Barrel Length for PRS

[HAJ6.5]

How long should my barrel be for PRS Matches? I’ve heard guys run all the way up to 29” with a brake. I’m currently in the process of building my rifle. I’ve been going back in forth on 6CM and 6CM. After reading many posts on here and others, it seems like the 6mm’s are what’s trending and dominating the matches. I have a Bench Mark, 29” 1.8 twist 6mm barrel and I’m wondering should I have the gunsmith cut it down, or should I just keep it at 29”

 

[ma smith]

is 29 the blank size or finished size?

 

[acudaowner]

48'' would be funnier

 

[Shoots 700's]

I would finish it at 26” and add the brake. Plenty long to get all the speed you’ll need.

 

[TheOfficeT-Rex]

If you're going to chase speed, longer is better. If you intend to run a suppressor, factor that into your decision.

I think rifle balance should play a role too. Contour will factor into total weight, and how that sits on the rifle and how it handles. I will say I have a 27 5/8" tube on right now, and it is a bit long for getting into/out of barricades. The next two on the shelf are 22", but should be a touch shorter, even with a suppressor hanging off the end.

 

[Mordamer]

26 or 28 inches. Flip a coin.

 

[beetroot]

I'd go 26" or less, running my 24" barrel with 7" of suppressor is a fine on stages where you aren't limited on space or tryign to manoeuver between barricades/obstacles. 24" + 2" of muzzle brake is far nicer to handle in such siuations.

Personally I like barrel around 22-24" overall length for general handiness but for a dedicated gamer gun I wouldn't want longer than 26".

 

[HAJ6.5]

Thank you for the advice guys.

 

[Matt_3479]

I have 24, 25, 26 and 27” plus brakes. I personally like them all but favour the 26” range

 

[just browsing]

I run a 28” with a 338 Ultra on the end of it sometimes… all of this “easier to get in and out of stuff” is overblown. If you train properly with your setup, your movements will become smooth and second nature regardless of barrel length.

Not to say that a shorter setup wouldn’t be handier for certain stages… but I rarely if ever find the longer length to be a hinderance.

 

[HAJ6.5]

is 29 the blank size or finished size?

It’s the blank size.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I run a 26" with a 419 Maverick on my GT and have 0 complaints.

 

[Sheldon N]

I have a bunch of 26 through 28" barrels. Put a long 5 port brake on the 28" barrel and it does get a bit long, nothing unmanageable though. Would probably prefer 26", mainly because it can fit into a Pelican case without taking the brake off.

IMO the only reason to run 28" is if you are shooting smaller/lower pressure cartridge or very heavy for caliber bullets and you're trying to keep the velocity up without running hot loads.

 

[superde]

I have both 26" (Dasher) and 28" (BR) plus brake. There are a lot less stages than there used to be with ports, doghouses, small spaces you have to move through. So as @Sheldon N stated, figure out what your objective is based on cartridge. If you're running a 6 Creedmoor 26" is plenty of barrel, which with handloads will allow you to easliy run 105 and 110 grain bullets from 2900-3100+ fps. That being said, almost everyone runs lower velocities these days. Factory Hornady 6 Creed 108's are about 2950 fps out of a 26" 6 Creed barrel usually.

 

[kindabitey]

I never could decide on 26 or 28, so my last three have been 27. I'm going to have a bare action after this weekend, and am contemplating
a 20" 6 Creed to use with a can full time.

 

[HAJ6.5]

I never could decide on 26 or 28, so my last three have been 27. I'm going to have a bare action after this weekend, and am contemplating
a 20" 6 Creed to use with a can full time.

I’m going to have it cut down to 28, and I will be running it on a MDT ACC Chassis System. I’m looking forward to getting this build completed, so I can shoot in my first PRS match. I’m going to be both nervous and excited at the same time when I do my first competition.

 

[TwistedOneinSeven]

Remember to also check how "long" your rifle will be based on barrel length plus Muzzle Brake.
Compare this to internal dimensions, height, of your safe.
Who wants to have to remove a brake to get rifle into their safe....

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

Remember to also check how "long" your rifle will be based on barrel length plus Muzzle Brake.
Compare this to internal dimensions, height, of your safe.
Who wants to have to remove a brake to get rifle into their safe....

A folding stock/chassis is a beautiful thing.

 

[superde]

A folding stock/chassis is a beautiful thing.

For cleaning as well.

 

[huntnh]

26 for me

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

For cleaning as well.

That, too.

 

[HAJ6.5]

Hey guys, I went with 27”. It will be a Benchmark, 6mm, Custom MTU 1.250 for 5” tapered to 1” at muzzle, 1-8 twist, 5gr. I’m going with 6mmCM. I have a bunch of reloading components and factory Hornady 108 match ammo. I know the 6BR, 6BRA and 6DASHER are getting the love right now for PRS, but the 6CM will do for now. After I burn the barrel up, maybe I will go to one of the other 6mm.

 

[PracticalTactical]

I like a good long barrel to help with balance as the last thing I want is butt heavy... pardon the pun.

Some guys will argue that a long barrel is slow to handle around obstacles, but if the weight is more forward, the stock can be shortened so the overall length of the rifle does not need to increase proportionally to increase in barrel length. As long as your scope rail allows the scope to move ahead to compensate for adjusting to favor a shorter LOP.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

I like a good long barrel to help with balance as the last thing I want is butt heavy... pardon the pun.

Some guys will argue that a long barrel is slow to handle around obstacles, but if the weight is more forward, the stock can be shortened so the overall length of the rifle does not need to increase proportionally to increase in barrel length. As long as your scope rail allows the scope to move ahead to compensate for adjusting to favor a shorter LOP.

Given how rarely I see small ports for barricade stages, or enclosed pipes for obstacles any more, a long barrel (even one with a can) is almost never an issue. Even in a "shoot house" type setup, there's plenty of room to maneuver around.

 

[HAJ6.5]

That’s why I split the difference between the 26” & 28” and went 27”

 

[hlee]

Given how rarely I see small ports for barricade stages, or enclosed pipes for obstacles any more, a long barrel (even one with a can) is almost never an issue. Even in a "shoot house" type setup, there's plenty of room to maneuver around.

You haven’t shot a Texas Precision Matches event outside of Navasota?

 

[Rob01]

Hey guys, I went with 27”. It will be a Benchmark, 6mm, Custom MTU 1.250 for 5” tapered to 1” at muzzle, 1-8 twist, 5gr. I’m going with 6mmCM. I have a bunch of reloading components and factory Hornady 108 match ammo. I know the 6BR, 6BRA and 6DASHER are getting the love right now for PRS, but the 6CM will do for now. After I burn the barrel up, maybe I will go to one of the other 6mm.

Will work good. Only barrels I used under 26” have been .308s years back and even now my .308 is a 26”. My 6.5 and 6 are 28” plus brakes and no issues moving around at matches with them.

 

[Hollywood 6mm]

You haven’t shot a Texas Precision Matches event outside of Navasota?

The only TX matches I ever made it out to were the ones Geordie ran at Lone Star.

Even if Navasota is running that kind of thing, that would make them one venue out of many. Maybe Shannon has used it at a Kahles match, but it's been a few years since I saw the pipe of pain run at K&M, and about as long since I last saw the one at Altus used. Small ports with a lot of room behind them to maneuver aren't really an issue for longer barrel setups, either.