barrel length- how long is too long?

Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: muskrat30 I wouldn't go anywhere near a 30" barrel on a hunting gun, even for a strapping young lad. If you want to go long I'd consider a 24", 26" at the most. JMHO of course.

You obviously missed something in the OP's information - he is building a long range varmint rifle, not a "hunting" rifle.

24" is average for a deer rifle, 26" is average for a midweight varmint rifle - the long range rifles start at ~28" and grow from there... and run 15 pounds and up.


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Apparently, you missed this, Cat. He's talking about packing it around. I still don't see how he expects 10lbs out of a 30" Varmint contour barrel...or 14 for that matter.


Originally Posted By: mtwood24Great info. I am building a 6x284 and we shoot/ hunt in some big open hilly country. I am young and don't care if I pack around a 10-13 pound gun. I was looking at getting a McGowen 30" varmint contour to put on my savage action. Just looking for every advantage I can get!
 
I get tickled reading about how much a rifle should weigh. I remember when you had to/should carry a 6-7pound rifle for yote hunting. Then FoxPro came out with the Prairie Blaster that weighed about a gazillion pounds. LMFAO! There went light! After a week-end of hunting, they all get heavy. If you can stand the weight, go BIG!! All my rifles sport heavy barrels.
 
I carried a 26" RVC on a HS stock for years,while tracking fox. At first it was ok, then it would get barrel heavy.

If you are gonna go 30" , get a good sling like a Timber Brute.

Also if you go the 30" route,if possible get an extra long shank so you can have it cut and rechamered.
 
My 6BR has a 28" Bull barrel and while it shoots extremely well it is a bit nose heavy. Even being a bench gun only the extra front weight makes it a bit harder to shoot well. My next barrel will be a 26" varmint contour.
 
To answer your question: How long is too long?

Too long to serve a purpose with the round your shooting.

If you're sitting at a bench and plugging away at PDs, Heavy and Long are the way to go. If you're climbing a mountain and hunting game only needing a shot or 2, shorter and more manageable would be preferred.

No standard answer really for a question like that.
 
Originally Posted By: mtwood24Alright, how much weight is 4 extra inches of barrel gonna weigh?

For the sake of "I'm bored at work on a Monday lunch-hour"...

4" of stainless steel barrel, 0.920" OD, bored 0.264" for a 6.5-284 Norma:

m = pV

p (sorry, we don't have a rho key) = density = 0.289lb/in3

V = volume = (pi) * L * (R^2 - r^2), where L = length, R = OD, r = ID

m = 0.289 * 3.141592654 * 4 * ( (.920/2)^2 - (0.264/2)^2) = 0.705lb

So 4" of a heavy barrel (non-fluted) makes up less than 3/4lb...

Or in Catshooter's words:

Originally Posted By: CatShooterNot enough to worry about.

Total weight isn't the only issue with long barrels. They're just not as handy to carry around. A 46" rifle with a 26" heavy barrel tipping scales at 13lbs+ is pretty dang unhandy. Having that extra 0.7lbs hanging out there at the end of the barrel also changes how the rifle balances in your hand. If you're shooting off sticks or a bipod, who cares? If you're shooting off handed, long heavy barrels get nose heavy fast. (torque at your shoulder against a support sling is increased by about 3ft.lbs. for that 4" of barrel, or feels like about an extra pound in your hand shooting off handed).

At 28yrs old and in great physical condition, I don't mind carrying a 13lb rifle around. Yes, it's a lot nicer porting a LIGHTER rifle around, but it's manageable with a 13lb gun. A Bushmaster Varminter with a glass, sling, and bipod will be about 12.5-13lbs empty. Adding a 20-30rnd mag adds almost another pound. My wife's Savage 12BVSS is 13.8lbs loaded with bipod, sling, and scope. She carries it all over, she's also in great physical condition (although she's only 5'3" tall).

She DOES, however, mention that her Marlin Guide Gun .45-70 (her deer rifle) is much easier to carry afield. It's just over 9lbs loaded with bipod, scope, and sling, and only 37" long. A lot easier for her to maneuver in the field.
 
out here we get a few opportunities to do some good long range shooting. A lot of our dogs are pretty call savvy too and its not uncommon to see them hang up around 6-700 yards. I also think practicing some marksmanship on antelope out here would be pretty fun.
 
I'm going to be one of the different ones here but after using ar15's with 16-18" barrels to hunt with I will say my next bolt gun with only be 16-18" long.


The handiness for me makes up for the loss of velocity. Eventually I will have a suppressed 10-12.5" barrel bolt gun that I can suppress and have the overall length of 18".

My best advice is go to the store and handle different guns with different barrel lengths.

There is no free lunch so figure out what is more important to you.

As far as accuracy of long barrels vs short - With most people it is the person that is the limiting factor and not the barrel length.
 
Originally Posted By: frankr

"Eventually I will have a suppressed 10-12.5" barrel bolt gun that I can suppress and have the overall length of 18".



If you want that barrel to be 10" to 12.5", you better weld that suppressor on the end of it - or you go to jail, and you do not collect $200.


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Originally Posted By: VarminterrorOriginally Posted By: mtwood24Alright, how much weight is 4 extra inches of barrel gonna weigh?

For the sake of "I'm bored at work on a Monday lunch-hour"...

4" of stainless steel barrel, 0.920" OD, bored 0.264" for a 6.5-284 Norma:

m = pV

p (sorry, we don't have a rho key) = density = 0.289lb/in3

V = volume = (pi) * L * (R^2 - r^2), where L = length, R = OD, r = ID

m = 0.289 * 3.141592654 * 4 * ( (.920/2)^2 - (0.264/2)^2) = 0.705lb

So 4" of a heavy barrel (non-fluted) makes up less than 3/4lb...

Or in Catshooter's words:

Originally Posted By: CatShooterNot enough to worry about.

Total weight isn't the only issue with long barrels. They're just not as handy to carry around. A 46" rifle with a 26" heavy barrel tipping scales at 13lbs+ is pretty dang unhandy. Having that extra 0.7lbs hanging out there at the end of the barrel also changes how the rifle balances in your hand. If you're shooting off sticks or a bipod, who cares? If you're shooting off handed, long heavy barrels get nose heavy fast. (torque at your shoulder against a support sling is increased by about 3ft.lbs. for that 4" of barrel, or feels like about an extra pound in your hand shooting off handed).

At 28yrs old and in great physical condition, I don't mind carrying a 13lb rifle around. Yes, it's a lot nicer porting a LIGHTER rifle around, but it's manageable with a 13lb gun. A Bushmaster Varminter with a glass, sling, and bipod will be about 12.5-13lbs empty. Adding a 20-30rnd mag adds almost another pound. My wife's Savage 12BVSS is 13.8lbs loaded with bipod, sling, and scope. She carries it all over, she's also in great physical condition (although she's only 5'3" tall).

She DOES, however, mention that her Marlin Guide Gun .45-70 (her deer rifle) is much easier to carry afield. It's just over 9lbs loaded with bipod, scope, and sling, and only 37" long. A lot easier for her to maneuver in the field.

You mean there is a formula for that!!
 
Originally Posted By: GoBlue
Tim Neitzke said:
If you are gonna go 30" , get a good sling like a Timber Brute.

What is a Timber Brute and where do I find them? I have a couple heavy guns that need a new sling. Thanks.

Outlaw sling by Timber Brute.


http://no-off-season.com/store/slings Tim (tt35) sells them, he is a sponser here.

If you have trouble contacting him ,shoot me a PM. He's been real busy fighting fires lately.

thanks
Click to expand...
 
Originally Posted By: pyscodogI get tickled reading about how much a rifle should weigh. I remember when you had to/should carry a 6-7pound rifle for yote hunting. Then FoxPro came out with the Prairie Blaster that weighed about a gazillion pounds. LMFAO! There went light! After a week-end of hunting, they all get heavy. If you can stand the weight, go BIG!! All my rifles sport heavy barrels.

Bingo!

All the rage over on 24-hourcampfire and Alaska Outdoor Forums is to see who has the lightest weight rifle that can be made. Then the dope's snivel because their 7-pound .375 Remington Ultra Mag "kicks too hard". Uh...yeah!
 
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: frankr

"Eventually I will have a suppressed 10-12.5" barrel bolt gun that I can suppress and have the overall length of 18".



If you want that barrel to be 10" to 12.5", you better weld that suppressor on the end of it - or you go to jail, and you do not collect $200.


.

Not to be a A$$ but if he has a suppressor I'm sure he knows he needs another stamp for the SBR.

BUT you never know with some people these days!

Just saying!
wink.gif
 
Originally Posted By: dmpowderOriginally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: frankr

"Eventually I will have a suppressed 10-12.5" barrel bolt gun that I can suppress and have the overall length of 18".



If you want that barrel to be 10" to 12.5", you better weld that suppressor on the end of it - or you go to jail, and you do not collect $200.


.

Not to be a A$$ but if he has a suppressor I'm sure he knows he needs another stamp for the SBR.

BUT you never know with some people these days!

Just saying!
wink.gif


Yep I will have the other tax stamp - Sorry for not mentioning it. I know it's important to mention it to people getting into NFA things but to me it's just a matter of course if you have a barrel
 
Originally Posted By: Tim NeitzkeOriginally Posted By: GoBlue
Tim Neitzke said:
If you are gonna go 30" , get a good sling like a Timber Brute.

What is a Timber Brute and where do I find them? I have a couple heavy guns that need a new sling. Thanks.

Outlaw sling by Timber Brute.


http://no-off-season.com/store/slings Tim (tt35) sells them, he is a sponser here.

If you have trouble contacting him ,shoot me a PM. He's been real busy fighting fires lately.

thanks

Tim that sling looks interesting.

Have you posted a review somewhere of it? or can you tell me how it has worked out for you?

My main concern would be that I use the sling to help steady myself when shooting by snugging the rifle to me (kind of like CMP shooters). Can you still do this or would it be too difficult?

thanks
Click to expand...
 
I guess I really can't be of much help to you northern boys. I have never seen a coyote past 100 yards down here. Me giving advice for 700 yard shots is like a liberal trying to give advice about gun controll.
 


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