Is a 24'' barrel too short for long range shooting?
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James Jones
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24" is fine not realy depending on the caliber , I have a 308 with a 20" barrel and it will shoot accurately to 1000yds with the right bullets (175gr Bergers)
Depending on the caliber will make a big differance in what kind of velocity your loose , in a 308 the velocity loss from a 26" to a 22" is only about 50fps where in a 300 win mag it might be 100fps-150fps
Generaly shorter barrels will be more accurate than a long er one due to the short barrel being stiffer and haveing less barrel "whip"
Depending on the caliber will make a big differance in what kind of velocity your loose , in a 308 the velocity loss from a 26" to a 22" is only about 50fps where in a 300 win mag it might be 100fps-150fps
Generaly shorter barrels will be more accurate than a long er one due to the short barrel being stiffer and haveing less barrel "whip"
James Jones
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With the 300 win mag you will only loose about 75 maybe 100 fps depending on your load.
Eight way the velocity loss will be minimal and it'll still be shoting alot faster than the 308 so the balistics will still be their.
I can't thinkof one time that I ever shortened a barrel or knew anybody that had a barrel shortened "PROPERLY" that the gun wasen't more accurate than before , this is for a couple reason , (1) the shorter barrel is stiffer so it viberates a bit less (2) a properly cut barrel will have a better crown cut square to the bore generaly alot better than the factory.
What the reason your wanting a ahorter barrel
Eight way the velocity loss will be minimal and it'll still be shoting alot faster than the 308 so the balistics will still be their.
I can't thinkof one time that I ever shortened a barrel or knew anybody that had a barrel shortened "PROPERLY" that the gun wasen't more accurate than before , this is for a couple reason , (1) the shorter barrel is stiffer so it viberates a bit less (2) a properly cut barrel will have a better crown cut square to the bore generaly alot better than the factory.
What the reason your wanting a ahorter barrel
I have a 300 wsm that used to be a .308. Rebarreld with 24" and shoots like a dream with 168gr Bergers at 3100fps across the chrony. ( Of course the bolt had to be redone to accept the wsm case, sako extractor added...etc...) But I like the way it shoots and the little shorter profile. I dont think you will go wrong with a 24.
Riflemanse
Well-Known Member
Im about to order a rebarrel job and have been thinking a lott about the lenght of the new barrel and also asked about it on some Swedish gun forums.
Recently there was a test in a Swedish hunting magazine where the conclusion was that a short barreld 300wm (in this case a Browning Bar I belive) was nothing more than a 30-06 on high octane, the gain of the magnum round was considerd to little for the added recoil, muzzle flip and muzzle blast.
A shorter barrel is stiffer but at the same time, I got a magnum rifle just because I wanted it to be a magnum, not a 30-06 on a boost.
Im looking at a Lothar Walther #2200 in 26", 27" or 28" my selfe, 27" seems like a good compromise between speed loss and handines/portability of the rifle.
Recently there was a test in a Swedish hunting magazine where the conclusion was that a short barreld 300wm (in this case a Browning Bar I belive) was nothing more than a 30-06 on high octane, the gain of the magnum round was considerd to little for the added recoil, muzzle flip and muzzle blast.
A shorter barrel is stiffer but at the same time, I got a magnum rifle just because I wanted it to be a magnum, not a 30-06 on a boost.
Im looking at a Lothar Walther #2200 in 26", 27" or 28" my selfe, 27" seems like a good compromise between speed loss and handines/portability of the rifle.
DONTSTROKEME
Well-Known Member
Most reloading books list the 300WM as a 24" barrel.....the 30-06 is not very close to the 300 WM out of a 24". 180gr pills come out of my factory 300WM 24" barrel at close to 3100 fps. Not to discredit the 30-06 but the 300WM in a 24" barrel is better, go to a 22" it might really not matter which round is shot......
diderr
Well-Known Member
I have a 23.5" barrel on my 300wsm now. It shoots accurately, but my next barrel is going to be 28" to get more velocity.
Depending on your distance, a 24" is not going to be that much of a handicap.
I use barrels quite a bit shorter and I am not handicapped accuracy wise.
Down Under Hunter
Well-Known Member
In the end, length really dosn't matter. Its how you use it that counts !!
W
Weda
Guest
24" is absolutly NOT to short.
I have had numerous LR hunting rigs with 24" barrels used to shoot out to 1200 yards.
300wsm
7wsm
260
all did 1K+ without a problem...
It is all in the powder/bullets/primer you choose.
There is this mindset that you need HUGE case capacity and 34" barrels to hunt LR. Absolutly not true.
I have had numerous LR hunting rigs with 24" barrels used to shoot out to 1200 yards.
300wsm
7wsm
260
all did 1K+ without a problem...
It is all in the powder/bullets/primer you choose.
There is this mindset that you need HUGE case capacity and 34" barrels to hunt LR. Absolutly not true.
