schoolcraft

I recently had Hill Country Rifles start working on a custom built 7mm. Rem. Mag. for me, and I was a little suprised to find that the majority of their custom rifles are built with a 24" barrel....standard AND magnum.

I guess from a SHOOTERS perspective, something like a 26" barrel would be better simply for getting max velocity when running through a chrono.

I can also see from a HUNTERS perspective, that a 24" barrel gives "adequate" velocity and offers better rifle balance and easier handling in cramped spaces.

I currently have them splitting the difference with a 25" barrel.....but I'm REALLY thinking about going to a 24".

Any opinions would be GREATLY appreciated.

BCRules

I have 2 26" barreled guns. Drives me crazy in my safe. They have to sit in the back by the shotguns or leaning in the front.

Second, I know its just a pain when i hunt newfoundland or places where there is a lot of brush.

Lastly, yea, it the "in thing" to have a short barreled gun. Tactical guys are all going to it. Surprisingly.

jeepkid

I personally can't tell the difference hunting with a 24" 25" or 26" rifle...

salukipv1

I'm not sure we're going back to 24" just more hunters like the idea of 24" over 26", I think both will remain available to hunters in the future. The guy who wants every last fps will want the 26" the guy who wants a handier lighter rifle and willing to give up 100fps or less will take a 24"

I'm sure we all wish we could shoot a 300 RUM in a 6 lbs rifle and have 1/2moa accuracy, and have it kick like a .243, for $400, but nothing is free with rifles, have to give up something to get something.

I think by the time you figure out everything about rifles you die an old man, and your wisdom will probably be lost on youth.

schoolcraft

Well, I made the call......24" fluted barrel it is.

I noticed that Remington has gone to a 24" barrel on their new 700 XCR II, and I guess Ruger has used 24" on their magnums pretty much forever.

jeepkid

You won't tell any difference with just 1"...shoulda stuck with the longer tube...

fritz1

My Remington 700 BDL 338 win mag has a 24" barrel but my 300 ultra mags have a 26" barrel.

warbirdlover

Is that because the 300 RUM has such a large case and so much powder to burn?

schoolcraft

If I was having a RUM bult, that barrel would be AT LEAST 26".....maybe 27' or 28".....but if I built a .300 Ultra, it wouldn't be for lugging around thick woods.

I know I'm going to like my rifle when it gets finished, but if I had it to do all over again, I probably would have built a .280 Rem. with a 24" barrel and an EDGE McMillan stock to shave off another 8oz. off the weight.

It looks like the total weight of the 7mm. Rem. Mag. Hill Country Rifles is building me will hover around 7 1/4 pounds un-scoped...maybe a tad under. I'm also not going to be shooting excessively long ranges. A recent trip to a 300 yard rifle range shooting at 6" steel plates from "hunting positions" was a VERY humbling experience....practice, practice, practice...lol.

I figure my 7 mag will be much handier carrying through the woods and manuvering in a box stand....and a 160gr. Nosler Accubond should still cause real issues for whatever it's aimed at even if it only came out of a 24" barrel.

BCRules

There is no "unburnt" powder after 15" or less. Just if you buy a RUM, you didn't buy it to shoot heavy projectiles, but shoot flat. You didn't buy it to to crawl thru briar patches and make 50 yard shots.

A 30-06 benefits as much as a 300RUM from extra barrel length