GuysModel94
Member
Planning on buying a 7mm-08 and have it down to two models, one has 24" barrel and one a 22" barrel. How much accuracy/distance do i lose in those two inches or at what range will it make a difference?
22" Barrel vs 24" Barrel
- Thread starter GuysModel94
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351 WINCHESTER
Member
Whatever you loose in velocity (not much at all) will be made up in a handier rifle.
Accuracy isn't going to be different in regards to a 22" vs a 24" barrel. The 22" will run about 50fps slower.
In this case the barrel length shouldn't be your deciding factor.
If you ever plan on hand loading for this rifle though there would be more to consider.
In this case the barrel length shouldn't be your deciding factor.
If you ever plan on hand loading for this rifle though there would be more to consider.
Float Pilot
Member
With efficient cartridges like that you can figure between 20 to 25 feet per second, per inch of barrel length, between 18 to 26 inches.
So 40 to 50 fps lost for a 24 or 22 inch barrel IF, they have the same rifling twist.
What type / make of rifles?
So 40 to 50 fps lost for a 24 or 22 inch barrel IF, they have the same rifling twist.
What type / make of rifles?
I would say the velocity differences between a 9, 9.25 & a 9.5 would be pretty negligible.
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GuysModel94
Member
Looking at at Wby. Vanguard and a 16 Savage Package (SS) and plan to be reloading by late spring.
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7mm-08 is a short action and therefore you'd be looking at the 16 Savage, not 116. Just FYI
Both of those rifles will give you plenty of room to use longer bullets if you ever see the need.
GuysModel94
Member
Nelsons02: Fast brain, slow fingers, not proof-reading well, must be friday night. Yes it is the 16 Package.
Sunray
Member
"...How much accuracy/distance do I lose..." None. Accuracy and effective range isn't about the barrel length. You lose a bit of velocity, but not enough to matter.
The rifling twist isn't about velocity. It's about stabilizing the bullet.
The 7mm-08 is a 300 yard cartridge, depending on the distance you sight in for. A 140 sighted in at 200 drops nearly 8" at 300, like a brick past 300. Sighted in at 150, it'll drop a bit over 5" at 250, a bit over 10" at 300. Moot, if you can't hit a 9" pie plate, off hand, every time, at those distances anyway.
Buy the rifle that feels right to you, work up a load and practice.
The rifling twist isn't about velocity. It's about stabilizing the bullet.
The 7mm-08 is a 300 yard cartridge, depending on the distance you sight in for. A 140 sighted in at 200 drops nearly 8" at 300, like a brick past 300. Sighted in at 150, it'll drop a bit over 5" at 250, a bit over 10" at 300. Moot, if you can't hit a 9" pie plate, off hand, every time, at those distances anyway.
Buy the rifle that feels right to you, work up a load and practice.
Good choices, those are both good rifles that offer a lot of "bang" for the buck.
If the barrel twist rates are the same, I believe the previous answers are right: you will gain about 40 or 50 fps from the extra 2" of barrel length. If one of the barrels has a slower twist rate, that one will probably have the higher muzzle velocity.
You shouldn't notice any change in accuracy between a 22" or 24" barrel.
Regarding those 50 fps and how that impacts your effective range....it depends what you are shooting. If you are shooting targets at the effective limit of the cartridge (maybe somewhere out around 900+ yards?), then that extra 50fps will come in handy. For big game out to 300 yards or varmints out to 500 yards, you won't notice a difference.
If the barrel twist rates are the same, I believe the previous answers are right: you will gain about 40 or 50 fps from the extra 2" of barrel length. If one of the barrels has a slower twist rate, that one will probably have the higher muzzle velocity.
You shouldn't notice any change in accuracy between a 22" or 24" barrel.
Regarding those 50 fps and how that impacts your effective range....it depends what you are shooting. If you are shooting targets at the effective limit of the cartridge (maybe somewhere out around 900+ yards?), then that extra 50fps will come in handy. For big game out to 300 yards or varmints out to 500 yards, you won't notice a difference.
Float Pilot
Member
Hmm, maybe I was just imagining the difference over a chronograph over the last 40 years. A faster twist means more resistance and more pressure.
Although slight variations in twist rate are negligible.
ricehombre
Member
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After shooting and loading a number of different calibers, I have found that a rifle that shoots good with a 22" barrel would have shot great with a 24-26 barrel. Of course we're not talking about the light weight pencil barreled rifles on the shelf today. If you can't carry a decent weight rifle you should take up tennis or ping pong or just stick with dominoes. And those who talk about satisfactory hunting accuracy doesn't get it. Either a rifle is accurate or not. Most don't know how far they are going to shoot till they see how big the horns are.
Art Eatman
Moderator In Memoriam
For case dimensions such as the 7mm08 (plus the .308 and .243), there's not much velocity difference between 22" and 24". The .308 was designed to be efficient in 20" to 22" barrels.
24" and 26" barrels do make a difference for those cartridges which are slightly overbore, such as those whose cases are similar to the '06. They benefit from slower burn-rate powders.
Accuracy? Basically, barrel length is not a factor in a hunting rifle. My '06 is sub-MOA with its 26" barrel; my .243 is sub-MOA with a 19" barrel. Not many people are in the sub-0.1 MOA "war", where barrel length can be a factor.
24" and 26" barrels do make a difference for those cartridges which are slightly overbore, such as those whose cases are similar to the '06. They benefit from slower burn-rate powders.
Accuracy? Basically, barrel length is not a factor in a hunting rifle. My '06 is sub-MOA with its 26" barrel; my .243 is sub-MOA with a 19" barrel. Not many people are in the sub-0.1 MOA "war", where barrel length can be a factor.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
This is true.
On 7mm-08 I would go with the 22 inch barrel. You will never miss the other two inches, thats a pretty efficient round. Its not like the extra 80 fps are going to turn it into a sizzler. My 7mm-08 was a Rem Classic and was nice but was painful from the bench. It really popped and dug into a soft spot on my shoulder. since then I now have Saiga 308 16 inch rifles that I swear don't kick near as much.
DM~
Member
I agree with the 22" group, as there's very little difference in V and NO difference in accuracy. Those small cases like the 7-08 just don't gain much V going from 22" to 24".
DM
DM
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I would choose the rifle I liked best and not let barrel length be a deciding factor. Two inches won't make a significant difference either way. It's far more important that the rifle fit you, is more comfortable to shoot and is the one you want.
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