The Original CZ Forum
CZ LONG ARMS => CZ Center fire Rifles => Topic started by: calypsocoral on January 13, 2012, 06:38:48 PM
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Not a criticism, more of an observation, but I can't help but notice that the standard-issue barrel length nowadays, from Savage, Remington, Browning, and most of the other "big names" is about 22 inches.
I've noticed that a lot of the ballistic tests performed by the ammo manufacturers (Olin, Hornady, Federal, Remington, et al) are performed with guns that have a 24" or longer barrel.
If I'm considering a cartridge that is on the long-ish side for a standard-length action (.270Win/.280Rem, .30-06, 8x68S, etc), at what point would a longer barrel length produce "diminishing returns" (when the gain in velocity and energy are no longer enough to justify the encumbrance of a longer barrel)?
I ask because a fellow hunter, a guy who has pointed me in the right direction pretty consistently, once told me that you need to get a longer barrel length in order to get the most out of a longer cartridge, and that shorter barrel lengths make more sense for shorter cartridges because of their more efficient burn. And the caliber for my next bolt-action (I'm looking at CZ550 American) that I have my eye set on is either .270 Winchester or .280 Remington.
Thanks in advance for your input!
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I read a study once where someone took a 30" .223 barrel and cut the barrel down in 1" increments. The really long barrels actually had lower velocity than a standard length barrel.
Now, with a .270/.30-06 case capacity...I would say that 26" is probably as long as you would want to go. 24" will gave nearly the same velocity, and a 22" would even be handier. The 26" will get you about 100 fps more than a 24", but the 22" will probably only lose 50 fps to a 24". So from a 22" to a 26" barrel, you will probably lose 150 fps or so, but you will GAIN a rifle that is much handier, lighter weight, and will actually have a stiffer barrel (read accuracy potential). 150 fps does not really matter that much on game.
Also remember that when you read reloading manuals and see that the measurements are in a 24 or 26" test barrel, these are usually test barrels fitted to universal receivers. You will only truely know how fast or slow a load is by shooting it over a chronograph.
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Many years ago the Remington Model 7 and the 700 Mountain rifle were the same barrel profile except for the extra length at end. The 7 was always much more accurate since a shorter barrel is a stiffer barrel. I never heard of anybody losing an animal due to lack of velocity from a 7 due to its short barrel. Because of this I would always take a 22 or 24" barrel over a 26" in a non magnum action. I also wouldn't hesitiate to use a 550FS with its very short barrel for hunting, particularly East of the Mississippi.
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And the caliber for my next bolt-action (I'm looking at CZ550 American) that I have my eye set on is either .270 Winchester or .280 Remington.
.270 Winchester? You mean only THE greatest cartridge of all time!!! ;D Seriously though, I am a huge fan of the .277 cal. Here is a video I made back in 2003 of my Dad dropping a small whitetail buck. The bullet performed perfect: through both shoulders and lungs and was sitting inbetween the fat and hide on the far side of the deer.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=3WhZKnOEoSQ&feature=g-upl&context=G242c044AUAAAAAAAAAA