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How long is too long for a bolt gun barrel and suppressor?

secondofangle2

secondofangle2

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    • Jul 3, 2017
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    #1
    gonna rebarrel my (shot out) single shot (short action Rem 40-X) 7mm mag to 7PRC, loaded for 180s. Current barrel is 27.5", but it has a brake. New barrel will run a TBAC Magnus RR can. I ordered a Krieger w 28" finish length, but I'm beginning to wonder if that's going to be too long with a 10.5" can on it. Shortest I would go would be 26". Going to 28" will get me ~50fps more velocity. This will be a varmint slayer (Sendero profile, heavy), so won't have to carry it anywhere

    When does barrel + can on a traditional bolt gun get so long as to be a mistake?
     
    #4
    I should think this would do.... :unsure: 😉 :LOL:

    1748880958254.jpeg
     
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    #8
    Groundhogs, being large rodents, are extremely hard to kill RTD, without them running to their holes. We have a rule that unless it's there RTD it don't count. To kill them RTD (at distances up to and occasionally beyond 1000 yards) you need a flat shooting cartridge that has >= 1200 ft-lbs or more energy on impact.

    Here's one I got 2 years ago with a 338LM and 285 ELD-M. RTD


    And this one was hit in the belly; flipped him in the air, and he made a bee-line to his hole with his guts hanging out of him - a not uncommon occurrence. They're tough as hell.
     
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    #9
    secondofangle2 said:
    Groundhogs, being large rodents, are extremely hard to kill RTD, without them running to their holes. We have a rule that unless it's there RTD it don't count. To kill them RTD (at distances up to and occasionally beyond 1000 yards) you need a flat shooting cartridge that has about 1000 ft-lbs or more energy on impact.

    Here's one I got 2 years ago with a 338LM and 285 ELD-M. RTD


    And this one was hit in the belly; flipped him in the air, and he made a bee-line to his hole with his guts hanging out of him - a not uncommon occurrence. They're tough as hell.
    Click to expand...

    Forgive me, but what is "rtd"?
     
    #10
    Right There Dead

    I mean, that one above that got away is definitely dead, when I zoom in I can see his guts hanging out.

    But when you're surveying 1000+ acres and shooting all of them 350+ yards, it can be very difficult to tell, even with video review, whether some of them were hits or misses. Like that one above that was flipped 360 in the air - if that were at 500 yards, you wouldn't know if he had been hit or not. Because when you hit under them, they can do some impressive acrobatics, but be unscathed; no blood.

    Since it is impractical to go look for blood trails and so on, we have the rule: it don't count unless it's RTD.

    Plus then they're not lost to the coyotes and vultures who depend on us for an easy meal :)
     
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    #19
    lash said:
    Yu

    Yup, that looks too long.
    Click to expand...
    The dick jokes write the selves.

    In all seriously, barrel length is free velocity or same velocity at lower pressure meaning less powder and longer barrel life. Always take free performance if there is no downside. For a bench or prone gun no reason to keep it short.
     
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    #24
    Personally, I don't want anything over 30 if it's performance rifle. I think my 300 Norma Imp is 28" +2 for a brake is 30.
    Rifles I want to be even remotely maneuverable I want it at or around 24 tops.
    My 22 Creed, and 6.5 PRC hunting rifles are both 18" with a 9" can, which comes in right around 26.5 and Ideally I'd prefer a couple less, either with a 7" hunting suppressor, or a 16" barrel.

    I have a 7 Rem Mag that's purely a bench gun, pretty sure it's 26" with a 9" can and it's just too much for me.
    7RemMag.jpg
     
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    #26
    secondofangle2 said:
    ^ that’s kind of what I was worried about, but I think given the totality of the responses here, I’m going to start at 28 and then buzz off a couple of inches if I find it to be unmanageable. Either that or just go back to muzzle brake.
    Click to expand...
    For what’s it’s worth, off a bench I don’t have any issues with 27” plus a 9” can. (26” barrel + adapter)
     
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    #27
    carbonbased said:
    I’m getting a 400yd barrel spun up. You heard it here first.
    Click to expand...
    Do you still use a 100 yd zero in this case & if so, how does that work? Do you measure from the muzzle or from the erector? What kind of velocities are you seeing?

    I've been thinking about going longer myself, just curious about your experience as you seem to be something of a pioneer in the field. 🍻
     
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    #28
    J-Ham said:
    Do you still use a 100 yd zero in this case & if so, how does that work? Do you measure from the muzzle or from the erector? What kind of velocities are you seeing?

    I've been thinking about going longer myself, just curious about your experience as you seem to be something of a pioneer in the field. 🍻
    Click to expand...
    Experiments are ongoing. I have yet to get a projectile to emerge from the 400yd muzzle. Bullets must be “going to sleep.” 🧐
     
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