Shortening my barrel and range data.

P

Polinese

New member
I recently attended a long range shooting class and got a lot of helpful data on my rifle.

That being said since I've bought the rifle I kinda wanted to have the 26inch barrel shortened. Will shortening it cause all my data to go out the window?
 
It'll be slower from a shorter barrel. How much slower depends on the caliber and how much shorter you go. With most it isn't enough to matter under 500 yards.
 
I toted a 26" '06 for some 35 years. Got all married up with it. Anything inside of 500 yards belonged to me. :) Sub-MOA on my 100-yard and 500-yard targets.
 
I mean it's not that unwieldy or anything and honestly I'd probably only shorten it a couple inches. We actually stretched it out to 1300 yards but we did it with a 20 inch barrel too.

But if it's going to throw off all the data I collected I'd rather just deal with it being a touch long. Especially since where I live most ranges are only 200 yards with 1 600 yard range available but they treat it like a country club and us lowly folk have trouble getting memberships. So I can't just go and recollect the data.
 
It sounds like you've answered your own question.
Shorten it with unknown results or keep it as is and knowing where it shoots.
Easy decision.
 
Yup it'll be left as is. My new one being built has a shorter barrel so I'll just have to take that one to my next class :D
 
"...they treat it like a country club..." That's really what it is. And some of 'em are worse than others.
Barrel lengths tend to be more about shooter's preferences than anything else. Difference between 26" and 20" is only velocity.
 
I'm still trying to get into the country club just so I can shoot a bit farther. That or find myself a patch of land I can buy up.
 
There will be more velocity loss with magnum rounds in a shortened barrel, than with a standard cartridge. A couple of inches is not a big deal and can easily be compensated for, via adjusting the loads. If the OP has a 26" barrel, I have a feeling (he didn't say what cartridge) that the rifle is a magnum, anyway. Accuracy should NOT diminish in a shortened barrel, if done right.

Yes, as others have said, the "data" for the rifle will change.

If long range shooting is what the OP is into......why would he want to shorten his barrel anyway ? Handling qualities aren't very important while shooting off a rest at long range.
 
Part of our class we hiked up a hill, shot off rocks at angles and such and I found it slightly annoying at that point. I also carried it muzzle down because of the bipod and had to be conscious of not dragging the muzzle.

It's also a 308. Winchester Model 70 Stealth.
 
OK. Well, to shorten....or not to shorten....that is the question. No sense in any of us trying to sell you on one or the other. Completely your call, of course. You know (now) the technical aspects, if you do shorten the barrel. So, weigh the pros and cons....and there you go.

One thing. With many loads, a 26" barrel can actually be too long for .308. Not ALL loads, but many. Depending on the powder used, it is actually possible to get better velocity from a 22" or 24" barrel, in the .308. 26" is a bit unusual for .308, anyway.

Just thought I'd throw that out.
 
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