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30-06 barrel length

I’ve taken my suppressor off at night and shot loads with h4350 and there’s almost no flash in the 16” Switch to h1000 and there was a pretty good fireball. But h1000 is to slow for this cartridge and doesn’t give good velocitys
 
I stumbled across some chatter on cutting down a 30-06 barrel.
No one seem to agree on much as i did more searching, it only revealed more questions.
What is the shortest you can have a 30-06 barrel and still have all the powder burn?
Can ya go 18-20" on barrel lenth?
And if you were going to cut down a 30-06 barrel that short, wouldnt it make more sense to switch to 308win ?
Seems to me the 308win would stomp on a 18 or 20" 30-06 barrel with efficiency ..i could also see that short barrel being a flamethrower probably set the lawn on fire every time you shoot it right!..hahaha..bunch of burning powder particles rolling out of the barrel hahaha...thats what i envision in my head anyway..
I found the concept worth talking about.
Thanks
Depends on the powder. Look for safe loads that use the fastest burn rate powder and go from there.
 
I stumbled across some chatter on cutting down a 30-06 barrel.
No one seem to agree on much as i did more searching, it only revealed more questions.
What is the shortest you can have a 30-06 barrel and still have all the powder burn?
Can ya go 18-20" on barrel lenth?
And if you were going to cut down a 30-06 barrel that short, wouldnt it make more sense to switch to 308win ?
Seems to me the 308win would stomp on a 18 or 20" 30-06 barrel with efficiency ..i could also see that short barrel being a flamethrower probably set the lawn on fire every time you shoot it right!..hahaha..bunch of burning powder particles rolling out of the barrel hahaha...thats what i envision in my head anyway..
I found the concept worth talking about.
Thanks

IMO, hunting rounds should have full length barrels. I'm weird like that.

I even prefer 18" to 20" barrels on AR's.
 
Seems there are a lot of manufacturers coming out with much shorter barrels which make for better handling with cans on them. Seems like I've seen a lot of 20" barrels, though not sure about 30-06. If you don't mind the velocity loss and a bit more muzzle rise and recoil, (without a can) why not?
 
I have never understood this thought process. Guys want the bigger faster cartridges for the extra oomph on target, then cut them off at the knees with a shorter barrel. It makes no sense!

It's just a matter of perspective. You're not throwing 30" barrels or your hunting rifles to gain FPS. You'd rather cut them off at the knees with a 24" barrel because the extra FPS isn't worth the added weight and hassle. Same reason I use 18" barrels hunting in the swamp, the extra length and weight isn't worth the gain in FPS. We're just drawing the line of what we're willing to trade off in different places.
 
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I have never understood this thought process. Guys want the bigger faster cartridges for the extra oomph on target, then cut them off at the knees with a shorter barrel. It makes no sense!
I’ve been saying the same thing for years. It’s like ordering a sports car with the V8 performance motor option and then unplugging two spark plug wires!
24” barrel in my custom ‘ought six
 
Different types of hunters I suppose. Y'all can't imagine losing some velocity. When the miles add up I can't imagine wanting to the carry the extra weight. In the end all that matters is we have the freedom to choose.
 
What powder do you have in mind for that longer barrel setup? Sounds interesting.
Depending on the bullet weight and use. I'll do some research and post back. A lighter weight like 168 used for longer distances would require a different powder than a 190+ grain for elk and bear. In the past I've done well with the lighter weights with a burn rate around Winchester 760.

The other issue is deciding how to cut the throat.
 
I dont have the numbers handy any more but when I cut my barrel I believe the short barrel '06 was ballistically equal to a long barreled 308.
And the 308 is still a very capable round for anything I would hunt for in the lower 48 .
 
Here’s some handloads for my 16” 30/06

Rem brass
215 berger
2550 with rl17 or rl26
2420 with h4350

RWS brass
185 juggs
2630 with h4350

Rem brass
125 TMKs
3200


Thank you for sharing.

The 2550 with RL17 is about right for 16 inch barrel. My 28 inch skinny KBI with 4-port Salmon River Solutions Ti-Pro launches 215 Hybrids around 2840. Rifle weighs less than 11 pounds with Trijicon Tenmile. I can interchange RL17 and N560 for the combined precision and velocity.


20221015_102327.jpg20250917_155631.jpg20250917_155914.jpg

For reference, one of my buddies 20 inch 300WM runs 215s at 2850. Another guy runs the same bullet from his 18 inch 30N at 2750. The latter double duty as flame thrower.
 
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Thank you for sharing.

The 2550 with RL17 is about right for 16 inch barrel. My 28 inch skinny KBI with 4-port Salmon River Solutions Ti-Pro launches 215 Hybrids around 2840. Rifle weighs less than 11 pounds with Trijicon Tenmile. I can interchange RL17 and N560 for the combined precision and velocity.


View attachment 1699060View attachment 1699061View attachment 1699062

For reference, one of my buddies 20 inch 300WM runs 215s at 2850. Another guy runs the same bullet from his 18 inch 30N at 2750. The latter double duty as flame thrower.
That's gotta have some recoil.
 
Your choice on barrel length only lowers velocity and causes a change of optimal powders. If your interest is to lighten the gun and the range of your target is acceptable for the reduced energy of the round, then everything is fine. As a 30-06 is a powerful round even moving as slow as 1500 fps, I don’t see anything wrong. It’s never my intention to use really short barrels because I shoot targets at long ranges but the recipe for either is to dial in the drop and hit the target. At a range of 200 yards, I don’t see any reason a 16 inch barrel wouldn’t be perfectly acceptable for bullet energy. It’s more about point of impact. My 223’s are sub moa at 700 yards and I wouldn’t hesitate to take a shot at that distance on a deer for a head shot. It would still be instant death. It’s more about maintaining your accuracy than anything else with this example.
 
Depending on the bullet weight and use. I'll do some research and post back. A lighter weight like 168 used for longer distances would require a different powder than a 190+ grain for elk and bear. In the past I've done well with the lighter weights with a burn rate around Winchester 760.

The other issue is deciding how to cut the throat.
I dug into this and I'm suggesting powders between Winchester 760 and Reloader 22 in burn rate depending on bullett weight and barrel.

The throat cutting issues exists with a custom 06 as well as a 30 magnum.

To be accurate I'd need to start the process over again since the evolution of powders and bulletts has progressed.

My past work showed that the 30 magnums with equal barrel length (in general) had the ability for slightly increased velocities in lower weights ( as little as 75 to 125FPS) the heavy weights the magnums could be 150 to 200FPS faster.

Reloading for quality receivers and barrels can push the 06 to 60,000+ PSI where most 30 magnums can run 62,000+PSI.

30 magnum factory ammunition in general is loaded closer SAAMI maximum then most 06 factory ammunition which is why 06 handloads can close the gap.

In my opinion rate of fire during load development for the 06 should be kept in check as the higher pressures will erode the throat in a similar manner as a 30 magnum.

In the past I achieved 3100 FPS with 165 grain Hornady hunting bullets FB as well as BTSP. I had several rifles achieve 2850 and 1 achieve 2900FPS with the 190 grain Hornady. Recoil was similar to 30 magnum rifles of similar weight and stock design.

How close was this to magnum? Who cares, the loads and rifles shot well.

The nice aspect of an 06 is that I could download some 150 RN to about 2,400FPS for my sister-in-law, soft shooting and killed many deer.
 
I used to have a FN(not Browning) 30-06, 24" barrel, very accurate.

I now have a FN Browning Safari in .308 Norma Mag. What's not to like about a magnum rifle? I can shoot 30-06 velocities or ramp it up if need be. Options are good imo. 24" barrel.
 

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