General guidline for caliber/barrel length?

[hardertr]

I'm seeing more and more 15" encore barrels in the standard rifle calibers (7-08, 30-06, 270 etc..)

Is there a "minimum barrel length" for these calibers?  Aren't these calibers designed for the 22+ length barrel?  Is there a chart anywhwere that might help me choose (or pass on) a barrel in a caliber I like?

[flyfisher]

It is true that these cartridges do perform more optimally in longer barrels, but that doesn't mean that they don't work in shorter barrels.  You may lose up to several hundred feet per second of velocity with the Encore pistol in the 15" configuration, but what can you do...hunt with a 22" barrel on a pistol frame?  Just kidding, but it is possible and from what I understand totally legal.  It may be difficult to find a holster to fit as well.  

I don't know what the exact minimum barrel length would be, if there even would be one.  Generally speaking, the smaller Contender barrels are 10" and the longer barrels are 14" (in pistol configuration).  I believe that the shortest barrels for the Encore are 15" barrels.  Would it be possible to fire a .30-06 from an Encore with a custom 6" barrel?  I suppose, but what would that get you?  According to everything that I have been taught, most of the original contender cartridges were chosen because of their low pressures and efficiency in shorter length barrels.  Where the Encore and its higher pressure, more modern cartridges steps in is a different story.  

Just my 2 cents.

[rickyp]

in the contender you can get in 6 1/2" 10, 12 and 14 inch factory barrels depending on the age of the barrel
in an encore you can find factory barrels in 10, 12 and 15"
In the short barrels you are best to shoot normal pistol rounds or one desinged for the short barrels (IE 30 and 357 herrett), the 12 inch offers more speed then the 10 inch barrels and handles better then the 14 and 15 inch barrel.
the 14 and 15 inch is better to teh rifle rounds as the longer barrel gives the powder more time to burn.