Why does everyone chop their barrels to an even number length?

[dårlig jeger]

I chose 16" because 15" is a lot more work.

 

[HGL]

I went 19" on my 6mm creed. Couldn't decide between 18 and 20 so I just split the difference.

 

[Mike Islander]

Same reason I set cruise control to 68 and thermostat to 72.

 

[feanor]

17” for me, but never had the stones to admit it until I saw everybody else in this thread.

 

[ColPenguin]

There is more than one way to measure the length of a rifle barrel. The nominal length is just a reference for making an order. Some smiths may not even ask length to cut barrel to, but length to cut off a barrel.

The NIST standard is closed bolt face to crown, or a measurement taken parallel to axis of the bore. I don't know that every manufacturer follows this, especially if they are not even a US company.

If Tikka sells me a 24" barrel, I believe they measure from tenon to crown. There is about a 1" threaded tenon, and 23" of barrel visible from action face to crown. If I want 20" of barrel to the action face, I could ask the smith to cut off 3". The overall length of the barrel per manufacturers reference would then be 21", after cutting. I doubt the bolt face to crown measurement also comes out at exactly 21". I would expect it to be tens of thousands of an inch beyond exactly 21".

 

[Pulleye16]

cause even numbers are good luck. for everything. Radio volume, speedometer, microwave settings...everything works better and gives you better luck is it's even!

 

[Hnthrdr]

I ordered a 6arc prefit for a savage and went with 17”

 

[schmidty3]

More food for ponderance..

Why does everyone do whole numbers?!?!?!

My 25 prc is 23.25"

(Or was...its dieing . Boring me already has a 26" barrel in waiting...she gonna be fast!)

 

[Harvey_NW]

I despise odd numbers, but that's an OCD thing, lol.

Something not talked about enough in the custom realm is that the government considers the overall length of the barrel as the technical length, so tenon threads included. So depending on the mfg and how they interpret it, if you order a 20" barrel expecting 20" from the shoulder to muzzle, it will actually be like +/- 18-¾".

 

[ezwy]

I have a 17", 19", and 21"
If I'm going to get something custom done, why not get something I cant buy in a store.
Plus its a great compromise when you're indecisive.

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Because 16” is the minimum length without making it an SBR. And there’s no point going 17” versus 16”. Almost all my barrels are either 16” or 20” because they work well with 4-6” suppressors. With that said, I do have one that is 21” because the “gunsmith” said he could not do 20” without removing the barrel from the action.

 

[Floridave]

Mine is cut at 17

 

[Harvey_NW]

And there’s no point going 17” versus 16”.

~25fps, for us with a touch of the 'tism

 

[CJF]

"Everyone" is a very definitive term.

Mine are 17"...for the same reason others have stated.

 

[E.Shell]

I cut mine to 17, in case the threads ever get jacked up

Same. I cut my last one to 17" in case the threads got damaged or if the next owner didn't want/couldn't have barrel threads.

 

[DangerRanger]

Americans like even numbers

 

[WoolyBugger]

My last one is 19 and some change.

 

[jonnyviceroy]

For the same reason I can only leave the volume on anything a number that’s divisible by 5. Hahaha jk

 

[rafiki]

personal preference is a 41.275 cm barrel