24" too long?

[Flyjunky]

I'm in a debate with myself right now and am looking for opinions.

I'm putting together plans to build another rifle and am finally entertaining a suppressor for this build. I've hesitated putting a suppressor on my big game rifles because I build them with performance in mind and hate to think of losing any speed by chopping down barrels. I run suppressors on my varmint rigs so it's not like I don't understand the benefits of them.

With that being said I'm either going to stay with a 300wm using the RM reamer (my current setup) or might step up to a 300NMI, I haven't decided yet. Normally I run 26" or 27" barrels with brakes but I'm wondering about going to 24" with a can. I won't be giving up to much velocity, ~50fps, but I'm having a hard time wrapping my brain around going less than that. In my mind why build a rifle to get max performance only to handicap it? What's the point of that?

I don't hunt the timber, we basically go from glassing spot to glassing spot in more semi-open terrain. How much of a pain would a 24" barrel and 7" suppressor be? With my current setups I'm really not that much shorter and I don't have problems but a suppressor would add weight.

What say you?

 

[Alex Genereux]

I wont put a barrel on over 20" long now that I have been using shorter barrels with a suppressor

 

[CCooper]

I think moving forward I personally will go either 26"+ or -20" for all my future builds. I find myself stepping on my 24" barrel trying to get it to perform like a 26". My own head games. I think I would just accept a short tube is going to be slow and run a suppressor and be fine with it.

 

[CMP70306]

My brother has a 20” .300 Win Mag and he is getting around 3050 fps with the 181gr Hammer Hunter. Hard to argue with that kind of performance out of a shorter barrel.

For 3 years I ran a 24” 6.5 PRC with an 8 to 9” suppressor and outside of getting into a box blind or the occasional thick patch of pines during a drive I didn’t have any issues moving around with the rifle strapped to my chest. I’ve since moved to an 18” 6.5 PRC as most of my shots here in PA are under 200 yards and even at 18” it’s still a bit faster than a 6.5 Creed, plenty for the whitetails I’m shooting.

 

[f16jack]

Why would you chop down a barrel to add a suppressor? Perhaps I'm missing something.
I had a Remington 700 barrel threaded by a gunsmith so it could accept a suppressor. He didn't chop the barrel, he threaded it. I lost no speed or accuracy.

 

[Lawnboi]

Balance can be more of an issue than the overall length.

Iv got a 24” barrel that I shoot suppressed. With an ultra 7 on it, I can tell it’s out there

 

[BULLBLASTER]

I have rifles with 22-28 inch barrels and i have hunted with a suppressor on them all. I personally havent had any issue with them being too long, ans never wished they were shorter. I had the 22 inch barrel done because of all the short barrel talk, and looking back if i were doing it now it would be 26.
Just me though.

 

[Flyjunky]

Balance can be more of an issue than the overall length.

Iv got a 24” barrel that I shoot suppressed. With an ultra 7 on it, I can tell it’s out there

That was my other concern. A 26/27" barrel plus brake isn't all that much shorter than 24"+can but the extra weight out there is a balance concern.

 

[Flyjunky]

My brother has a 20” .300 Win Mag and he is getting around 3050 fps with the 181gr Hammer Hunter. Hard to argue with that kind of performance out of a shorter barrel.

For 3 years I ran a 24” 6.5 PRC with an 8 to 9” suppressor and outside of getting into a box blind or the occasional thick patch of pines during a drive I didn’t have any issues moving around with the rifle strapped to my chest. I’ve since moved to an 18” 6.5 PRC as most of my shots here in PA are under 200 yards and even at 18” it’s still a bit faster than a 6.5 Creed, plenty for the whitetails I’m shooting.

If I was shooting a light bullet like 181 I wouldn't have as much concern but I tend to shoot heavy for caliber bullets.

 

[Lawnboi]

That was my other concern. A 26/27" barrel plus brake isn't all that much shorter than 24"+can but the extra weight out there is a balance concern.

Really would look at what can and scope you have. A lightweight stock with no butt weight dosnt feel right with a one pound can hanging off the end. That is what would make my decision. I’d also make sure your can can handle what you’re asking of it if going shorter.

For example Iv got a 24” 3006 built on a manners eh1. It’s slightly nose heavy with a gen 2 ultra 7. Not a huge deal for how I normally carry a rifle in the field but I know it can be for some, especially if you like a sling.

 

[BULLBLASTER]

How different would the weight of a 24 with a suppressor be from a 27 with a brake? You lose the weight of the brake and the weight of 3 inches of barrel. Probably within a few oz either way.

 

[Flyjunky]

How different would the weight of a 24 with a suppressor be from a 27 with a brake? You lose the weight of the brake and the weight of 3 inches of barrel. Probably within a few oz either way.

yeah, maybe somewhere around there.

I might just go 26" and maybe have another barrel spun up at the same time that's a little shorter. I usually have 2 barrels done at the same time during a build so I can just swap when the first is toast.

 

[CMP70306]

If I was shooting a light bullet like 181 I wouldn't have as much concern but I tend to shoot heavy for caliber bullets.

If I get a chance this weekend I’ll try to chrono some 225gr ELDMs as a baseline, I believe they were doing around 2900 out of my 26” .300 Win Mag last time I shot them.

 

[f16jack]

My only issue with a suppressed normal length barrel is when it is slung over my shoulder and I go under a tree. I just have to remember to tip the rifle aft slightly. Other than that the benefit of the suppressor outweighs any of the downsides (even the weight and forward imbalance).

 

[Flyjunky]

If I get a chance this weekend I’ll try to chrono some 225gr ELDMs as a baseline, I believe they were doing around 2900 out of my 26” .300 Win Mag last time I shot them.

I'm getting right at 3015 with 215's out of mine right now.

 

[CMP70306]

I'm getting right at 3015 with 215's out of mine right now.

What powder are you using? Mine was 74.7gr of H1000 in a Hornady case, came up with it for a 30” Pacnor barrel a few years back and it shot pretty well in my 26” Proof so I just kept using it while I broke the barrel in.

 

[Flyjunky]

I'd have to look at my notes but I think:
76.1 RL26
Lapua
215m
custom chamber

 

[JPeters218]

I wouldn’t go over 20” personally. Decide how far you want the rifle to be capable, run the numbers for a 20” barrel. If it doesn’t meet what you’re looking for, then maybe step up to the 300nmi you mentioned.

 

[TheHammer]

I run an omega 300 on my 300wm w/24” barrel. It’s under 30”. Noticeable length vs a brake. But I do not have a ringing ear for the next few days….

 

[Flyjunky]

I wouldn’t go over 20” personally. Decide how far you want the rifle to be capable, run the numbers for a 20” barrel. If it doesn’t meet what you’re looking for, then maybe step up to the 300nmi you mentioned.

I know the numbers, unfortunately that’s why I’m struggling.

Adding about 16gr of powder for a 300NMI so it equals what my 300wm does now, I don’t know if that juice is worth the squeeze.

I think I’m leaning 24” + suppressor. I honestly don’t think the length will bother me for how I hunt.