I recently aqiuired a Browning a bolt in 270, with the Boss. Overall barrel length is 22, but in reality, the " barrel "is only 18.5 long. As you would expect, my initial velocitys were lower than typical velocities expected. I ended up going to a faster burn rate, as far as the powder goes and I got my velocity back to where I was wanting to see it at. With 130 bullets, I am at about 3050 or so, and VERY accurate to boot. When I shoot 140 VLD's, I am at about 2950-2972, or there a bouts. I simply exchanged the normal h4831, or 4350 to IMR 4064, I am not a fan of the boss, due to the noise. It does chop the recoil right in half, but the noise will be a issue in the hunting field. So, the shorter barrel does shoot, you just have to use a faster powder. A friend of mine shoots a TC handgun. He told me that he used 8208 powder, and is getting around 2740with 130 bullets. Not bad. Hope this sheds some lite.