How much practical difference in 25/06:22"vs longer bar

[hans g./UpS]

How much practical difference is there between a 25/06 bolt action 22" and one with a 24"[or longer]barrel?I see Ruger has a stainless 77 with a 22" tube.Rifle with be used for mulies,coyotes,distant chucks.
Thanks.

[Lawdog]

hans g./UpS,

With the .25-06 that my son has(Ruger M77 with a 24" barrel) compared to any of the three(all with 26" barrels) that I have the velocity loss is right at 50 fps..  So if you carry this down to a 22" barrel then for every two inches of barrel you will loose 100 fps.(+/-).  I have found that the .25-06 really gets it’s best performance with the longer barrel.  For long range varmints and just plain deer hunting the .25-06 really shines.  Lawdog
 

[riddleofsteel]

I am among the guys that have rebarreled or rechambered a rifle to gain 100 FPS for a particular bore diameter. I once rechambered a .257 Roberts to .257 AI for the slight boost in velocity. It is a game I don't play much anymore but the point is if you can gain 100 to 150 FPS by packing a 26" barrel instead of a 22" and the extra 4" does not get in the way then why not?
My 26" 25-06 Sendero seems VERY long in the woods and seems to snag on every limb in the woods. But it is a comfort on a tower stand overlooking a bean field of 350 yards or so.
My 26" 25-06 NEF Handi-rifle is not nearly as long overall due to the construction of the action so is not quite as clumsy in the bushes and saplings. I do cherish the extra velocity when shooting open creek bottoms. I considered cutting it back to 22" for comfort and to save about one pound in weight but I just could not bring myself to have to burn over 52 grains of slow powder just to get 250 Savage ballistics.