[Weylan]

I've got a stainless Winchester M70 in .375 H&H Magnum which I hope to one day use in Africa (dangerous game) and for big bears. It has a 24" barrel, which I'm contemplating shortening by 3 inches for ease of handling (I'm 5'7"). Is this wise? Would I lose enough velocity to make a difference? Thanks for any input.

Weylan

[Art Eatman]

Is the handling really all that awkward? I occasionally hunt from the cab of my Toyota PU with a 26"-barrelled critter, and it's never been that big a problem. (I agree that shorter is easier, and I prefer my 19" Sako to longer rifles, but it's still not all that big a deal, IMO.)

I'd imagine you'd lose some 70 ft/sec per inch of cutback, or around 200 ft/sec. Purely personal opinion, but for African critters I'd want all the punch available...

Art

[Wildalaska]

WE shorten 375 barrels down to 20 inches all the time, thats what the USFS just did...much handier in the brush..

As barrel legnth decreases, you bullet weight should increase however...

[redneck]

Anyone else picture Art either losin a windsheild or gettin stuck tryin to swing round when a critter sneaks up on his passenger side....
air conditioned/heated stand complete with padded seats an a radio, gettin it in the tree sounds kinda tough though

[Art Eatman]

One thing about that long barrel: The muzzle is OUTSIDE when it goes BOOM!

I once popped a feral cat with my lil .243, out the passenger window of my ol' VW Bus. Fergot about the barrel length. Huh? Huh? Whadja say?

:D, Art

[sixgun_symphony]

Why not just use this as an excuse to buy another gun?

Perhaps a short double rifle chambered in .470 nitro express ...

[Badger Arms]

I am of the opinion that the taller a person is, the shorter the barrel has to be. For instance, if I stand, say 6'4", my muzzle will be 9" higher and I can only duck so far. I do have this problem hunting in the brush and undergrowth, especially up in Alaska and down in Washington State. No problem hunting in North Dakota though.