18-20" 25-06?

[JPiantedosi]

I have a pre accutrigger savage 110 in 25-06 that is in need of a new bbl. This rifle was my go to coyote gun for a long time and it just isn't as accurate as it once was. My plan is to re barrel it in something a little shorter, Im thinking 18-20" leaning closer to 18" though if I can get away with it. Is 18" too short of a barrel for this round? 500-600 yds is the extreme max of what this rifle will be asked to do.

Any thoughts/

Thanks
Jim

 

[ahhshoot]

You should still be ok for 5-600 yards but your trajectory won't look like what's printed on the box. Remember that effect of barrel length on muzzle velocity is proportional to the internal bore volume. So, in general, if the bore diameter is greater, you will be able to get away with a shorter barrel without as much of a velocity loss when compared to that of a small diameter bore. I don't think you will have any problems reaching out to 600 with a 18" barrel on a 25-06 but you will have excessive muzzle blast and you may want to make a determination also based on the twist rate of your barrel. If you have a slow twist barrel your velocity loss may destabilize the bullet. Just some things to consider...

 

[bmt]

MUZZLE BLAST!

I would not go below 22"

BMT

 

[Niles Coyote]

Another vote for not going lower than 22" on a long action case

 

[groundhogbuster]

Another vote for not going lower than 22" on a long action case

+10 on this one. Many years ago I had a Smith take my Sendero 25/06 down to 20". The gun suffered severely, in MV, and I could have used it for a flamethrower. 22" minimum