264WM barrel length?

[MagnumManiac]

Hi all,
I am building yet another LR rifle on a Sendero II action, just can't help myself, in 264WM 1:8" twist and can't decide whether to have a 28" or 30" finished length on the barrel.

This rifle will not be carried too far from the truck, so weight isn't a concern.

What would you all prefer?

Cheers.

 

[Jud96]

If you don't care at all about weight, maneuverability, or balance with this rifle, then do the 30" barrel.

 

[Trnelson]

If weight isn't any issue the 30" is well worth it. I recently built a 264win with a 32" Bartlein transitional twist and a custom reamer. I'm sending the 160g matrix with mine. I have 108 down the pipe now. Silly easy to tune. Just gives me the giggles every time I shoot it.

 

[MagnumManiac]

The longest unfinished weight I can get is 31 1/2" at this point. Still attempting to contact Bartlein as they are the barrel maker I would prefer, but here in Australia they are **** expensive and the other option is a button rifled S/S barrel that is hand lapped.

Cheers.

 

[RT2506]

If you are not carrying it very far or in thick stuff the longer the better. I have a 264 Win mag 27 3/4" Shilen 9 twist on a Rem. 700 action. This was all that could be gotten out of a 28" blank. I did not have the rifle built but got it almost new in a trade. Shoots great with 130 Nosler Accubond at 3350 fps with Retumbo. I mainly deer hunt over large fields of soy beans with it.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Looks like 29" is all I will get. After trimming and crowning this will be the finished length.

Cheers.

 

[Buster Hemlock]

Hi all,
I am building yet another LR rifle on a Sendero II action, just can't help myself, in 264WM 1:8" twist and can't decide whether to have a 28" or 30" finished length on the barrel.

This rifle will not be carried too far from the truck, so weight isn't a concern.

What would you all prefer?

Cheers.

I would say go 30" as you said it won't be carried much and if you decide you don't like it that length you could have it cut down to 28". I see you said in a later post that your only going to be able to get 29" max, sounds like a good compromise. I couldn't decide between 26" and 28" on a rifle and so I went with 27"

 

[FEENIX]

Looks like 29" is all I will get. After trimming and crowning this will be the finished length.

Cheers.

Anything 26"+ is no slouch. Have fun with it. Mine is a 1:7" in 26" 5R.

 

[Trnelson]

You will have a great time with your rifle! You should have no problem safely sending 155-160g bullets at 3,000fps.

 

[codyadams]

You will get some good speeds with it. HBN coated 156 Bergers in a 26" Krieger 7.5 twist 4 groove using Retumbo are just hitting first pressure signs, and in this gun would be a working max, at 69.0 grains and 3222 fps and ADG 7mm brass, first signs of light primer crater with Federal GM215M primers, no other signs. With Federal brass, had a faint ejector mark at 69.0 grains and 3180 fps, so I called that max, but no bolt lift or any other signs. Bolt lift with ADG brass wasn't until 69.5 grains and 3250 fps, with a faint ejector mark. This ADG is tough stuff. A load right at 68.5 grains and 3200ish fps would be perfectly safe in this gun at any temp range.

With a 29", if it is a similar speed barrel, I would think 3250+ would be attainable, especially if you played with some other powders. I have plenty of room left even with a SAAMI throat and the bullet seated way into the case, RL33 would likely work well with outstanding velocity I would bet. I am HBN coating, but I generally only see around 20-40 fps increase before the same pressure signs as a naked bullet, nothing substancial.

ADG brass, GM215M, Retumbo, .020 off, 156 Berger -

67.0 - 3104
67.5 - 3097
68.0 - 3167
68.5 - 3192
69.0 - 3222 - working max, light primer crater
69.5 - 3253 - max, click at top of bolt lift, faint ejector mark

Federal 7 mag brass, all other the same -

65.0 - 2991
66.0 - 3037
66.5 - 3042
66.7 - 3043
66.9 - 3046
67.0 - 3081
67.1 - 3063
67.3 - 3073
67.5 - 3058
67.7 - 3076
67.9 - 3079
68.0 - 3135
68.1 - 3106
68.3 - 3102
68.5 - 3121
69.0 - 3172 - max, faint ejector mark
70.0 - 3226 - max+, shiney ejector mark


KEEP IN MIND THESE ARE HBN COATED. You may reach max several grains lower!!!!!!

 

[Tank308]

Long is great. I have a 29" and 33" both Bartlien barrels. I had a 29" brux that was a very good shooter.

 

[MagnumManiac]

Thanks all,
Barrel is 4 groove 8" twist button rifled and hand lapped. Throat will be set at .220" to suit the 142gr ABLR/142grRDF/156grBerger. The muzzle will also stay at .850" with an 11 degree target crown.

Cheers.

 

[Ace Quackhunter]

If weight isn't any issue the 30" is well worth it. I recently built a 264win with a 32" Bartlein transitional twist and a custom reamer. I'm sending the 160g matrix with mine. I have 108 down the pipe now. Silly easy to tune. Just gives me the giggles every time I shoot it.

I love that bullet, my 264 has a 26" barrel and sling the 160's out to 400 yards all day.

 

[zb338]

Just don't go below 26 inches and you should have a heck of a good rifle.

Zeke