Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles Barrel lengths and favorite hunting rifles

Interesting read:

https://www.24hourcampfire.com/ubbt...ng-a-little-more-experimenting#Post90467

Does a muzzle break count as part or the length?

If it makes you feel better..

22" for 270 / 7x57 / 30'06
24" for 280 AI / 300H&H

they all seem to work/carry fine, I don't care to go shorter than 22"

I too thought about the barrel length when I had a couple of the barrels replaced on some Model 70 FW's. Both were chambered in 270 Winchester. Ended up ordering 23" FW barrels and never gave it another thought.

For me I like a 24”. Probably because I have ‘06 length cartridges and that is what “everyone “ says works the best with them. For whatever reason that seems to be as long as I care for though. 26” seems just a bit too long for hunting in the woods. Not opposed to shorter barrels with cartridges that are efficient in shorter barrels but I like to give them enough barrel to run.

barrel length is only part of the equation. for example, my montana with a 22” barrel is almost the exact same overall length as my salvage lightweight hunter with a 20” barrel. and theyre both just about right.

24” for standard cartridges, 26” for magnums.

All Remington 700s are 24, as are weather you vaguards. For tandsrd calibers.

This is pretty much it for me...and I prefer a sporter/light sporter contour with a lightweight stock. Gives slight forward balance and it seems I hold that basic formula steadier off-hand than a really light contour barrel. Almost all of my time is spent with short action rounds now but occasionally I'll hunt/shoot a long action standard round. I do have a .375 but aside from it I'm just a little ol non-magnum guy.

I like the 20 inch barrels. For me they are easier to carry and easier to hold when you shoot without a rest.

I've grown to prefer 22" barrels on everything. I've had a couple of 20" guns and liked them as well. I may be weird, actually likely not maybe ( ), I shoot longer barreled rifles better but I love shorter rifles for hunting. I'm a bit on the shorter side so prefer a 22" barrel in a well balanced rifle. I think instead of raw barell length, rifle balance is important to me. I definitely shoot better from field positions with a well balanced rifle, regardless of barrel length.

Same here....

I prefer 24". My rifles with 22" just seem a little odd.

I like 22"-26" depending upon cartridge.

I like 18”-20” on anything .308 based.... threaded, with the can attached.

The only long action round in the house anymore is a Rem. 700 in 7 Mag wearing a KS stock. I chopped it from 26” to 23”, it lost 40-60 FPS depending on the load, but handles WAY better than it did at 26”.

I am in the camp of preferring 24" barrels for non-magnum cartridges and 26" barrels for magnum cartridges. Mostly for balance. Partly for recoil mitigation.

I have a Win 70 in 338WM that someone chopped the barrel to 19-3/4". It has killed it's share of moose and elk, but just not a fun gun to shoot. Does carry through the alder bushes pretty well and fits in the bottom of canoes. On the other hand, I have a Win 70 in 300WM with a 26" barrel that is a dream to shoot. Probably the rifle I can shoot off handed the best. But you can't go through brush with it slung over your shoulder, not that I would anyway because it has a really nice figured stock. So for my personal choices I usually pick 24" lengths when I order barrels and 22" for light weights.

Most of mine are 24 or 26. I have a few 20 and 22 inches.

^^^^^^^^^^^ Will not own a long mag anything from 257 WBY up without a 26" barrel