Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Hunting Rifles 7mm Mag 26” vs 24” barrel

I recently picked up a late 90s Winchester 70 Classic Stainless in 7mm Mag. It has a 26” barrel. I don’t really care for the handling qualities of a rifle with a barrel that long. Any real downside to chopping the barrel to 24” or even 23” aside from the expected slight loss in velocity?

IMO, a 24" 7RM is perfect. No downside.

Agree.

That's what mine is and I like it.

DF

I have a couple of each, I prefer the 24” barrel

Like many here, I've used both. However, it seems to me that any "real" difference between a 24" and a 26" barrel is so small as to not matter at all.

The 24" gun is easier to maneuver in a blind or such. The small velocity loss is more than off set by improved handling, IMO.

With high performance rounds like the 26 Nosler, I think the extra 2" is worth it, not so much in the 7RM..

DF

My Abolt II has a 24" but also has a Boss. So its basically about 27". I took the Boss off and installed the Boss CR because it was so damn loud. Then this year we added some tower stands and the Boss addition makes the rifle tuff to get in and out of tight areas so I had the local shop make me a standard thread protector so its 24" now. I just haven't shot it yet without the Boss on it to see how it would group.

I like my 24" barrel. Very easy to move around.
I also have a 26" barreled 280ai. I have no problems with it either.
Maybe in certain situations it may be an issue, but even vehicle hunting, it's been easy enough to dismount and get back inside with it riding along side of me.
Don't know about pointing it out the window ? That may get tricky to move it around, and out.

Same here. Don't much care for 26" on a carry rifle. Anything much under 24" and you risk incomplete/inconsistent powder burn, with resultant loss of accuracy, if using factory ammo. Handloaders can alleviate any such issues by using faster powder.

I don't select powder based on 24" or 26" tubes. I pick the most accurate, best performing powder regardless of barrel length.

Unburned powder is going to be there is you don't have the right load combo, regardless of barrel length.

Now, the Fire crowd is gonna get the last fps out a load, you can count on that...

DF

It's a personal preference, but a 26" barrel has never been a problem for me. Can't imagine chopping off 2" would make much of a handling difference, either, even in an enclosed stand. My first centerfire rifle had a 26" barrel, so maybe I am just used to it. And, going from 26" to 24" has minimal affect on velocity for all but the biggest cartridges. To me, 26" vs 24" seems more like gun writer fodder than anything else. But if someone prefers a 24" barrel, then that's what he should have.

JMHO

I have had both and will take the 26-inch every time. I don't find it a detriment to carry around the mountains and I think that it makes attaining the velocity that you want, just that much easier. It would make zero sense to chop off two inches of barrel. Insignificant and won't make it any handier.

You guys would whine like a dull saw blade if you had to handle my 30" barreled 30-338 for a hunt. What the hell I'm atleast 6" closer to the game I shoot than any of 24" fan boys. Yeah I like it wasn't made to be used in the brush or blind anyway. MB

Don Jr's idea of a mtn. rifle.

You guys must think alike...

Tell us more DF, nice looking Dall but that rifle looks like a trophy too. That grin says it all. MB

I have the 26" on my 7 Rem mag A-bolt and I like it.

That is Donald Trump jr.

I have a couple 26" barreled rifles. I much prefer 24". Easy to get through the thick stuff with a 24". It fits in a hard case better and is easier to get in and out of a gun case or the truck.

Yep.

He reportedly has a property in upstate NY where he reloads, shoots LR big rifles.

I don't know the details on his monster mtn rifle, but bet it weighs a bunch. Looks like a big NF scope.

It seemed to work for him.. He's a young hoss, can tote a big gun like that up and down mountains.

Not for me, not young, not a hoss....

DF

Winchester made both 24” and 26” in the classic stainless 7 mm mag - the “featherweight” and all terrain sported the 24”. On the magnums, the barrel profile was the same - just shorter. I prefer the balance of the 24”.