crl
.224 member
Reged: 26/10/04
Posts: 17
Loc: MN
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I am getting ready to order a Dakota Safari in 375 H&H. The std lenght of these guns is 23 1/2 inches in length. For $150 I can get a "custom" length. My question is does the barrel length really matter in this caliber? If so what would be the best length to chose.
Thanks
crl
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new_guy
Sponsor
Reged: 10/08/04
Posts: 581
Loc: Texas
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the dakota is a nice choice and leads me to believe that you're setting this up in the profile of a DG gun,i.e.: bbl banded swivel, open sights, etc... I think the handi-ness that the shorter barrel creates is well worth any theoretical loss in velocity you would lose in this shorter barrel. I put a 23" on my 416 rigby.
Good luck.
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www.heymUSA.com
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bonanza
.400 member
Reged: 17/05/04
Posts: 2335
Loc: South Carolina
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It's a little more complicated than just lenght. You must factor twist rate. The lenght and twist rate need to be matched to stableize the 300gr bullet. Velocity can be regulated with choice of powder and amount. Short barrel - faster powder, etc.
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"Speak Precisely" G. Gordon Liddy.
"Life is absurd, chaotic and we must define its purpose with our actions" Abert Camus
"I''m the dude playing a dude disguised as another dude."
"Yo! Mr. White"
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Martin
.224 member
Reged: 15/09/04
Posts: 24
Loc: British
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Hi CRL.
It is just a personal thing - there is no "best" length. My last .375, which I had for over twenty years, I had built with a 25 in barrel. I know the current trend is for shorter barrels; but that's the length for me.
Don't even think about extra bullet speed etc. When actually hunting DG it will make no practical difference.
Martin
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zimhunter
.333 member
Reged: 05/02/04
Posts: 388
Loc: Southern Arizona
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I have Brno's in both 375 and 416Rigby and both have 21" Bbl's. After hunting in some thick,thick bush in Zimbabwe I found this to be the handiest length FOR ME. It's strictly a personal thing no matter what anyone says.
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DUGABOY1
.400 member
Reged: 02/02/03
Posts: 1340
Loc: TEXAS USA
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What ever floats your boat is fine! I like a 24" barrel in my bolt rifles, and a 26" in my single shots (Ruger No1 375 H&H belted), and double rifles (375 Flanged), but for a speciality rifle for crawling into the thick stuff, I like a 20" Medium heavy barrel, all with a 1, in 12" twist, and all with iron sights on the barrel!
I have a friend , who is a PH in Zimbabwe, who has a 458 Win Mag Mod 70, in a synthetic stock, and with a 20" medium heavy barrel, with good Iron sights, for the tight bush for wounded cats. His camp staff calls it "THE BLACK BITCH"! It works, however, for the purpose he built it! 
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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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Dark_Helmet
.333 member
Reged: 09/01/04
Posts: 399
Loc: Lincoln, Nebraska, USA
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my No. 1 Tropical had a 24" Barrel and I found it quite nice, but the reality remains that we're talking about a rifle with some 3" less action-length than that Dakota.
as such, I would say that 23.5 would work (close to the length of my 25-06, but would say 22.5 might be a bit better balanced.
its all in how you shoot and how you hunt.
24 would be ideal from a velocity standpoint... but might be too long from a practical standpoint.
and be sure the twist rate is right...
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_________________________________________________________________
When someone says a rifle is "ugly," what they really mean is "push feed."
-me
(long live the Mauser 98!)
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