Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 26" Barrel on 30-06

Would a 26" barrel on a 30-06 provide extra fps or would the extra 2 inches be a wasted attempt to try to gain some extra velocity?

Has anyone used a 30-06 with a barrel longer than 24 inches with great success in the velocity dept.?

I used to have a 26.5" 30-06. I had good speeds with handloads.

moly'd 110gr VMax, RL15 - 3750 fps

moly'd 190gr Sierra Matchking, RL22 - 2920 fps

moly'd 210 Berger/208 AMax, RL22 - 2800 fps

When I cut the barrel to 22.5" the same loads were:

110 VMax - 3570 fps

210 Berger/208 AMax - 2720 fps.

Never tried the 190 in the shorter tube.

What good would the extra velocity do you? I can see running longer barrels for the '06 if you're competing at 600 or 1000 yards, but for hunting use the extra few fps you'll gain will likely make little practical difference. That's no reason not to have a 26" barrel, though, if the rifle balances and points well.

I'm basically trying to decide what to use for my deer rifle. This will be for open country mule deer and WT deer. I am trying to decide between the 270 wsm, 7mm rem mag and a 30-06. I will try to use a 150 gr for any of the 3 that I choose. Perhaps a 140 gr if I choose the 270 wsm. The 270 wsm and the 7mm rem mag are flatter shooting, but I don't want to throw the 30-06 out of the equation if I can get some fast flat shooting 150 gr bullets. So to answer your question, extra velocity will make the long open country shots easier.

I had this exact conundrum a few years when I wanted a dedicated 'longer range' gun for my self. It was between a 280 and the 30-06. I chose the 280, and am satisfied; That said, if I had it to do over again, I'd go with the 30-06. There is probably more reloading info on it than any other cartridge with the possible exception of the 308 or 223. capt david

Go for it,allways thought I would like to have a 26" med heavy barreled 30-06 myself to get some answers also and maybe later have it set back a thread or 2 rechambered for the 30-06 AI. Compare the results knowing that both chambers fired rds thru the same barrel. That would eliminate any fast-slow barrel surmises.Sometimes you just got to do and experience things in life yourself for the answers. Just my 2cts worth Magnum Man

I want my 30-06 with a 22" barrel. If I need a longer barrel for velocity it is much easier, cheaper, safer, to just buy a magnum chambered gun. That is a lot of trouble just to get 50-100 fps when moving up to a larger chambering will easily give you 200-400 fps more velocity.

Of course some guys just like to be different. Nothing wrong with that if you want to go that way.

No problem JMR40 ,I have 30-06's with 20,22,24" barrels and 300 Magnums. I would like to see what a 26" barrel in 30-06 would give me velocity wise for high BC bullet use at LR just like Montana Marine stated above. If it worked out it would eliminate the need to move up to magnum recoil,powder charges, and more expensive cases too. IIRC the old pre 64 M70 bull target barrel guns had 26" barrels in 30-06.Cost wise ? I don't know if it makes a difference, lot of guys on the fire toss perfectly good stocks,triggers, barrels, scope mounts just to have what THEY want. I don't have to agree with what they built or why they spent the $$$ to build it, but if it makes them happy that is all that is needed. The right to build a better mousetrap is an all AMERICAN ideal. The extra length on the barrel is immaterial for the use I would put the rifle too, just like the 29.5" length barrel of the 30-338 I been shooting and playing with lately. Split Tine build the 26" and answer your own questions, it isn't a money mistake that will cripple you forever and I'm betting you will like it. Magnum man

Of those choices for the game you are after I think the 270 WSM is the way to go. A 150gn pill from the 270 WSM would be perfect for long shots on deer. Is it windy where you hunt? The .277 would have the best sectional density and ballistic coefficient compared to the other two in the 150gn weight. It has been a long time since I've had an opportunity on big game at long distances. Most my shots are fairly close range. But I would grab the 270 WSM if/when I needed to hunt deer at longer ranges.

I have a Cooper mod 52 30-06 with 26" fluted barrel that shoots extremely well. I have no concerns or problems with extra length and the gun handles and balances great. It is easy to get over 2800 fps with 180 gr bullets. I say go for it and if you don't like it cut it shorter. Daryl

I have a Ruger #1B that came with the 26" barrel. I love that rifle and it is a real shooter. With IMR4350 (57.4 grs) and 165 gr. Partitions or Accubonds, I am getting 2940 fps at the muzzle.

There are some newer powders out there that would probably push that to 3000 fps, but with it shooting 1/2" groups at 100 yards I'm not messing with it! I used this same load in a 22" Remington 700 but didn't have a chronograph back then so I don't know what the difference between these two rifles was as far as fps goes.

I don't think a 26" tube would be overboard, and as stated if you decided it's too long, it's a simple fix to have a gunsmith cut it down. Go for it!

If I'm not mistaken, Sam Fadala has written quite a bit about a .30-06 that he set up with a 26" barrel and loads full throttle for. I don't exactly know where to tell you to find those articles, but they are out there somewhere.

I'd like to have one just because I think it looks good. I like the old German African rifles with the long barrels.

I have a Beretta 502 in '06 with a 26". It can push a 165 Speer over 3000. That's not where I run it, I think that may be pushing it a bit, but 2950 is doable. I haven't shot these in a while, been using 150bt for steel. I have it in a B&C Carbelite. It feels a bit heavy to the front, but still carries and feels good. In your situation, I would also go with a 270caliber. Use Amax or Bergers and kill stuff out there a ways.

Yes, it can be quite windy where I hunt. In the foothills of the Rocky Mountains in south western Alberta. Thnaks for all the responses.

A couple pics of my Pig with the 26.5" bbl. About 17 lbs.

I have a couple rifles with 26" barrels and find the length to be more unwieldy than shorter barrels in a long-action bolt gun. For my hunting I much prefer 22" and will gladly give up whatever velocity I lose in return for the extra handiness and weight reduction. A 24" barrel doesn't bother me that much.

On rifles like a Ruger #1 a 26" barrel is great - the overall length of my #1 in .280 Rem is actually about 1/2" shorter than my Ruger MKII .338 WM with a 22" barrel and is only about that much longer than my short action Rem M700 in .308 Win, which also has a 22" barrel.

.............What is more important, is that you know the velocities and trajectories from your rifle whether using a 22" a 24" or a 26" barreled `06 just like from any other round. You still must place the shot well "which you`re going to have to do anyway" regardless of tube length. No deer will know the difference after being hit from a 22" 30-06 or one from a 26" barrel.

But if you happen to prefer flatter shooting cartridges just because they are flatter shooters, then a 264 WM, a 270 WSM or the 7RM are very good choices for open terrains assuming your hunting takes you there.

My late 50's commercial FN carries a 24 inch barrel. I have been using the Hornaday Light Magnum 180s for several years. Maker says 2880. My friend's chrony says just over 2900. I hope the replacement Superperformance ammo is as good because my stash is almost empty. No matter, with new powders and my small stash of H-205, I feel sure that I can still get what used to be near magnum performance in the lighter barreled '06. For west Texsa mule deer, where drive (or horses for the die hards), spot, and stalk is the order of the day, the 24" barrel is absolutely no problem and I don't see another two inches causing one. Best wishes, jack