24 or 26 incher
 

Looking at buying a Browning A-bolt in 7mm. Currently has a 26" barrel - dont want the 26 - how badly would performance be hurt if I bought it, and cut the barrel to 24"? Not lookin at a super long range gun - mostly big game (read: elk) at under 500 yards.

Probably be shootin some reloads but thats to be determined later.

Anybody done this? Cant hurt the rifle that bad can it?

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Not really much of a difference at all.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

You'll lose some velocity (not much)...but gain a stiffer barrel and lighter gun.

So the 24" will be:
Slower velocities (don't hold me to it, but I'm thinking about 50fps per inch)
Lighter
A little more recoil due to reduced weight
Stiffer barrel---which means it may be more accurate.

To me, the performance would break even...fair trade, FPS for stiffer barrel. So if velocity is the only reason you're questioning cutting it down I'd say go for it.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

I will start you off with the bad news. Generally speaking magnums loose more velocity when you shorten the barrel vs. non-magnums. Now the good news. The velocity loss will not be as bad as one would think. going from 26 to 24 inches you would loose about 48 fps. Soilarch is correct you will actually increase the stiffness of the barrel. You may experience an increase in accuracy. There is alsoa smallchance that you may experience a velocity increase. I doubt that shortening the barrel 2 incheswill hurt your ballistics at 500 yards to the point that you will notice.I would leavethe barrel lengthalone, if the rifle you are looking at has the BOSS. 26 inches is becoming the standard barrel length for magnum calibers.


http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/October05.htm

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Expect to lose around 40fps per inch of barrel or about 80fps with a 7mmremmag.As for accuracy,it may stay the same,improve or fall off since the harmonics of the barrel will change.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

The accuracy will go to hell unless you recrown the barrel after you hacksaw it off[8D]

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

What is the problem with retaining the 26" barrel? Unless I was doing snap shooting in dense woods I would keep the longer barrel. The extra weight may help stabalize the steadiness of your marksmanship for long range shots. The longer barrel will contribute something to muzzle velocity, even if as others suggest it isa small incremental amount. Additionally, a shorter barrel would likely increase the report of the rifle -- the loudness of the rifle shot.

But this is a personal thing. If you just flat don't like the longer barrel, then make it shorter. The ballistics difference will not be big -- it won't turn your 7 mm Mag into a .30-06 equivalent, for example.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Mr.G
I have a good friend who bought an A-Bolt Stalker in 7 mag. about 6 years ago. He did not like the 26 inch barrel so, against all of what everone told him(all of the local gun experts) he took the gun to the gunsmith and had the barrel cut and recrowned to 24". He could tell no difference in accuracy or anything and has no regrets about doing it. Sure, he may have lost some velocity, but he loves the shorter barrel for getting around in the woods and stuff. If it is something you want to do, go for it. I don't think you will have any regrets. I don't blame you, I don't like the 26" barrel, either. Good Luck!

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Out of curiosity, would these figures for the 7mm Rem Mag. be the same for the .300 Weatherby Mag?

Caldoc

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

All things being equal: shorter barrels are more rigid and thus more accurate.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

most likelywont loose any velocity,

heres a quote from swat magazine on a test that tactical operations did on barrel lengths and velocitys with a 300 win mag

To find the answers, Tac Ops took a 26-inch barreled .300 Win. Mag. and chopped the barrel down in one-inch increments as they previously did with the .308 Winchester. Ten rounds of Federal Match 190-grain BTHP Gold Medal were fired from each increment. No velocity was lost from 26 inches to 22 inches. Velocity loss started to occur only after they went below 22 inches

to read the full artical go to
http://www.tacticaloperations.com/

then to articals and the SWAT dec-2000

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Making the 7 mm mag the equivlent of the 30-06 isn't a problem, as I would prefer the 06' anyway. And I find it hard to see a noticeable difference in handling between 24" and 26" since most of the time it will be carried slung over your shoulder anyway.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

I'm a fan of 26" barrels for magnum powder burners, but if ya really-gotta, you won't lose that much. And you can adjust for things even a bit more with powder and bullet selection. I would probably own a 7 mm if i lived in Montana.

RE: 24 or 26 incher
 

Thanks for the replies guys. Was worried that accuracy might be affected but doesnt look like thats much of a deal. Was going to have the barrel rer-crowned after the cut too - forgot to mention that in the original post.
Looks like I might have to start savin to buy this gun from my old man and start savin for a scope too! Thanks again for the replies guys