Short barrel trend

[MS 9x56]

I don’t understand the recent trend to shorter and shorter rifle barrels. I recently aquired a Howa 1500 in 350 legend with a 16” barrel in a raffle. Now the original short barrel rifle the Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1903 is a beautiful form of the hunkers art. These new half stock short barreled rifles not so much. The shorter barrels do not maximize a cartridges potential and at least for me lessen their pointability making them whippy in the hands. They are handy in a tree stand for sure but I like a bit more barrel for stalking.

 

[uplander01]

Much of the short barrel stuff is meant to be suppressed, otherwise barrels wouldn’t be that short.

 

[Philip Glass]

At the range with a chrono the standard barrels are fine. In the thick brush on a hunt the shorter the better.

 

[MS 9x56]

I used to think that until I aquired a commercial Mauser 98 in 7x 57 with a half octagon, half round 26” barrel. It has turned out to be surprisingly nimble in the thickets I still hunt through. It seems counter intuitive but it works.

 

[Elkeater]

Mostly it’s cause suppressors are so much more popular these days. Hang another 6-8” off the end of a 26” barrel and you’ll see why no one wants that. Now if you aren’t shooting suppressed then I agree might as well go with a bit longer barrel to increase performance. At least that’s my thinking out here in the wide open desert of Arizona.

 

[Hunt anything]

I prefer barrels in the 20 to 24 inch range, I had a couple with 26 inch barrels and just couldn’t get used to them.

 

[Hooked Now]

I left original barrel length on my CZ. Pulled the front sight and installed a barrel band so I considered cutting it shorter (okay...I didn't do it, but a qualified gunsmith with actual skills did ). We will see the wisdom of my choice in 2026 in Zim. Only other experience was a .300 WM (I think a 26"). With a can on it it feels like a flag pole, but for wide open PG last year it was great without the can. Everybody's preference varies but that point about using a can or not seems to drive most of the answer.

 

[Justbryan]

Certain calibers don't sacrifice a lot with shorter barrels. I lean toward rifles that function well with shorter barrels. I love the trend toward short action fat cases.

All my bolt rifles are suppressed and so you can shorten the barrel 2" to 4". My favorite rifle is a 20" 300 WSM suppressed but I also love my 16" 308 and 18" 6.5 CM and both are suppressed. I usually shoot heavy for caliber bullets in all my rifles.

My 375 H&H is 20" but the suppressor is a little longer so sometimes I shot it unsuppressed, i.e. dangerous game. I shot it suppressed on my first dangerous game hunt but removed it for the retrieval of the animal. You just have to dial-in for the point of impact shift.

If you are not shooting suppressors, then a longer barrel is not that big a deal. I prefer a little longer barrel on unsuppressed louder rounds. Short barrels are just too loud on some rifles.

 

[Rickmt]

I like a 22 inch barrel with a thunderbeast ultra 5 suppressor (5 “) for hunting.

 

[analog_peninsula]

From top to bottom.
26 inch barrel
20 inch barrel
16 inch barrel
17 inch barrel

As you can see, even a 20” barrel + suppressor is pretty long, and even a 16” barrel + suppressor isn’t that short.

 

[CoElkHunter]

I used to think that until I aquired a commercial Mauser 98 in 7x 57 with a half octagon, half round 26” barrel. It has turned out to be surprisingly nimble in the thickets I still hunt through. It seems counter intuitive but it works.

I like my 25” barreled CZs and 26” barreled Browning A and X Bolts. Although, I really like my 20” barreled Ruger Guide Guns. So, I’m just a freak I guess. LOL

 

[franzfmdavis]

I was thinking about this topic a while back and wondered the opposite to myself, that is why shorter length bigger bore bolt action rifles used for DG are not as common.

Most of the rifles I look at have 24-25” barrels. It would seem to my inexperienced mind that a 20” barrel length would be quicker to mount and more maneuverable through the thick stuff.

The shorter length gun is going to be louder (for the shooter), and lighter I suppose, but that seems like a rational trade for increased dexterity when hunting dangerous game.

Of course, its all just theoretical for me at this point. My opinion may lean the other way after I try it.

 

[Rare Breed]

I don’t understand the recent trend to shorter and shorter rifle barrels. I recently aquired a Howa 1500 in 350 legend with a 16” barrel in a raffle. Now the original short barrel rifle the Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1903 is a beautiful form of the hunkers art. These new half stock short barreled rifles not so much. The shorter barrels do not maximize a cartridges potential and at least for me lessen their pointability making them whippy in the hands. They are handy in a tree stand for sure but I like a bit more barrel for stalking.View attachment 686312

Good points…for me it is more about where do I love to hunt the most in Africa…I love fairly heavy jess where a long barrel can get caught up. I find anything longer than 26 inch’s barrels is just unwieldy for me whether a rifle or shotgun. I shoot a heavy shorter barrel gun just better than I do a lighter and longer barrel, just me

 

[Flbt]

I don’t understand the recent trend to shorter and shorter rifle barrels. I recently aquired a Howa 1500 in 350 legend with a 16” barrel in a raffle. Now the original short barrel rifle the Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1903 is a beautiful form of the hunkers art. These new half stock short barreled rifles not so much. The shorter barrels do not maximize a cartridges potential and at least for me lessen their pointability making them whippy in the hands. They are handy in a tree stand for sure but I like a bit more barrel for stalking.View attachment 686312

I like them for certain jobs. Tight swamps or tight tree stands in the swamp. I love my trapper leaver actions with 16 in barrel and the 45-70 guide gun.

And room clearing I like the 11.5 colt xm177 clone that I have had since the early 90s

 

[meigsbucks]

I have rifles with 16” thru 26”. Most of my standard chamberings are 20-22” with some being 24”. Most of the magnums are 24-26”.
Nothing is suppressed. Just not a fan of suppressors.

 

[mdwest]

I don’t understand the recent trend to shorter and shorter rifle barrels. I recently aquired a Howa 1500 in 350 legend with a 16” barrel in a raffle. Now the original short barrel rifle the Mannlicher Schoenauer model 1903 is a beautiful form of the hunkers art. These new half stock short barreled rifles not so much. The shorter barrels do not maximize a cartridges potential and at least for me lessen their pointability making them whippy in the hands. They are handy in a tree stand for sure but I like a bit more barrel for stalking.View attachment 686312

A lot depends on the cartridge design and the powders used…

For example you’ve only got about 100 fps difference between a 16” barrel and a 22” barrel in that 350 legend.. the cartridge was designed to burn almost 100% of the powder within 16”… so why add any length to the barrel?

The 300 blackout was designed to reach maximum efficiency in 10”…

If we are talking older, more traditional cartridges like say a 308, while there is no doubt a 21” barrel will produce more velocity than a 16”, for the majority of game animals people would hunt with a 308, the velocities you can obtain with 16” is more than enough to accomplish the mission, and you have the added benefits of less weight to haul up and down a mountain, a shorter OAL to have to maneuver inside a cramped space like a blind, etc…

For shorter distances (typically 300 yards or less where higher velocities aren’t always necessary) you also have an accuracy advantage in many as the shorter barrels are more stiff..

 

[Hunt anything]

@mdwest you are correct. The .375 Ruger was developed to perform in a a 20” barrel I believe.

 

[ftrovato]

I've hunting with everything from 18 1/2 to 26".

Personally I prefer the way a 24" or 26" feels in my hands.

I think they balance better, swing better on a moving target and assist in recoil management not to mention muzzle flash/blast in low light being greater with a short barrel.

But to each their own. If we all thought the same way this forum wouldn't exist or would be very boring at best....

 

[CoElkHunter]

I have rifles with 16” thru 26”. Most of my standard chamberings are 20-22” with some being 24”. Most of the magnums are 24-26”.
Nothing is suppressed. Just not a fan of suppressors.

+1. I might buy a suppressor if one plus the tax stamp wasn’t almost the price of a new rifle. However, the two suppressed pistols and one rifle I’ve shot still required me to wear ear plugs, so?

 

[Hunt anything]

+1. I might buy a suppressor if one plus the tax stamp wasn’t almost the price of a new rifle. However, the two suppressed pistols and one rifle I’ve shot still required me to wear ear plugs, so?

The biggest advantage I’ve seen with a suppressor is the reduction in recoil. I have been able to stay on target and call my shot even if shooting in awkward position.