24 or 26" barrel for 270 win?

[Sleepy Time]

Getting ready to breathe new life into my ole .270 Win and I have a question. After ordering my Mcmillan stock and Lilja barrel I am wondering if I did the right thing by ordering the barrel 24" and not 26"? I think I'll be happy with the 24, but now I'm just not sure. So I ask y'all this, what are y'alls opinions on the matter?

 

[MTBULLET]

lot easier to cut and re crown than it is to add 2" .

 

[bosstom]

Did you order a 24" barrel or a barrel that will finish at 24"? When I rebarrel mine I'm going with 26".

 

[Sleepy Time]

Just got off the phone with Lilja. This is my first "build" so I'm learning. Anyway, the barrel will be fluted for 24", but shipped 28". So I can finish the barrel at whatever length I want to have it finished at. The only thing is that the flutes will be "short" if I don't decide to go 24". Said I can always call back later and get it fluted for 26". So what that means is that I have plenty of time to decide!

Keep y'alls opinions coming.

 

[bosstom]

I think the flutes look better when they are shorter. i would finish at 26" and shoot it to see how you like it and you can always cut and recrown @24". Be sure to post up some pics of your build.

 

[TOM H]

Just got off the phone with Lilja. This is my first "build" so I'm learning. Anyway, the barrel will be fluted for 24", but shipped 28". So I can finish the barrel at whatever length I want to have it finished at. The only thing is that the flutes will be "short" if I don't decide to go 24". Said I can always call back later and get it fluted for 26". So what that means is that I have plenty of time to decide!

Keep y'alls opinions coming.

Most everything I have rebarrel I go with 25" or longer barrels. For some unknown reason on the 270 I had the gunsmith finish the Lilja barrel @ 24 1/2" long.

 

[trebark]

With the 26" barrel you get a bit more velocity. No real draw backs to going 26" unless you will use the rifle as a brush gun and get into the really thick stuff.

Why 270 though? Although it's a great cartridge, you can't get a bullet with a great BC. Whereas if you were to go with a 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge (think 6.5x284 or 280Rem) you can get great BC bullets.

 

[bigngreen]

With the 26" barrel you get a bit more velocity. No real draw backs to going 26" unless you will use the rifle as a brush gun and get into the really thick stuff.

Why 270 though? Although it's a great cartridge, you can't get a bullet with a great BC. Whereas if you were to go with a 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge (think 6.5x284 or 280Rem) you can get great BC bullets.

Good shooting, high BC bullets are a phone call away for the 270's and is not an issue anymore!!! A .650 BC VLD in the 2750-2850fps isn't to bad IMO.

 

[cahunter805]

bigngreen- Are you referring to the Matrix VLD?

I would go with a 26" and like stated before cur and recrown if it doesn't work out for you. What rate of twist did you order? I assume 1:10.

 

[bigngreen]

bigngreen- Are you referring to the Matrix VLD?

Yep!gun)

 

[Sleepy Time]

Yeah 1:10.

Why the 270? Emotional attachment. My daddy shoots one, great uncle shoots one, grew up shooting one. When someone say deer rifle I think .270 win. Always wanted to build one. If those aren't good enough, it's because everyone keeps telling me I should go 6.5 or 7mm.

I hear you though. After this one is done the next one will be 7mm.

 

[trebark]

Yeah 1:10.

Why the 270? Emotional attachment. My daddy shoots one, great uncle shoots one, grew up shooting one. When someone say deer rifle I think .270 win. Always wanted to build one. If those aren't good enough, it's because everyone keeps telling me I should go 6.5 or 7mm.

I hear you though. After this one is done the next one will be 7mm.

darn good reasons to build a 270!

 

[royinidaho]

With the 26" barrel you get a bit more velocity. No real draw backs to going 26" unless you will use the rifle as a brush gun and get into the really thick stuff.

Why 270 though? Although it's a great cartridge, you can't get a bullet with a great BC. Whereas if you were to go with a 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge (think 6.5x284 or 280Rem) you can get great BC bullets.

I'm working on that problem. Has P O'd me for years. First bullets will begin field testing in a couple of weeks up in Montana. Fingers are crossed. (140, 150, 160 class bullets w/bc hopefully well over 0.6. We'll see.....

As for barrel length. with 140s she's good to maybe 800 yards w/24" w/a 27" barrel she's good for maybe 800 yards also. I say 800 yards as that is as far as I busted milk jugs with both barrel lengths before I went to the Allen Mag.

Both barrels with the exact same load pushed the 140s @ 3190 FPS. I think the tighter Lilja bore counter acted the extra 3 inches. But groups were frighteningly small out of the Lilja. The ca. 1966 Douglas Premium was great. The Lilja is out of this world....

 

[trebark]

Originally Posted by trebark
With the 26" barrel you get a bit more velocity. No real draw backs to going 26" unless you will use the rifle as a brush gun and get into the really thick stuff.

Why 270 though? Although it's a great cartridge, you can't get a bullet with a great BC. Whereas if you were to go with a 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge (think 6.5x284 or 280Rem) you can get great BC bullets.

I'm working on that problem. Has P O'd me for years. First bullets will begin field testing in a couple of weeks up in Montana. Fingers are crossed. (140, 150, 160 class bullets w/bc hopefully well over 0.6. We'll see.....

As for barrel length. with 140s she's good to maybe 800 yards w/24" w/a 27" barrel she's good for maybe 800 yards also. I say 800 yards as that is as far as I busted milk jugs with both barrel lengths before I went to the Allen Mag.

Both barrels with the exact same load pushed the 140s @ 3190 FPS. I think the tighter Lilja bore counter acted the extra 3 inches. But groups were frighteningly small out of the Lilja. The ca. 1966 Douglas Premium was great. The Lilja is out of this world....

Roy - I am familiar with your mad scientist work. http://www.longrangehunting.com/forums/f22/italian-screw-machine-nears-completion-71398/

Both you and bigngreen are right that there are a couple of 270 bullets that have a decent BC. But there are only a couple of them.

If the OP goes with 6.5mm or 7mm cartridge, he can choose high BC bullets from Hornady, Nosler, Berger, Sierra....in varying weights and types (hunting, target, varmint).