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?

Not really much of a difference at all.

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.

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

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.

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

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.

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!

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

Caldoc

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