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Optimum Barrel Length for Ruger Rifles in .25-06?

Juggernaut
What is the optimum barrel length for the .25-06 to be able to utilize its full potential for long range using a Ruger No 1 Varmint Rifle, Ruger No. 1 Standard Rifle and Ruger MK77 Mark II Target Rifle, as the Ruger No 1 Varmint Rifle only comes with a 24" heavy barrel, while the Ruger No. 1 Standard Rifle comes with a standard tapered 26" barrel and the Ruger MK77 Mark II Target Rifle has a 26" heavy contoured barrel?

Isn't the gain or loss of fps roughly 35 fps for every 1 inch of barrel either added or subtracted; while the heavier barrel may increase the accuracy potential of the rifle amongst other aspects being in place?

Thanks.
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Comments

10 comments

Date Votes
  • cbxjeff
    I have a 25.06 (although a Mauser action) w/ a 26" fluted barrel. I couldn't ask for anything more.
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  • RCrosby
    If all of your work is off the bench, an argument could certainly be made for the 26", though even there I wouldn't feel handicapped with a 24. In a rifle that I'll be carrying in the field I prefer the shorter length and something less than a full fat tube.
    Just my 2 cents worth.[:D]
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  • stevecrea
    There was an interesting test conducted with a .204 Ruger concerning barrel length. The results are posted on the 204ruger.com website. I am not suggesting that these results are representative for a 25-06, because its case is obviously larger, and other factors are involved. However, in the test in question, the tester started with a Thompson Center 24 inch barrel, and chorongraphed the velocity as he cut the barrel down, inch by inch. Between 24 inches and 21 inches, there was only a small decrease in velocity, and average velocity actually increased as he went from 24 inches to 23 inches. Other posters may be aware of other tests such as this.

    I would tend to believe that 26 inches may be more than is necessary to optimize the velocity from a 25-06, but this is just a guess.
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  • mrbruce
    That big of a case needs barrel length to be compatible I wouldn't want anything shorter than a 26 inch barrel on one for that reason.. If you need a short barreled rifle go with a 250 Savage or the 257 Roberts they both work well with shorter barrels.......
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by Juggernaut
    What is the optimum barrel length for the .25-06 to be able to utilize its full potential for long range using a Ruger No 1 Varmint Rifle, Ruger No. 1 Standard Rifle and Ruger MK77 Mark II Target Rifle, as the Ruger No 1 Varmint Rifle only comes with a 24" heavy barrel, while the Ruger No. 1 Standard Rifle comes with a standard tapered 26" barrel and the Ruger MK77 Mark II Target Rifle has a 26" heavy contoured barrel?

    Isn't the gain or loss of fps roughly 35 fps for every 1 inch of barrel either added or subtracted; while the heavier barrel may increase the accuracy potential of the rifle amongst other aspects being in place?

    Thanks.


    Complicated. . .

    Yes, longer barrels may offer more velocity, though you do hit a point where the bullet hits maximum speed, and after that point, longer barrels offer LESS velocity.

    I don't know where that point is with the .25-06 cartridge (it may depend partially on what load you use), but personally, I really wouldn't sweat a difference of +/- 100 fps. In practice, you'll never notice it.

    In terms of accuracy, all else being equal, longer barrels generally mean LESS accuracy. This is mainly because they are less stiff. Longer barrels also offer longer "dwell time" of the bullet within the barrel, which give you time to throw off the shot, though this is really only an issue with really low velocity bullets.

    The caveat there, is that if you are using IRON sights, you can get more practical accuracy with the longer sight radius of a longer barrel.

    Heavier barrels generally mean GREATER accuracy, as they are stiffer, and offer more inertia to resist muzzle "wobble".

    Tapered barrels are sort of a compromise, potentially offering better accuracy than thin barrels, yet offering lower weight (and possibly better weight DISTRIBUTION) than full bull barrels.

    The "optimum" barrel depends entirely on what you want to do with it.

    If you are a pure target shooter, you'll want the heavy barrel; that's a no brainer. If you think you will ALWAYS be shooting from a rest, always shooting at far distance, and not carrying the gun around with you, this is the way to go.

    For general hunting purposes, the tapered barrel is a good way to go, since its both lighter, and also faster to point.

    For varmints, you could probably go with any of them, though I'd say you'd probably want the varmint short-heavy barrel or the target version.
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  • sandwarrior
    I would for sure go with the 26" if that what you get from the factory. The 26" heavy barrel is the way to go. You can tune a load to the standard taper, but when they heat up they may want to jump around a bit. The heavy contour helps eliminate that.

    If you went with a custom barrel I would go with a 28" or even 30"
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  • tsr1965
    The optimum barrel length depends on a whole bushel basket full of variables. Factory fodder or handloads, what propellant you are using, along with primer and bullet weight, are all factors. The 25-06 would be slightly over bore in a 22-24 inch barrel, and for the heaviest bullets and slowest powder, could stand to use a 28-30 incher to get all of the performance you are looking for. The 26 incher is a good compromise.

    Best
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  • quickmajik
    I agree TSR 28"-32" maybe even a few more inches, but thats a whole lot of gun for hunting..

    A 26" tube is more then enough for shooting 500-600 yards and beyond accurately..

    The M77VT Target rifle is right around 10 pounds empty.
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  • Juggernaut
    The Ruger No. 1 Varminter are the only heavy barrel Ruger No. 1 rifles that I am aware of and are only made in 24" lengths, another heavy barrel Ruger rifle although it is a bolt action is the MK77 Mark II however it is a contoured heavy barrel in 26" lengths.
    Given the fact that there doesn't seem to be any significant loss in fps which apparently is questionable and there are ballistics tables that specifically list 24" barrels as a standard length and that probably 90% of .25-06 rifles were made with 24" barrels which being heavy are more rigid than a standard barrel being more accurate I guess the 24" heavy barrel would be the way to go then...
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  • Juggernaut
    Thanks for the info gentlemen.
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