Home Forums Hunting & Shooting Custom Rifles & Wildcats Been doing a little more experimenting.........

Thanks Charlie,

Appreciate the 338WM experiment. Since I chopped mine from 26 inches, to 22 inches, those were the figures I was interested in personally. Looks like about a 90fps velocity decrease between the two lengths. Not too big a loss, for having 4 fewer inches of barrel. I'll take that trade anyday! <img src="/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif" alt="" />

Charlie,
Thank you also. I had mine chopped also from 26" to 23.25" for a loss of 64fps. RL19 is the powder I plan on using also so you hit her on the nose. MtnHtr

Charlie,

Had to take a semester of statistics but didn't pay much attention. If I get some time tomorrow I'll break out the text book and see if I can help you out.

Conventional wisdom has velocity change at about 25 fps per inch. You got about 20 and I will use your data now.

We do get carried away with long barrels for hunting rifles and they don't handle as well besides the weight.

Don_Martin
This wasnt meant to be the gospel. I know the test I performed were done properly but there may be variables that I havent considered. I used a lot of Partitions and a Hornady may work differently, I just dont know. Different primers with different powders may have an effect also. Could a three land barrel versus an eight land barrel make a difference ? I dont think so but again I dont know. I am curious if a 30 caliber barrel that is .3080 would loose the same speed as a .3085 barel would. Would crimping versus not crimping make a difference ? What about leade angle and freebore ? What would happen with a paper-patched lead bullet ? Boat-tail versus flat-base ? I dont think any of these things will make all that much difference. I think barrels from one to the next will vary more . I have decided that on my own rifles I will use this data for fact but I will let the customer make the decision until I have time to do more testing. Has anyone else tried these things ? If anyone here would know I bet Mr Howell would . Sir, what do you think ?
Charlie

Sounds like you've got more testing to do Charlie

I guess I have disagree about longer barrels not handling as well as shorter barrels. In my opinion,a sporter weight 24" barrel seems to balance best and be the easiest to shoot off-hand on most guns. I have handled many custom big-bores with relatively heavy 24" barrels on Mauser and Model 70 actions. To me, with a proper stock, these big guns point like fine shotguns (although heavy ones). I just bought my wife a Rem. M7; the short, lightweight barrel on that gun handles horribly for me (hard to quickly acquire the target and hard to hold steady off-hand). I guess that's why the manufacturers make all sort of different guns, and men like Charlie will make whatever you want. Everyone's a little different.

Charlie, thanks for the excellent post.

MrMD,

In my experiance a big game rifle with light ends handles best for all around use.

Shooting from the standing position or offhand might be broken down into taking a shot at a stationary target where there is time to aim. For this purpose a rifle that has more weight in the barrel is better for the reasons that you gave. However shooting from standing, for me at least, seems to be at moving game and then the light barreled rifle is much faster to get on target and to move with the target.

If there is time to stand and aim for a moment there may be time to get into a steadier postion also.

Mr. Sisk, re:your question on .3080 vs. .3085 bores

In my .30 cal. BR guns, I haven't seen any real velocity loss as we've reduced the barrel length. The .30 cal. Liljas I use usually run right at .2998-.3000 and are three groove with both 1:15 and 1:17 twists using a leade angle of 1.5 degrees. The case is based on the 308 Lapua and is shortened to hold an average of 48.0 gr. of water.

I believe the throat angle, freebore, number of grooves, and neck tension have as much to do with a barrels velocity as anything..within reason of course.

My gunsmith just finished a 250 Savage Ackley Improved for me. From a 22" barrel, the 75 VMaxes will go 3680 and the 87 gr. Sierra flat based bullet 3400. A short throat, snug bore (especially on a .25, as most bullets measure around .2565-.2568 for the .257 bore) and an efficient case sure does wonders for velocities.

Neat experiment..thanks for the info. -Al.

Bump
Thanks for the info. Makes my decision easier

Very cool Mr. Sisk. Lots of folks talk about theoretical outcomes...you've actually done the tests and drawn your own conclusions.

Excellent old thread. Whatever happened to Charlie Sisk?

Probably working to pay the bills.. 'tis hunting season as well..

I talked to him about 6 weeks ago about a rifle project. He told me he was going to post some data here soon on Bore Coated barrels.

Seeing Charlie Sisk posting again is nice.
Wish I would see Talus, AFP and If It Flies It Dies. Those guys welcomed me to the fire when I went by the login name youngbuckaz86. A lot of great people on this campfire.

Interesting to see the difference in FPS between 22 and 24 inch tube but also 26 and 22 inch tubes. I am looking at the data on the 270 since it would be close to the 25-06 I am building but also the 257 Roberts. The rifle won't be losing much with that 22 inch tube i'm gonna buy for it.

Kique

Folks
Charlie Sisk is alive and well. Working every day, trying to stay afloat. Still building 300 Win mags 50% of the time. I keep telling myself I'm going to start posting more, but I've got more work than I can say grace over.
Charlie

Why do you think those 300 win mags are so popular....

Marking this thread. Good stuff. Thank you

That's the most important part !!

Very interesting, Charlie... I appreicate you publishing this info. I've got a 24" barrel on a 336-06 I think could likely be trimmed back 2-4"...