Barrel length

[nobovine]

Hi Guys!!! I going to build a walking varmit rig, 20 BR. How short a tube can I get away with, might be a Pac-Nor 3gr. poly. Want something as light and handy as possible!! Thanks!!:thumb:

 

[TRECustom]

I would start at 20". Remington's Model 7 comes with a 18 1/2" barrel in some larger calibers. I like short, heavy barrels for the efficient cartridges.

Good hunting, Tom

 

[nobovine]

Thanks Tom! What I'm trying to figure out is, what might be the minimum length, that will still be efficient. Don't want to go waith a 20" when maybe a 22" is needed!! Someone out there probably knows, maybe I need 24". Will probably be using 32v-max's, maybe a 40 now and then. Thanks Ted:idea:

 

[TRECustom]

I like short, heavy barrels in efficient calibers, but short, lighter barrels will be effectively stiffer and less finicky than longer ones. Also, I don't like light barrels because heavier barrels settle me down for precision shooting.

I was proposing a 20" barrel as maximum length for a light, handy rifle, and the 18 1/2" barrel as a real possibility. Adding inches will add velocity, but above 20" in the BR cartridge it's going to be in small increments, and probably make it more finicky and less handy.

I really like Lilja's hunter benchrest taper barrels.

Let us know what you decide, Tom

 

[Ogre6br]

whats the prescribed BR barrel length for best accuracy and effciency
21 and 3/4 inches
or
23 and 3/4

I dont remember

Later
P

 

[nobovine]

Okie Dokie!! That's what I needed to know, I knew someone out there had the right info, 21 3/4". I might just go with that or maybe a 20", my stock is thumb hole sporter, but I'll keep it as thick as possible and still be handy!! Thanks!! Ted:thumb:

 

[Preacher]

Most all the Pistol BR shooter use 20 inch barrels and they sure don't lack for much
in the accuracy department....
Reminton put a lot of 20 inch barrels on there .222 - 40xbr's back when..
I hunt deer with a XP-100 chambered for the .284 Winchester in a 15 inch barrel
and it will shoot as well as a rifle out to as far as I care to shoot at a deer with it...
If a barrel will shoot I doubt it matters what the length is other than personal preference.....

 

[tuckybill]

Hi there! I thought you would be interested in my range report on my H&R 314 .223 with its "ultragon" barrel. This is a tiny rifle built on a Sako Vixen action by H&R back in the 70s. The barrel is a 20" ultralight profile. I just measured the muzzle and its easily under 1/2 inch. Smallest barrel I know of on any centerfire rifle. Thats like .48 or .47 inches at the muzzle. Its a Hekler and Koch hammer forged barrel that H&R offered as a extra cost option. At that time H&R was the importer of H&K. Its polygonal and has 4 "grooves" and 4 "lands".

Ok so I get it on paper using some old leftover handloads off my ATV handlebars. Shot great. I loaded some 50 gr Nosler BT behind 24.5 varget and tested it at 100 yards. After a shot and a fine tuning of the zero, I was very please to see it put 4 shots into 11/16 center to center at 100 yards. Thats about twice as good as what I thought it would shoot. The barrel stayed amazingly cool. I let it cool down but it never heated up much at all. Less friction with polygonal rifleing maybe? One thing for sure its the closest thing to jewelry that shoots I know of. Wonderful little rifle. Short barrels are loud to hunt with however. Great at the range, rotten in the field. I would go with at least 22" in as lightweight profile as the barrel maker would make. Your wanting a hunting gun not a bench gun. My little 5 1/2 pound H&R/Sako shoots well enough to get a coyote at 300 yards and carries like a feather.

Lamanated stocks are VERY heavy. Go with a low grade thin english walnut stock or a lightweight carbon fiber one. Not sure lightweight and thumbhole are very compatable. Try a 6X42 leupold on the rifle. The most "bang" for the least weight of any optic I know of. And get out there! A coyote killed in the field is lots more fun than 100 killed on the computer.