20" vs 22" barrel

[romex2121]

im wondering how much vel. i lose in my rem 700 bdl in 30/06 20" barrel compared to a 22" ta 24" barrel ,,,, i do know most manuels are using the longer barrels in there loads,, i dont have a chrony so im just looking for a ballpark figure :wink: im using a 165gr partician with 57grs of IMR4350

 

[JD338]

You really need a chronograph to get actual readings but I would think 20-40 fps per inch.
A faster burn rate powder would help in a shorter barrel.

JD338

 

[Guy Miner]

58 gr H4350 sends a 165 gr Nosler Partition at 2750 fps from my 21" barreled .30-06 M1917.

Just for reference, as it's a similar powder charge & bullet and barrel length.

Guy

 

[rick smith]

The powder that gives the best speed with a long barrel will also give the best speeds in a shorter barrel. Writer John Barsness and gunbuilder Charlie Sisk did the test several years ago.
You can't judge speed of your rifle by what another rifle will produce. You may get a reasonable guess. I shot a friends 20" barrel 30/06 across the chronograph with the same load I was shooting in my 22" barreled 30/06. His was faster by 20fps.Rick.

 

[DrMike]

JD338 has a good handle on this in his post. My own observations show that for standard cartridges the loss of velocity is between 25 and 35 fps for each inch removed.

 

[baltz526]

I cut a 300win mag from 24" to 20" it lost 100fps on average. But gained accuracy, 2 1/2" 100yrd groups to 1" groups. Lossing a few FPS is not always a bad trade

 

[Ol` Joe]

There is no cut & dried answer to the question.
I`ve a Kimber 260 with a 22" bbl that shoots the same loads as fast or slightly faster then my 24" M700 in the same chambering. A old M7 with a 20" tube I had shot the same reloads ~ 20-30 fps slower the my M700/24" bbl.
There is more then barrel length involved in the velocity you get. A tight chamber or short throat might make up for an inch or 2 of barrel. Temp or other weather conditions can add or subtract velocity and cause a load to clock wrong compared to another rifle shot on the different day.
The only way to keep a apples to apples comparison is to start with a long barrel and crono, cut some off and crono again under the exact same conditions.

 

[romex2121]

so from what im reading i shouldnt let the 20" barrel bother me none,, its a good shooting rifle,, i was just wondering how it compared to the longer barrels as far as velocitys :wink:

 

[DrMike]

I wouldn't be overly concerned. I had a 20 inch barrel in my CZ550, and the differences in velocity compared to my current 22 inch Model 70 were negligible.

 

[Big Squeeze]

In reality,,,,not much of a velocity loss at all. The only real accurate way to find out, would have been to take take some chrony readings with your 22" er (before the cut down) using identical reloads, then cut the same barrel down to 20" and chrony the same identical loadings.

But generally speaking on average, a 20 to 30 fps (per inch) velocity loss would be a best guess. However, it could be a little more and it could be a little less.

But for any hunting, a barrel length shorter by 2",,5",,or even 7.5" chambered in any rifle cartridge, would be literally chump change and won`t affect the outcome assuming you do your part.

FWIW, I conducted an extensive and time consuming experiment. My own 16.5" barreled 300 WSM Ruger Frontier carbine on the average, ran 4.2% to 4.5% behind in overall velocity (16.4 to 19.5 fps per inch), when chrony`d side by side and compared with 2 other friend`s 24" barreled 300 WSMs using the same identical but a wide variety of reloads. Another 300 WSM Ruger Frontier and 2 other 300 WSM rifles, may have produced a greater percentage margin or maybe even a smaller one. My barrel is 31% shorter than the 24s, and yet I lost only 4.2% to 4.5% in total velocity.

So for a barrel which is 2" shorter for a 30-06???........Your % of loss will be far less and will be just as accurate!!!.............Now, you can sleep well!!!......... :lol: :lol: :lol:

PS: My experiment was done before the new RL17 powder came out. Using RL17 has added an additional 90-110 fps, as it wouild with the longer 300 WSM barrels as well. You just might be able to tack on a little more velocity as though you had a 24" tubed 30-06????????

 

[WYcoyote]

Yes, you will lose some velocity. Simply the laws of physics.
No, it shouldn't bother you any.
If you like the rifle in that configuration for it's handling or carrying qualities by all means use it with confidence.
The difference is slight and the critters will never know otherwise.

 

[Guy Miner]

romex - What are you doing with the rifle? I have no trouble at all at 300 yards with the 21" .30-06 M1917... :grin:

 

[romex2121]

romex - What are you doing with the rifle? I have no trouble at all at 300 yards with the 21" .30-06 M1917... :grin:

its my all around rifle, its been used for deer, elk, barbary sheep, coyotes, and even a few unlucky rabbits :wink: as far as shooting 300yrds or more it will deffintly do it , i can bust a 6" metal gong at the range but if i can get a closer shot in the field thats what i try for,, im more than sure the rifle is capable of longer shots but to be honest im not sure if i am unless i have a tree or something to brace against :lol:
as Big Squeeze mentioned i did pick up some RL-17 to try with the ought 6 and a couple other rifles i own,, i bet the 17 will make up for the shorter barrel,,, and yes i do have a chrony on my list of must haves,, which seems to be getting bigger all the time :roll:

 

[DrMike]

if i can get a closer shot in the field thats what i try for

Ahhh! A hunter! There is real satisfaction in getting as close as possible before taking the shot.

 

[30-338]

im wondering how much vel. i lose in my rem 700 bdl in 30/06 20" barrel compared to a 22" ta 24" barrel ,,,, i do know most manuels are using the longer barrels in there loads,, i dont have a chrony so im just looking for a ballpark figure :wink: im using a 165gr partician with 57grs of IMR4350

Many years ago my load for a Rem 30-06 with 22" barrel was 57gr/IMR-4350 with 165gr bullet. In the 80's after I got my chronograph I shot that rifle over it @ 2660fps also 150gr and 180gr with my favor loads. With all loads that rifle was alot slower than published velocity as I got that load out of Nolser #1 manual their test rifle was a Ruger with 22" barrel @2832fps. I think some of that loss was due to having shot alot out of that barrel vs a new barrel.

Back about 9/18/07 I ran some test loads in a new 700 30-06 with a 24" barrel using 57gr/IMR-4350 165gr bullets @ 2794fps. After Hodgdon took over the IMR line of powder they retest max load change to 60grs with 165gr bullet and I shot that also over the chrono @ 2940fps.

I get my accurate load first then chrongraph also do the work up loads. I think I managed 20yrs or so before I got a chronograph and the 243 with the Kreiger barrel has never been shot over one also one of the 6RemAI and it took me acouple years before I did the 280AI. I think sometimes not knowing is better good shooting rifle is just that.

 

[romex2121]

30-338 wrote,, i think sometimes not knowing is better ,,
you are probley so right :lol:

 

[DrMike]

As the old saying goes, "A chronograph has ruined many a good rifle." On the other hand, I wouldn't be without one when working up a load.