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22 or 24
I'm getting close to choosing a smith and having a 30-06 built. Is there any worthwhile reason to have a 24 inch vs. 22 inch barrel on an ought-six?
Also, I'm thinking about building from a Rem 700, and using a McMillan Edge stock with a Lilja barrel (#3 or #4 contour). Anything else I should be thinking about instead? |
RE: 22 or 24
Just out of common snese standpoint, get it longer- you can always lop off a few inches and recrown, but you cannot add more barrel if you start off short.
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RE: 22 or 24
AMEN!!!!!!
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RE: 22 or 24
I am on the long side of the spectrum on the 30 06. I would want a 26" barrel. There is a pretty fair load of powder in that casing. Make use of it.
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RE: 22 or 24
How much fps could you pick up going from a 22 to 24 with just a .30-06? I guess I thought it would be negligable. Also was wondering if shorter barrels (within reason) are sometimes more accurate (more consistant vibration)?
Thanks. |
RE: 22 or 24
I don't rember where I was reading this information, but a 23" barrel on a 30-06 Sprg. is about the length for all powder to be burnt in this cartridge. I amgetting a 30-06 Sprg. rebarreled, and I opted for a 24" barrel. Good luck.
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RE: 22 or 24
the only logical reason i can see for going with a shorter barrel is to save weight. but the weight difference between 22 and 24 inches is only gonna be at the most a 2 oz difference. Id go with the 24 inch barrel, 2 oz more isnt gonna break your back hiking through the woods any increase in velocity is always a plus even if its just a couple feet per second also from my experience longer barrels tend to be more generous in the accuracy department.
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RE: 22 or 24
Personally, I wouldn't consider having a 30-06 with a barrel longer than 22"
No reason for it at all. |
RE: 22 or 24
If you find someone with an 22 inch barrel 06, shoot it at night. You will see just how much burn your have outside the barrel.
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RE: 22 or 24
ORIGINAL: biscuit jake If you find someone with an 22 inch barrel 06, shoot it at night. You will see just how much burn your have outside the barrel.
you might say "owe but they probably have different powders" which is not the case in the 308 I used a 165 grain sierra BTHP gameking with 46 grains varget and in the 30-06 load I used a 180 grain NP with 47 grains varget. |
RE: 22 or 24
More than anything, I was just considering optimal handling and balance on this rifle. I'm not looking for a light-weight rifle, nor is a 24 inch barrel too hard to move around. I was just wondering if there would be much of a performance difference in the two lengths; I thought I read somewhere that it would truely be negligable with the ought-six. I'm not a reloader, so I thought maybe I'd ask for some opinions on here.
Thank you. |
RE: 22 or 24
As for what else you may wish to consider for your new rifle, I would seriously recommend you get the factory trigger worked over, or install a quality aftermarket one. Triggers are a critical part to performance. JMHO.
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RE: 22 or 24
No debate. I have all of mine set to 3 lbs. max.
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RE: 22 or 24
There is more to barrel length than velocity. Balance and muzzle blast are an element. The 06 has loads in a wide variety of weights. If one was dedicated to shooting heavier loads, you could go to a 20" barrel and not lose much statistically. But it would handle very differently. For some, any velocity gain is a big deal. In fact, with the very wide variety of .30 cartridges on the market, I think it is a very big deal in the US. Anyway, heft a few things to get an idea what suits you. I handled a Winchester 1885 High Wall in 325 WSM this weekend. Alot to like there. 28" barrel. Balanced real good to my feel. (Lets see. Do I need a 325 wsm?)
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RE: 22 or 24
ORIGINAL: biscuit jake If you find someone with an 22 inch barrel 06, shoot it at night. You will see just how much burn your have outside the barrel.
Frankly the effects at night are intertesting but totally irrelevant in the bigger game of killing things like elk. Further I'd forecast that if you can't do it with 180 grains at 2,800'/sec then you really ought to be looking at something like a 338 mag. or maybe a 375 H&H. If one likes longer barrels then get them. However I can assure you that your 30-06 is not in the least handicapped with a 22" barrel. |
RE: 22 or 24
ORIGINAL: biscuit jake If you find someone with an 22 inch barrel 06, shoot it at night. You will see just how much burn your have outside the barrel.
I still don't know for sure. But supposely, its be debunked several times. |
RE: 22 or 24
Anything else I should be thinking about instead? Oh yes you would be much better off with a Kimber 8400 LA Montana in 06. You would save a lot of money in the long run and have a much better action.YOu have to wait for a custom to be built and that can take as little as a few months to a substantial length of time. The Kimbers should be delivering shortly. It will have a 24" barrel as well. http://www.kimberamerica.com/rifles/ I'm not looking for a light-weight rifle, nor is a 24 inch barrel too hard to move around. |
RE: 22 or 24
Generally, if you take two identical cartridges and fire them out of two different handguns, one with a short barrel, one with a longer barrel, the longer-barreled handgun will fire the bullet faster, farther and with a flatter trajectory.
Longer barrels give powder more time to burn behind the bullet, generating greater muzzle velocity and therefore downrange velocity. Also, being longer gives a barrel more time to impart spin to the bullet, helping ensure its accuracy. |
RE: 22 or 24
ORIGINAL: bigcountry ORIGINAL: biscuit jake If you find someone with an 22 inch barrel 06, shoot it at night. You will see just how much burn your have outside the barrel.
I still don't know for sure. But supposely, its be debunked several times. |
RE: 22 or 24
ORIGINAL: HighDesertWolf ive read that is only true for shotguns, now with rifles its totally different from caliber to caliber. I'll have to find the article that explain this, but I do remember part of the article on a specific caliber of interest of mine that I payed close attention to which is the 308 win. the article explained that a 308 win. needs a 28 inch barrel to efficiently ignite all of its powder, but the gases would still be expanding to an even longer length and that a 308 would have to be shot through a 20 foot barrel before it would experience bullet drag in the muzzle. anyway the article explained alot about powder volume in comparison to length and diameter of the bore to determine how efficiently it would burn the powder. bottom line is barrel length does make a considerable difference in velocity. |
RE: 22 or 24
I could accept that the powder is ignited within the first 6" but that is about as far as I could go on that. Otherwise, the logic would be a Ruger 44 Carbine would have the same muzzle velocity as 6" barreled pistol in that cartridge. Or do I misunderstand?
I have also read articles supporting 28" barrels as in driving modern cartridges to full velocity. But it has been awhile so I will have to think on where they are. |
RE: 22 or 24
There was all kinds of these arguments when the RUM and 30-378's came out.
The powder can still be ignitedbut thiers still pressure in your barrel, and to ultilize that pressure, you need more barrel, or the bullet comes out and pressure is relieved. The guys at alliant powder are real helpful with this. And will take your calls on it. |
RE: 22 or 24
I'd get a 22" barrel if it was me. That is because I light compact guns that are easily accessible in a vehicle, while I'm walking through timber, and lighter when I'm out west chasing Mulies and Antelope.
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