Favorite Barrel Length

[GameHauler]

I just purchased a 7-30 Waters barrel in a 24" taper.
I am wanting to make this my pack in gun.
I liked the looks and size of my 21" 7TCU and am playing with cutting it down.
(The 7-30 that is to 21" or so.)
Here in AZ longer shoots are the normal so the longer barrel would help with velocity and accuracy.
What have you guys found to be the best of both worlds.
Thanks

[wink_man]

I am kinda new to the centerfire Encore game, and since I haven't shot it yet(with a centerfire barrel), my opinion doesn''t count for much, but one very striking thing I noticed.

I got bored with the 209X50 Encore, being able to consistently break 6 inch ballons all day long with a scoped muzzleloader at 200 yards didn't seem like muzzleloading to me. So I found a great deal on a 30-06 24 inch barrel, and grabbed it, figuring I was going to go back to the caplock Renegade for muzzleloading anyways. Just earlier this evening, I put the barrel on, mounted an Elite 3200  2X7 variable and boresighted it. It seems like a very nice, compact and light package, a pleasure to shoulder and point quickly at a whitetail.

I've always done most of my eastern deer hunting in the thick stuff with a Remington 760 30-06 with an 18 1/2 inch carbine barrel, love the rig, and it is very compact for swinging and pointing in tight quarters and is quite accurate for longer shots as well.

Well when I put the Encore back in the gun cabinet, (it stands right next to the 760), the thing I noticed was, that for having a 24 inch barrel, the overall length of the Encore is only 1/4 inch longer than the 760. Seems pretty neat to me that I can use a slower powder like IMR 4350 and get maximum velocity out of the 06 in a 24 inch barrel, within a package thats basically the same overall length as a carbine. Definitely something to be said for a gun lacking the extra length of an action to eject spent shells. I'm thinking if I buy anymore barrels for the Encore, they're going to be 24 inches.

[Grumulkin]

The barrel lengths on my Encore rifles run from 24 to 28 inches.  I've never really been able to see what cutting down a barrel by 2 or 3 inches accomplishes in making a rifle "handier."  If you want something with a real short barrel, then go to a handgun.

Cutting a barrel down by three inches will not worsen accuracy at all if the crown is done right.  You will lose some velocity; probably in the 75 to 125 fps range which isn't that big a deal.

[skb2706]

Since you asked about a Contender barrel I can speak to that. For balance and stability a 23" bull barrel works out about right. I have trouble keeping steady shorter barrels and I don't care for tapered barrels on a Contender at all.

[Grumulkin]

Where does it say he was asking about a Contender?

Anyway, I just compared my Encore with a 24 inch barrel to an AR-15 with a 20 inch barrel.  Some would call the AR-15 light and handy.  The total length of the Encore is only about an inch to an inch and a half longer than the AR-15.  If the questions concerns a Contender; well, they're even shorter.

[Capt Gary]

I've tried the 26" heavy, and the 28" Pro Hunter. I much prefer the 26" heavy.
I just purchased (not shot yet) a 45/70 Katahdin (20") and really like the way it feels. Should be fun.

[Varmint Hunter]

I bought my 20" Katahdin bbl for tree stand hunting but I find that it really shoots and handles great for hunting in general. There is too much hype about velocity these days. A short barrel will (likely) give you all the velocity you need for hunting and is MUCH handier than the 26"+ barreled rifles that are all the rage today. I know because I have several of them. 

Like Grumulkin said - the 100 ft.sec loss isn't going to matter, not to the game anyway.

[GameHauler]

Thanks everyone for your replies.
As I stated in my first post
Longer ranges can be expected.
By longer range I am hoping to make this a gun
capable of up to 300yds but may not be comfortable
with it at that range so will back down if need be.
I have other guns for long range shooting.
100 FPS is nothing at 200 or less but starts to come into play at 200 +
Yes I could and may buy a GOOD scope with turrets
but for now would like to see what I can make this baby do.

Back again to the subject I can and may live with the 24"
and it does fit into my pack so I may stay with it.
Just that when you are packing in  for miles every bit of weight
and lowered center of gravity does make a difference

Thanks again for the replies

[Slowpoke Slim]

How about a folding stock? Fold it up in your pack, and open it to hunt?

I sometimes put my Choate folder on my Contender for packing. It helps.