Barrel length for .30-06?

[Clint C]

What is the story on barrel lenght for .30-06? I hear people say that twenty-two inches is to short for a .30-06 barrel. Is this true or does it matter? Is there a better or perfect barrel length for .30-06?

I started to read something about this when I started looking into a Howa rifle chambered for .30-06, but it only comes with a twenty-two inch barrel. Some people were saying that twenty-two inch barrels were to short for .30-06.

 

[lipadj46]

22" as far as I am concerned is the "normal" length for a 30.06 or .308. I don't know how much velocity you lose as opposed to say a 24" barrel (probably not much) but for hunting anything over 22" gets too long and heavy to hump around. I am not sure what the length cutoff is where you start to lose velocity. Honestly though unless you are talking strictly target shooting anything over 22" gets to be too long IMO.

 

[Clint C]

Cool

Thanks for the info. That gives me alot of relief because I like the Howa Hogue package and it only comes with the 22 inch barrel.

Good point on the shorter barrel being better to lug around.

 

[lipadj46]

Yes look at most 30.06 hunting rifles and they come with 22" barrels. My father just bought a Ruger Hawkeye 30.06 with a 22" barrel.

 

[USSR]

Is there a better or perfect barrel length for .30-06?

Better or perfect for what purpose? My .30-06 match rifles have 26" barrels, and my hunting rifle has a 24" barrel.

Don

 

[jpwilly]

22" is the norm for most non magnum standard conture bbl rifles. 24" is the norm for magnum standard conture bbl. Usually heavy or bull "varmint" or "target" bbls are longer to give more velocity since weight and handling aren't as important.