20" Is Too Long

[dårlig jeger]

I hunt whitetail in a state and area that has equal parts <100 yard dense hardwood forest and >300 yard agg fields. I had been carrying a 16" 6mm creedmoor and a 16" 223 for the last 4 years after buying into the suppressor trend.

I wanted to try 130 ttsx loaded in 308 (vortex's Ryan M got me). Keeping velocity in mind with the ttsx for shots up to 300 yards, I kept my 308 barrel 20" (varget got me 3025fps).

However, after carrying it with a 6+ inch can, I'm over it. 16" max for anything with a 6" can for still hunting or stand hunting in the woods is my new limit.

Anyone else come to the same conclusion?

Once you go short, you never go back!

 

[voltage]

Once you go short, you never go back!

Thankfully, my wife agrees.

 

[Nine Banger]

I'm ready for 14" 22 creed and 6 creed.

I had to go 22" on my 308 project to reach a very specific goal.

You have to go 18-20" in 223 to get Quick Drop with the high BC heavies.

 

[RocketRob16]

I cut my 223 barrel down to 16" and my 6.5 CM barrel to 20". Suppressor length is 6" on both. I haven't really noticed the difference yet honestly. Is it hanging up on brush or just too unwieldy in a stand for you or something else?

 

[dårlig jeger]

I cut my 223 barrel down to 16" and my 6.5 CM barrel to 20". Suppressor length is 6" on both. I haven't really noticed the difference yet honestly. Is it hanging up on brush or just too unwieldy in a stand for you or something else?

All of the above. It sticks up above my head and catches brush when slung and when field carried it just seems like it takes more maneuvering. In the stand it just feels heavy and awkward.

I used to hunt with a 24" barrel + brake and I never gave it a second thought. But after being spoiled with 16" the last few years, 20" plus a 12 ounce can seems unwieldy.

 

[flyfisher117]

Nah 20” is great

 

[RocketRob16]

All of the above. It sticks up above my head and catches brush when slung and when field carried it just seems like it takes more maneuvering. In the stand it just feels heavy and awkward.

I used to hunt with a 24" barrel + brake and I never gave it a second thought. But after being spoiled with 16" the last few years, 20" plus a 12 ounce can seems unwieldy.

I’ve got a little over a season of use from both my 16” and 20” but I am mostly using them in open environments where snagging on brush isn’t much of an issue. In the stands, however, I haven’t gotten that feeling of it being a detriment but my stands are also pretty roomy. It sounds like you might need a bigger deer stand!

 

[General RE LEE]

I roll with 20-22”. I like the extra performance and the improved suppression qualities of a traditional length barrel. A can has a lot more blast to suppress with shorter barrels. Longer barrels are more quiet with a can. Howa Mini 6 ARC with 22” barrel and 6” Banish Backcountry.

 

[peterk123]

Ya, 20 plus inch barrel user here with a six inch can. I've done plenty of bushwhacking with it. It's no worse than a 16 inch barrel. The only real solution is a handgun. I'm just kidding, the point I'm trying to make is that it's really not a big deal. I feel like barrel length design is based on maximizing performance, meaning velocity and accuracy. I'm not willing to mess with it. I also only use one rifle (308) to hunt and it's used for something as small as a coyote, to as large as an elk.

But, it's nice to have choices and I can see the appeal of the shorter barrel. I bet we start to see more design changes and new cartridges that specifically address the use of a can and the desire for a shorter barrel.

 

[sdupontjr]

I use 130ttsx in this gun exclusive. I was in same boat as you. So I sent my barrel to Kampfeld Customs and had it cut back to 16.5". Now with my Nomad Ti XC, it's actually slightly shorter than it was in stock form. Velo fell off some with my load, but I could get it back with TAC if I want. But I have alot of Varget and it shoots great. Had a slight POI shift with change, but still shoots great.

 

[MuleyFever]

I know that I can, and probably should, go shorter but I just haven't been able to do it. A 20" barrel is what I have been using for a few years now and I have never thought it was too long with an 7" suppressor.

 

[Brandon_SPC]

For me, most of my big game animals I shoot is 500 yards and under. So to me, I use the shortest barrels I can (suppressed rifles) and shoot a cartridge that will keep a .500+ G1 BC above 2550 fps MV (preferably 2600 fps). At sea level, this will have my bullet (I use ELDMs) impacting around 1800 fps at 500 yards and of course as I increase elevation that impact velocity gets faster. So for hunting here in the east, it is my 16.5" howa mini in 6mm ARC. When I build my "western rifle", it will probably be an 18" 25 creedmoor. I'm not a fan of monolithics because my experience shows that you need around 2100 fps to 2200 fps for reliable expansion on game.

 

[waspocrew]

I do tend to lean a little on the shorter end, but 20” with a suppressor is fine for me. I have an 18” 6.5 CM Sig Cross and an 18” 6 CM. Those handle very well and are probably the shortest I’d go.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

I’m accustomed to carrying a .25-06 with a 26” barrel, so I have tried to build my new rifles to be no longer than that.

With that said, I can see the appeal in a shorter barrel. For hunting purposes, that is the appeal of the 4” cans.

I couldn’t bear to cut the new .25-06 barrel shorter than 24” though, so it is 28” with the OG 6.5 (4”). I have carried it in the woods without any issues most of this season. I am extra conscious of where my muzzle is pointing, but I don’t see that as a bad thing. I didn’t intend to use it as much as I have this year, since I intended to use it primarily for late afternoon hunts around the pastures and hayfields. But I had the wrong set of keys for opening weekend and my Tikka was locked in the safe. It’s now accounted for two bucks with two shots in the woods.

The Tikka 6.5mm CM has a 20” barrel with an AB Raptor 8 (+6”). I plan to check the zero with the OG 6.5 and ZG 6.5 when I get the chance. But it is stupidly quiet with the Raptor (and 3” reflex).

I usually don’t carry my rifle slung, unless I am walking into the woods in the dark. When I dragged a deer out yesterday, I had my rifle in Condition 3 with a poncho wrapped around it (it was pouring rain) and carried it in the Alert position or a Tactical carry. I had to set it down a couple of times to negotiate fallen trees, but I think that would have been true of any rifle except maybe a M4 in a 3-point sling.

I cut my Tikka .223 down to 16.5”, but that was so I could put an AB Raptor 8 (7”) on it. I am very happy with that rifle’s performance and handling, but it’s not legal for deer hunting in my state. If it was, I doubt I would use anything else except for fun. I am planning on trying out an OG 6mm prototype I got from the Black Friday sale. That will eventually be used on a 20” Tikka .243 barrel I got off the classifieds.

All that to say that if I could get acceptable performance from a 16” .243 or 6mm CM, I would certainly consider it, but I think those extra 4” make a meaningful difference.

 

[North of 60]

I'm fond of my 16" SFAR with a suppressor in thick woods. Perfect for a short range rifle.

 

[Kaleb]

With the newer shorter suppressors my opinion has changed by an inch or two. When I realized my 22-250AI was toast I was dead set on 16" Now with multiple options to add around 4" not around 6" I asked Karl to thread at 18" rather than the intended 16". It's not much either way but two inches is two inches.....grin.