Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Ask The Gunwriters Will factory rifles ever wear 23" barrels?

On a non-magnum...who really needs the +1"...or 3 anyways?

Did anyone say, Barrel Length Survey?

There are a few 23" fan club members here no doubt. Seems like the 'I can't make a decision, so I'll split the difference, length' club. I could easily be a member of that club. No 23s" yet, but the amount of time I spend fussing over 22" or 24" is truly ridiculous.

For BG rifles, 22" Standard case....24" magnum.

I can like a 23" for some rifles.

We'll see 23" barrels when Brad here gets around to opening a gun factory.

Kimber already opened my rifle factory, they just got the 84L barrel wrong

But it's easier to cut a barrel than grow one. I'm glad they went 24" with the 84L over the traditional 22"... more options.

The 84M w/ 22" bbl feels just right to me. I wouldn't change it to 21" or 23".

I honestly don't care about specific length per-se, I care about balance, how a rifle feels first, and looks second.

It's funny though, when a rifle "looks right" it usually "feels right" too...

Dakota`s have a 23" barrel in standard calibers.

I really like 23" in 338's and 375's.

All the Ruger African models have 23" tubes, for conversation.

Ditto Bob... but my 338's have all been 22" and one M70 375 H&H at 22". BUT, were I doing either again it'd be 23"...

And they feel great... the 375 Ruger with its 23" barrel is about as good a factory rifle as I've ever held. Perfect balance IMO.

Seems like the gunmakers listed barrel lengths are only nominal anyway... I've seen identical models chambered alike that varied by as much as 5/8"...

And most rifles are set up to give most of us what we want in feel, and balance... Nit-pick all we want, there's not much a guy can't do with an off the rack factory offering...

Is an inch longer or shorter barrel cool to have??? Sure, if you like it that way...
I requested my m70 fwt 25-06 barrel cut to 23"... Campfire Cool? Heck yeah...
Better than 24-26"??? gimme a break...

Scott yes....I really like that rifle....just feels good


JohnW I was handling a Dakota Safari 375 recently with 23" tube, contoured nicely....pointed like a shotgun and very nice balance as well.

I build all my WSMs with 23" barrels, but I see no need to go beyond 22" for standard calibers.

Greg 22" is standard formula for me in 270,30/06,etc.....at least all mine are that way right now.

just this week, a couple of rooster pheasant rubbed my face in the fact that "points like a shotgun" means more to some than others...

I think Brad is onto it with these 84L's....the small receiver and thin barrel gives them a snaky kinda look at 24"....they handle nice but at the same time, I think 22" might look too short.

If I get one, I'm gonna give it the 23" treatment myself.

My Steyr Model M Professional has a 23 inch barrel in .270 Win

IIRC T/C, Rossi, & Browning all offer ( or once offered) 23" CF barrels on some models, as issue.

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Bobin, on a long action thin bbl, I'd go 23 before 22 no doubt, just for looks and balance, but I NEVER warmed up to 24 or 26" bbls. Chopped a 26 VLS 223 down to 22.5 once - perfect, another 24 700V 7/08 down to 21, again, great, just loud.

Looks like a few mfg. have caught on to 23s, I know Rem has alot of 24s or did in the past in non mag calibers. Same w/Weatherby. I'd rather a 22 than 24 for non mag, but in a long action non mag - a 23 makes sense.

Agree - looks and balance are key, yet also where/how I hunt, a SHORT bbl can be handy at times, clearing a window in a blind, my former 20" Ruger #1 was a Real Shorty, and cleared a stand window fast for a very fast 'grab gun, acquire sight pic, and drop game' shot on a hog. A former 26" heavy bbl 6BR would have been far more sluggish than the 243 and I was glad to have the carbine/mannlicher that day.

The great thing about a custom no doubt, you can pick the length you need/want for the round chambered, as well as contour to meld w/it to achieve weight and balance goals.

I am settling into 22-22.5 for the longest for short action non mag rounds, yet the last 1-1.5" is as much to get muzzle blast further from ears, than worrying about mv.

Not long ago, seems Ruger went from 24 to 26" on a sporter 77 in 6.5 Creedmoor. Seems they went the wrong direction! Perhaps they wanted to show max speeds in the round, no idea.

Tempted to grab a 1V Ruger in 6.5C and chop to 20-21"....if fluted, it might be just perfect for alot of what I do....just alot more trouble to flute vs just chop/crown....and expensive.

23"