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bulldog563
.400 member

Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California

Best Barrel length on a DR?
#42536 - 29/11/05 08:51 PM

What is the best barrel length for a DG DR that will be the primary heavy rifle in my battery. The rifle in question is a Searcy 500 NE. At what point does a barrel become too short or too long? How much velocity do you lose when you decrease length?

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500Nitro
.450 member

Reged: 06/01/03
Posts: 7244
Loc: Victoria, Australia

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: bulldog563]
#42539 - 29/11/05 10:14 PM

23 Min - 26 Max for a 500 NE

It partly depends on the action being used as the barrels
have to compensate the weight of the stock / action.

I wouldn't worry about velocity - you can change the velocity
by changing powders but it's such a short range firearm it
wouldn't make a huge amount of difference.

At what point does a barrel become too short or too long?

When the gun doesn't point well or the "feel" doesn't feel right.

500 Nitro

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Rusty
.333 member

Reged: 08/02/03
Posts: 464
Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: 500Nitro]
#42544 - 30/11/05 12:43 AM

My double rifle 450/400 3 inch has 26 inch barrels.
The 404 Jeffery rifles that Tip Burns is making for me will sport 26 inch Lothar-Walther barrels.

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Rusty
We band of brothers!
DRSS

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500grains
.416 member

Reged: 16/02/04
Posts: 4732
Loc: Salt Lake City, Utah USA

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: Rusty]
#42546 - 30/11/05 01:26 AM

24 inches, although I can see an argument for 22 inches. Greener used to make his 8 bore double elephant guns with 20 inch barrels. He made longer barrels on request, but thought that 20 inches was ideal.

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DUGABOY1
.400 member

Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: bulldog563]
#42553 - 30/11/05 02:49 AM

BULLDOG563, Butch's rifles balance perfectly with 24" barrels. That is what I would order on one of his PH rifles chambered for 500NE. The speed will be fine, as he will regulate the barrels to factory load spechs, unless you have a personal preference for a load/bullet of your own. If you do, then he will regulate it for those loads, as long as they are within pressure limits!

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..........Mac >>>===(x)===>
DUGABOY1, and MacD37 founding member of DRSS www.doublerifleshooterssociety.com
"If I die today, I have had a life well spent, for I've been to see the Elephant, and smelled the smoke of Africa!"

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400NitroExpress
.400 member

Reged: 26/11/03
Posts: 1154
Loc: Lone Star State

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: bulldog563]
#42554 - 30/11/05 02:50 AM

Largely a matter of personal taste and there's a wide range of opinion, so you really need to decide for yourself. Forget the velocity difference and concentrate on how it handles. Try to spend a little time with various lengths before you decide what you like best. You're the one that has to be happy with it.

To me, 24" barrels might be OK on a lightweight small bore double, but not on a medium or large bore. I can't see any need for anything shorter than 26". I've never shot a medium or large bore double with 24" or shorter barrels that would have been even marginally acceptable to me handling wise.
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"Serious rifles have two barrels, everything else just burns gunpowder."

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mickey
.416 member

Reged: 05/01/03
Posts: 4647
Loc: Pend Oreille Valley, Idaho

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: 400NitroExpress]
#42560 - 30/11/05 04:57 AM

I agree with 400NE

I like 26" for most applications and even 28" for smaller bores. Balance is the key not barrel length. No matter what length you get it will be shorter than a bolt action.

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Lovu Zdar
Mick

A Man of Pleasure, Enterprise, Wit and Spirit Rare Books, Big Game Hunting, English Rifles, Fishing, Explosives, Chauvinism, Insensitivity, Public Drunkenness and Sloth, Champion of Lost and Unpopular Causes.

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clark7781
.375 member

Reged: 28/10/04
Posts: 612
Loc: Fairfax County, Virginia, USA

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: DUGABOY1]
#42561 - 30/11/05 05:38 AM

Bulldog:

What did Butch recommend for you?

For our .577, Butch is making the barrels 24.5"

Remember, these rifles are for up close and personal use - I would personally want shorter rather than larger barrels on a large bore DR.

Just my humble opinion.

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Clark

Double Rifle Shooters Society
.500 NE and .577 NE

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bulldog563
.400 member

Reged: 21/10/05
Posts: 1153
Loc: California

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: clark7781]
#42567 - 30/11/05 06:43 AM

They come standard with 24" barrels. I think I will stick with this.

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Rusty
.333 member

Reged: 08/02/03
Posts: 464
Loc: Missouri City, Texas

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: bulldog563]
#42569 - 30/11/05 06:53 AM

Butch makes a 450/400 with 26 inch barrels.

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Rusty
We band of brothers!
DRSS

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NE450No2
.375 member

Reged: 10/01/03
Posts: 942

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: Rusty]
#42683 - 01/12/05 11:57 AM

I would want 26" bbls. My 450/400 has 26 inch bbls, my 450 No2 has 28 inch bbls.
I would prefer 27 or 28 inch bbls to 24 inch bbls.
The longer bbls feel better to me.
Funny thing is I like 18 to 20 inch bolt rifles real well. I even have a 375 H&H with 19 3/4 inch bbls.
Like 400 Nitro says handle different lengths and get the one that feels best to you.

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4seventy
Sponsor

Reged: 07/05/03
Posts: 2210
Loc: Queensland Australia

Re: Best Barrel length on a DR? [Re: bulldog563]
#45144 - 29/12/05 01:46 PM

Several posters say 26" is the go and that's what I like as well.

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