Barrel length question

So I am upgrading one of my 7mm08's that weighs 14 pounds the way it sits dressed. It has a 26" varmint barrel that weighs 4.5 pounds. So here are my changes, I am changing to a Chassis stock that weighs 1.6 pounds with another pound for butt stock and pistol grip. Going to a lighter scope. My question is, what can the barrel be cut down to and still be accurate 500 to 800 yards? This is just for paper punching / target. .17 pounds per inch loss in weight. Ideas? Without glass it weighs 10 pounds 5 oz. with new config so far. Or will shortening the barrel even be worth the time and cost vs a pound loss?

What exact contour do you have?

I'm watching because I have sorta similar question.

Shortening the barrel will make the rifle/ ammo combo loose velocity. That does not mean it looses consistency. It just means you have to allow more elevation correction for distance and possibly more windage to hold, all due for the loss in muzzle velocity. Here is where the balancing act comes in. Reducing bullet weight to gain velocity yet having a heavy enough bullet that has a fair ballistic coefficient.

A short barrel is a slow barrel, but a short barrel is a stiff barrel, therefore a consisitent shooting barrel. It is also less picky on powder charge since the sine wave, in harmonics, is less pronounced.

Varmit .8125 at the end of muzzle.

For the heck of it, ran numbers of very near max load of Varget with 168gr Berger Hunting bullet.

26 inches 2636 fps
24 inches 2596 fps
22 inches 2551 fps
20 inches 2500 fps
18 inches 2441 fps

That is actually with a load I have shot in an 18.5 inch barrel that chronographed 2450 fps 10 feet from muzzle, so those velocities I expect to be close to actual. The program I ran them on is very often scary close in predicted velocity to measured.

Was shooting 140 grain Nosler Ballistic Hunting tips. It liked all powder charges 41 to 43 grains IMR 4064 with a .284 best grouping at 42 grains. I was trying to step up to 168 grain Berger Match grade bullets and was having some consistency issues. So I don't know if a shorter barrel would even make sense.

If you would like to cut weight yet retain velocity; cut it shorter, than it is, AND flute it.

You could lose in excess of a pound by fluting alone.

Can you list your rifle specs item per item please. I want to see what it takes to reach 14 lbs so that I don't do it!

Numbers for IMR4064 42gr with a 140gr BT

26 inches 2899 fps
24 inches 2854 fps
22 inches 2803 fps
20 inches 2746 fps
18 inches 2680 fps

two words Horizon Firearms!


had one(6.5x55) cut down from 24 to 16.25 and love it. he also spiral fluted the barrel and bolt

Damn that's a heavy rifle. I'm trying to figure out some barrel stuff too so I'm interested in seeing where this goes.

I cut my Rem 700 heavy barrel 7mm-08 from 26" to 22", it made a very noticeable difference in weight reduction and made it much easier to handle. I didn't notice any change in accuracy. I almost wish I had cut off an extra inch or two, but I doubt I will ever shoot over 500 yards hunting.

If I wasn't such a tightwad I would send it and get the barrel and bolt fluted....maybe one day.

I fluted my heavy 25" Krieger stainless barrel on my custom .300 WM, and it knocked 15 oz off the weight. The job was beautifully done by Dixie Precision Rifles out of Brandon, MS, and the gun was back home in less than a week.

Also, a few years back, wanting a handier DG rifle, I shortened the barrel of my .375 H&H from 24 to 22 inches. The velocity loss with my favorite load of N-204 behind the 300 gr Nosler Partition was 65 fps, according to my chronograph. Two cape buffalo, an eland, and an Alaska brown bear couldn't tell any difference. I can't either.

Judging by the responses to this question on other forums, a 65-fps velocity loss is probably par for the course with a barrel shortened by 2".

Ok so possible shortening and fluting. Another question. Spiral or horizontal fluting. Spiral looks "kooler" but as barrel heats does the spiral fluting allow the barrel to twist or distort in direction of fluting vs a straight horizontal fluting?

No twisting. Sure it heats up, but not thousand degree, plus hot.

Spiral removes more weight, too.

Go spiral and don't look back!
Pic of what Derrick did for me. He also threaded it and made a thread protector

A good rule of thumb.......keep the BC at .5 or better and MZ @ 3000fps. If your short BC you need to gain MZ or vice versa

Chote stock 5 lb 4 oz
26"Varmint Barrel- action- bolt and mount 6 lb 14 oz
Scope 1 pound 12 oz
Rings 4 oz
Bi Pod 14 oz
Ammo 4 oz
Total 15 pounds 4 oz

Nosler Hunting Ballastic Tip 140 grain .485 BC
Berger Match Grade VLD Hunting 168 grain .617 BC