Originally Posted by Hammer Wrench

You don't shoot much,do you?

For conversation,my 22,23 and 24" 25-284's are birds of a feather in the velocity department,with less than 75fps betwixt the trio in a worst case scenario.

My first 378 was 26",my second 24" and the difference was even less. My 375H&H Ackley Improveds ran the gamut from 22-24" and the differences were nothing. Have had 375H&H's from 22-26" and there's no difference there,worth fretting. The 24" 338Ultra is an outstanding platform too. Have built 243AI's from 22-26" and it's performance isn't hinged on long tubes.

Reality is,contour means little to nothing,because downrange performance is factored by the bore's interior,it's chambering quality and throat/mag harmony. One of the most accurate rifles I've ever shot,is a 700 based sub MR contoured 26" 257Wby wearing a PacNor 1-10".

Wives Tales are perpetuated by folks who don't shoot.