Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats A custom '06' w/ a 26 inch barrel ?

I have 2 338's in the safe. The pre 64 Model 70 was built with a 22" barrel and chronos at 2650 with 225 NPT's . The Classic Model 70 has a 26" barrel and chronos at around 2920. I'll take the extra speed any day, but the shorter barreled rifle hasn't been a slouch over the years either. In the relatively open country we hunt, I don't suffer from beating through the brush with the longer barrel. If I hunted the brushy Coast range, the shorter barreled rifle would be the ticket- but then the shots would be shorter also meaning I wouldn't need the extra velocity. Should also be applicable to the 06- the terrain you hunt in makes a huge difference in what you may want to carry. No reason a 26" barreled rifle can't carry as well as a 22" rifle if it is built right, IMO.

Bob

If I wanted more weight out front on a hunting rifle, and I mean one for western mountain hunting that I had to pack up and down, in a 30-06, I’d go to a thicker barrel not a longer one.

Given what you have in hand, if the 26” length isn’t bothersome, call it good.

I have become more sensitive to muzzle blast over the years. My 20" and under .223's are too damn loud for me without hearing protection. In my opinion, with most hunting rifles, the difference in carrying qualities between a 20" barrel and anything up to a 26" barrel is insignificant. (I'm sure those who seem to always be hunting in the thickest, meanest, thorniest brush in North America will disagree, but they will have a hard time convincing me that they can actually shoot anything in those places if it's that bad.) I do have some short barreled rifles, they balance and handle well, but they're not bolt guns. I think the average bolt-action, centerfire design benefits greatly in handling and shooting qualities with a little more barrel than what we usually see today. Given the shorter action length, I sure wouldn't care to have anything shorter than the 26" barrel on my 1-B in .308.

This schit is always fhuqking funny.

I've never had a rifle not get better,with a Barrel Chop and ONLY a Barrel Chop will extrapolate velocity "loss",at like pressure...given the courteous assumption that The Chopper is gunning identical ammo Post Chop. I've chopped a bunch more than a fhuqking schit load of rifles,to purposely extrapolate velocity differences and I've never seen anything even Remotely close to what many folks "believe". 'Course,comparing two different rifles,of two different barrel lengths/types/throats/bore dimensioning assuredly is NOT the same,as The Chop and it's findings. Hint.

If only because Facts and Physics is handy,it is a constant that rigidity is increased,with The Chop. That being said,accuracy tends to improve Post Chop...even on the heralded Anschutz "choked" barrels. Crown Myths abound and that schit cracks me up too,mainly because I shoot a smidge. Hint.

Balance/handling can be tuned many different ways and the LAST fhuqkin thing I'd do on the chamberings thus far cited,is to add barrel length,to "help" them thangs or "add" velocity. Handy/dandy will RELIABLY bear farrrrrrrrrrrrr more fruit and connect more dots,than adding length. Ask me how I KNOW. Dare ya'. Hint.(grin)

Now as Performance/Precision goes,projectile selection is a HUGE variable,that most if not all are in a haste to overlook. There is NO way to make a 308 or '06 "fast",but it'd take a Cross-eyed Drooling Fhuqking Retard,to not be able to discern a halfa fhuqking foot less of spout,while schlepping same. Many platforms GAIN velocity with a Chop and that REALLY fhuqks with heads,especially upon Rimfires(I've Chopped a few of them too).Hint.

I'm quick to Chop and toss Retard Barrel Length stubs offa fhuqking cliff and tend to give boolits a thunk. POA/POI is very fhuqking easily arranged and wind drift do tend to matter more than a smidge. Throat/twist/COAL also have a bearing and that pun be intended,but everyone is in a hurry,to poke carts in front of the horse. Couple them Facts and Physics with glass selection and most are schlepping Train Wreck Goat Fhuqks unknowingly,while being "convinced" they "know" what in the fhuqk they are TRYING to talk about,but missing all by miles. Hint.

I've shot every chambering thus far cited and a LOT that ain't. I'd much rather have a 21" Kreedmire,than a 26" 308,if only because I've got both. I'd rather have a 21" 308,rather than a 26" 308,if only because I've got both. Etc,etc,etc,...yada,yada,yada and I can extrapolate 100's of spouts through the years and a schit load of chamberings,throats,twist rates and COAL,with bajillions of boolits,whistled through various chronographs,into distant Zip Codes and Critters. Most folks are AMAZINGLY Clueless and just love to expound upon same obliviously. 'Course,that is THE funny part.(grin)

An erector that tracks with it's windshield,is THE greatest eye opener and nobody that touts adding barrel length,has a First Fhuqking Clue about same,nor an inkling to Performance/Precision or defeating Atmospheric Influences ala boolit selection. Hint.

Never been tough to cypher,who shoots and who don't...though I enjoy folks obliviously quantifying same.

Bless their hearts.

Hint.

Gotta load for a coupla new barrels and go gun come-ups.

Re-hint.(grin)

Oopsie...was laughing soooooooo hard,I forgot to hang some pics.






Started at 28",finished at 21".


'06 Chop. Hint.



26" start...21" finish. Hint.



Am thinkin',I've a "few" more.

Hint.(grin)

Damn....I find myself agreeing with Boxer more and more...

Geez Larry, you could at least invest in a bandsaw. PM me your address and I'll send you an old portable bandsaw I have laying around for your experiments....

Bob

Look close, Sheister....those ain't his hands. An apprentice is the best power tool.

I too have come to prefer a little more weight in the barrel over the years. If you are shooting prone or on a pack over a rock or off a bipod, it doesn't matter much, but the extra barrel weight sure helps me off hand, sitting or off sticks.

You can get the feel of forward balance without going 26". A slighly heavier 22" or 23" will give about the same effect.

A lighter stock will also give more forward balance. It's a relative thing.

DF

i wouldnt walk across walmarts parking lot with a 22in or shorter barrel, i have a 454 casull if i want a short barrel,,,,, a 26 or 27 in 2 or 3 contour has never hampered me in the least, hell my mules dont even mind it the longer barrel makes a good jack handle in an emergency, leverage and all,,,,,,,, and the shot out ones make good tomato stakes,,,,,

Exactly!
One can build for nice forward balance without having to carry a musket.

The only reason I see for a really long barrel is the extra reach for bayonet use. Since as of late I haven't had to defend the mission station at Rorke's Drift from an Impi of Zulus, I'll stick with my short handy rifles.

Laughing....

Never understood long barrels myself...

An Edge stock can really change balance and handling.

26 oz vs 42 oz can really transform a rifle.

DF

I have a M700 Remington SS in .338 Win. Mag. It has a muzzle brake (from the factory) and is 25.5" long. Surprisingly it seems to be one of the handiest of my rifles. And this despite the fact I am only 5'5" tall! As one and one-half inches of the length are made up of muzzle brake there is no velocity advantage in this length. Doesn't matter since I have never loaded it up to factory maximums and it still kills quite effectively.

Jim

All of my target rifles started out with 26" barrels for the simple reason that as I wore the throat out on the chamber, I wanted to be able to cut off the chamber and set the barrel back. Interestingly enough, my best long range scores were shot with barrels which had been set back. I don't know if the thousands of rounds that went through them honed them down to perfection, or whether the shorter stiffer barrel contributed to the accuracy, but for some number of years now bench rest shooters have preferred shorter stiffer barrels.

Jack OConner hunted from horseback frequently. In a scabbard any extra length makes it hard to with draw while mounted. Since I get off the horse it doesn't matter too much. Don't trust horses enough to shoot from the saddle. I would, A miss & B land on my ass most likely.

A 26 inch barrel can do great things for some cartridges. The 270 win. with a 26 inch+ barrel and R26 becomes a virtual magnum. Like Mule Deer's Seven and seven combo (whisky & 7RM) the 26 & 26 doe's wonders. I think the 30-06 will not gain as much due to expansion ration but don't know. What I do know is it is no problem cutting a barrel back if it doesn't work out but I have yet to figure out how to add on more barrel. Yes a replacement would.

I am itching for a 257 Wby. with a 28" barrel probably in a Ruger No. 1 or B78 configuration. I figure anything less than 26" I might as well stick with the 25-06.

lily',

You suck a mean ass.

Congratulations?!?







Bob,

I've chopped,hacked,burned through barrels in every way that there is. PortaBand's are handy,as are Sawzall's,but they rob a certain satisfaction that only a Hacksaw will lend. Plus,a Hacksaw is easy to schlep along and aids in helping folks see the light on locale...with chronograph in tow.

The inverter in my crummy,don't wanna power either the PortaBand nor Sawzall,though LedZepplin volume will go to 11,while running a Hacksaw. Hint.(grin)

Chopping spouts on the fly,gets alotta minds right,about more than a few thangs. Them thangs include Precision,balance/handling and Wives Tales associated with .000000001" runout crowns.

Retrostalgic Old School laughs,for Dissenters. Pink Powder,168 Sugars,lopping a 308 from 26" to 21" and a purty crown that is part double-bevel Oberg and the balance RCBS deburring tool.





First trio on 100yd paper,if only to prove more than a few points and I remain at ease on ANY given day,to do so as per whim for Dissenters.



Though in fairness...I'm more than a touch whole bunch great with a rifle,but wouldn't wanna shoot a pistole or scattergun against me either.(grin)

Just sayin'.







'f7,

By God...I'm thinkin' you'd prolly onto sumptin' there,in Mitt Matchin'.(grin)

Got piles of Choptitude on 'bucket,but it don't wanna play nice,even after adding jingle.

A Hacksaw will reliably make a sound rifle,MUCH fhuqking better.

Seen it and have all the T-shirts!

Hint.







Desert,

It was a great joy andHUGE fhuqking improvement,to hack on my 1717D HB's spout. Losing nearly halfa foot of spout,put it into another realm of Hind Legged Magic.



'Course,sanding that Teutonic Bluing so it sweetened the pot and paint would stick...added an extry 27fps to the equation.(grin)



The 75MOA rail and 10x MQ,don't hurt Distant Dastardly Pursuits either,whether they're Hind Legged or MPAJ generated.

It's inherent abilities,REALLY fhuqks with heads.

Hint.






'farmer,

I never knew balance/handling could be skewed,with stock fill weight or careful contour selection!?!

Who'da' thunk?(grin)

I'm gonna try me one of them there MacaMillion stocks and build a Custom Rifle some day.

Laffin'!







'stw,

I've never built a 300Super/30STW/30-8mmRemMag over 30"(Heavy Palma). Hint.

Pardon my having shot/got it all and then some...which affords me the "unfair" advantage,of not being forced to guess. Hint.

Never been tough to cypher who shoots and who don't.

Hint.







'goat,

An extry long barrel,is handy for reaching a fish's ear,from over the top of tall gunnels. Seen it.

Hell....done it.(grin)

Hint.







Greg',

I'd not want a 14" 7STW,but had no love for my 27-incher and a vast preference for the shorter spouts,I had so chambered.

The less one has,sees or does...the "better" everything is.(grin)

In the Pre-LRF Days,The Game was played by hedging a bet,to eek all the velocity potential available,to help with a UKD Guess. There ain't too fhuqking many chamberings I've not shot/got and I've lonnnnggggggggg been at ease in The Chop,if only to see WTF do what and more importantly WHY.

Tough to beat the Sweet Satisfaction,of The Chop and the vast improvements associated with them Facts and Physics.

Seen it.

A fhuqking LOT.(grin)





'Jim,

Ray Charles could IMMEDIATELY extoll upon the unfortunate maligning of schlepping a 25.5" spout,over a lesser lengthed version of same. Though in fairness,Helen Keller could quantify upon both versions of same,with and without The Loudener. HINT.

Humor Points awarded for packing Stupid Schit and watering it down,so as to reliably not connect a single fhuqking dot.

VERY "impressive".

Laffin'!






'usa,

I go through lotsa barrels and am not into Polishing Turds. If/when they foul,throats load up or throats go away...I'm installing new. 'Course,I don't run re-treads on my crummy either and just never was any good at fhuqking around.

Barrels are cheap and my time is worth more than a little something to me. I tend to keep extry extry barrels on hand to boot,because it speeds transition from Old to New.

Could I correlate that rigidity is conducive to Precision? Assuredly. That being said,I fret a barrel's interior(land/groove geometry,Smoothicity and mannerisms),a whole fhuqking bunch more than it's exterior(contour).

If/when someone gets lippy,I'm gonna unlimber a 20" Montucky OEM contour duped(reduced shank) 1-8" 6BR(no-turn set up for Lapooey brass) and Rule the roost. Reliably.

It breaks hearts,hurts feeling and is an oft copied Blueprint,after the Dissenter's tears settle.(grin) Though I've got lotsa platforms,guilty of same.

Less IS more.

Hint.









'jano,

Boolits matter more than headstamps and a 270 will ALWAYS suck ass,due that simplistic FACT. Hint. A 21" Kredmire in a S/A will simply crush that Goat Fhuqk. Re-hint.

I've only built (5) 257Wby's,though none longer than 27.5" and only (4) at 26". I've shot a "smidge" of 25-06 and 25-06AI too,along with 25-284 and them spouts run from 21" to 26". You are DUMBER than fhuqk,if you "think" any of them .473" chamberings will approach a 257Wby. Though in fairness,they all suck ass too...again due to boolits. Easy for me to say,if only because I've shot/got it all. Re-hint.

Have only had a coupla B-78's(pistol grips,as I HATE the Engleesh "grip's" ergos) and too fhuqking many Numbah One's too. Again,a 21" Kreedmire will fhuqking throttle any/all Goat Fhuqks your Imagination and it's Pretend can concoct. The faster you start focusing boolits,the quicker you'll attain your FIRST Fhuqking Clue. Hint.

Someone who "knows" as "much" as you,is always gonna be BEST served by asking questions,rather than giving "answers". Hint.

Not that I don't appreciate the HILARITY of your AMAZING Stupidity,as you do the best you can,with what incredibly little you "have" to "work" with.

Bless your heart.

Just sayin'.

Laffin'!

I've never seen a post that said that SH. What I noticed over time is the more weight the rifle has, particularly up front, the faster they settles down so I can take the shot. Took a long time to get there. I am definitely not one who likes carrying any more weight around in rough country. But anything that helps me make the shot at one of the really nice bucks I encounter is worth considering. Trying to get on a big antlered buck as he dodges in and around Ironwood and Palo Verde trees is far harder than any other game shooting I've ever done. They give one very little time.
Ever see a serious trap shooter who preferred short barreled shotguns ? Not me. Never met one that liked light shotguns either. E

Never really cared much what trap shooters liked....I like a short, handy rifle that easy to tote, and easy to swing in a blind, stand, briar, or pickup cab.

im only on my 11th 8lb jug of rel25 in my 300stw's i got along way to go to catch up to you pros,,,,

i hope i can get there some day,,,,and see the light,,,