to be hit.
 

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