Author Topic: What is your average barrel length? (Read 682 times)

longwinters · « **on:** October 12, 2004, 07:59:42 AM »

In a discussion on another forum, I was told that most rifle barrels are 24" or more in length. I have a real hard time believing this. Infact I would say 9 out of 10 rifle barrels are under 24" with most being in the 22" range. For the most part the only rifles I see with 24" or longer barrels are special order, varmint or magnums. But hey, I could be wrong. This would probably make a good survey question, but what is your barrel length average?

Long

smoky · « **Reply #1 on:** October 12, 2004, 09:11:19 AM »

Rem 700 in 7 mag has a 24" bbl.

Custom 7-08 AI has a 20" bbl, but that was by choice as it was custom made.

Wife's Rem 700 .280 Mountain Rifle has a 22" bbl.

So I guess to answer the question, my avg. is 22". Not counting the in line muzzle loaders (22" and 26").

Smoky

Lawdog · « **Reply #2 on:** October 12, 2004, 09:42:47 AM »

Average of all rifles?

Centerfires - 25 inches

Rimfires - 22 inches

Lawdog

jhm · « **Reply #3 on:** October 12, 2004, 11:53:56 AM »

Over all length is about 22 in. size doesnt always matter, its what you do with what you have or so I have heard :eek:

JIM

Buffalogun · « **Reply #4 on:** October 12, 2004, 12:50:54 PM »

longwinters,

My M70 Classic Stainless in 7mm Rem Mag wears a 26" barrel, but my Browning 1885 in 7mm Rem Mag wears 28"..... and wears it very well...thank you!

It seems to me that there are a lot more carbines with 18-20" barrels these days, so I would expect to see the average getting a little shorter.

Buffalogun

longwinters · « **Reply #5 on:** October 12, 2004, 01:31:04 PM »

So far my "theory" is proving true. Lawdogs rifles are mostly Weatherby mags as are the 7mm's mentioned.

Long

RaySendero · « **Reply #6 on:** October 12, 2004, 02:02:45 PM »

Average = 22.25" :mrgreen:

Patriot_1776 · « **Reply #7 on:** October 12, 2004, 05:14:52 PM »

My av. length is 24" out of three rifles:

1. 300 Weatherby Magnum, 26" bbl.

2. 30-06 Rem. 710, 22" bbl.

3. 17HMR 24" bbl.

I'm quite happy with my lengths....very diverse!

Patriot

Buckfever · « **Reply #8 on:** October 12, 2004, 08:09:36 PM »

Rem 300.....24"

6.5-55........closer to 22"

308............closer to 22"

17hmr.........22"

soon to be .223....22"

Buckfever

Lawdog · « **Reply #9 on:** October 13, 2004, 09:37:44 AM »

longwinters,

Actually I believe barrel length depends on the cartridge it is chambered for. Long magnum cartridges such as the .264 Win. Mag., 7mm Rem. Mag., .300 Win. Mag., etc. mostly come with 26 inch barrels or at least 24 inches. Funny thing is for instance the Ruger M77 in .30-06 has a 22 inch barrel where the same rifle in .25-06 has a 24 inch barrel. Yeah all my Weatherbys have 26 inch barrels except for the .378 which has a 28 inch barrel. All my custom rifles barrels are cut to 25 inches(very popular length back before W.W.II) while the rest of them have 24 inch barrels with one exception of a Mini-14 that has a 22 inch barrel. I dont care for short barrels on rifles. I always figured that a Win. M12 with a 26 inch barrel was perfect for hunting birds in the brush why would the same length work on a rifle. Besides I find I can hold a longer barrel more steady when shooting off hand and it swings easier. Lawdog

MGMorden · « **Reply #10 on:** October 13, 2004, 01:10:32 PM »

1. Savage 110 .30-06 22"
2. Sporterized Swede Mauser 22"
3. K31 Schmidt Rubin 25"
4. M38 Mosin Nagant 20"
5. No4 Mk 1 SMLE 25"
6. Ruger 10/22 18.5"

So average for me is right at 22".

jeff · « **Reply #11 on:** October 13, 2004, 02:34:06 PM »

Longwinters

Guess that theory dosen't always play unless you're bound to new fangled rifles.

Rem 700 HB 308 26"
Rem 700 HB 22-250 26"
Rem Rollling Block 43 Spanish 34 3/4"
1866 Springfield TD 50-70 35"
Winchester 9422M 22 Mag 20 1/2"
M1 Garand 30-06 23"
Rem 513T 22 LR 26 3/8"
1874 Gemmer Sharps 45-70 31 1/2"
1908 Brazilian Mauser 7x57 29"
71-84 Mauser 43 Mauser 30 1/2"
T/C Contender Carbine 223 20"
Stevens 44 1/2 switch barrel
218 Mashburn Bee 26"
30-40 Krag 28"
38-55 Win 30"

14 Barrels, 14 calibers overall average length 27.6"

longwinters · « **Reply #12 on:** October 13, 2004, 03:29:58 PM »

:lol: Well Jeff, you got me there. Say . . . is barrel length (as well as being related to caliber like Lawdog said) also proportional to what region in the United States a person lives in? Are rifles barrels generally longer out west than in the mid-west?

Long

jeff · « **Reply #13 on:** October 13, 2004, 04:34:32 PM »

Long

While I do not know from a geographical view, I suspect that barrel length might be related more to the interests of the owner.

Think about the various shooting interests that we have out there. Hunters, plinkers and targets. If the hunter is on foot and in the woods, I'm thinking that a short barrel would be preferred, possibly not too heavy too. Civil War buffs and CASS folks typically have longer barreled rifles. BP shooters usually have long barreled equipment. I would expect that long range shooters use longer barrels unless they're shooting in service rifle competition.