26" is getting our there for a non magnum caliber. I have a 22" on my .280 (.30-06 necked down to 7mm). I really like that length. You don't really lose much velocity, and it is easy to carry around. It does buck a little more with the shorter barrel.
I don't think that you really need a 26" barrel. All of the powder will be burned up by the time it hits the end with a shorter barrel anyway, so you realy don't lose much, if any velocity. If you are looking at a target rifle with a heavy barrel, then I can see it.