Whitetail Hunters - What barrel length do yo prefer?

[sierracharlie338]

I just built my kid a 16.5 inch bolt rifle and the more I handle it, the more I like it. For 200 or less yeah I think that would be the route I would go with a caliber that does decent at the length

 

[MallardSX2]

Never measured it but if I could cut a foot off of it with a hacksaw and be legal, I would do it tomorrow. My average shot on whitetails where I use this gun is about 30-40 yards.

 

[CHGray]

I'm curious what people like to use for their barrel length. I hunt in Wisconsin, often in public forests. So most of my hunting is from a climber but also hunting drives. Most of my shots are within 50-100 yards. Seems like a shorter barrel would make more sense in my situation.

What do you guys use?

18” Bergara Ridge SP .308 pushing Barnes 130 TTSX gets it done from 30-300 yards. A short barrel handy .308 or 7mm-08 is about the perfect southeastern deer rifle.

 

[Tx_Razorback]

16” - 18” with a can in south texas for hunting inside of a hunting blind.

 

[rcook10]

I mostly hunt with my short barreled 308 now. Once you use a shorty its really hard to give it up and the loss of performance is pretty negligible inside 400 yards.

 

[4JRanch]

after carrying a 26" barrel with a can, next rifle will be a 22" CF.

 

[DangerRanger]

16 and a can 20-22 without

I’m 30ft up with a supressed 16 right now

 

[Lowg08]

308 16.5”
44 mag 20”

I’m a mountain hunter in thickets. Needs to be light and maneuverable

 

[Ferrulewax]

18” 308
16” 6.5 Grendel

Don’t see much need to ever use longer

 

[bolo1187]

My smokeless muzzleloader is 23.5" and my 20ga Ultra slug is 24"

 

[Rich M]

20 inch

 

[KenLee]

Sporter barrels, no brake, no can 20-23 inches. I practiced swinging shots on game so much with a 22 inch barrel that 18 and 26 inch barrels throw me off. 24 inches is borderline tolerable.

 

[nuffgun]

22-24” for my rifles up here on the plains of Montana. 24” for the 6.5 creedmoor, no cans or muzzle brakes. I suppose a 18” 6.5 prc would work the same velocity wise.

 

[Pilarczyk85]

mostly 18" but my areas are thicker so wielding a long ass gun would be annoying.