Short 7mm-08 barrel length?

[Frozen Land]

I’m taking a 24” 7mm-08 to the Dr tomorrow for a cut and threading and I’m trying to decide on barrel length. I’m planning on using this at short ranges in tight trees but don’t want to limit myself too much. So, what’s the shortest length you can still get decent performance from the old 7HT?

Stock Savage 116 Ultra Lite Mt Hunter 20 squirts 150 ELD Xs with Win 760 at 2825 fps ES 6.1 SD at 3. Not the most efficient still unburnt powder about 2% according to Quick Load but the one-hole groups and 2800fsps ill live with the extra cleaning oh .015 off and CBTO 2.330

 

[Mallardsx2]

Finally made it to the range today. Velocities averaged around 2525fps on these factory Nosler 140gr BTs. I’m going to start loading for it soon but I’ll probably go through this season with these. Still shoots around an inch so hopefully I can tighten that up some with hand loads, who knows I might be able to squeeze a little more speed out of it too. Overall I’m digging it.
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I use these same bullets in my kids rifle and my wife’s rifle for deer. Cheap and they shoot good.

 

[Bonasababy]

He's saying that rifles with shorter overall length can tend to be more difficult to aim offhand. I agree. I've got a Model 7 in 7MM-08 with an 18" barrel and the gun shoots well overall, but offhand it can be difficult to aim as the short/compact build can sway or drift a little bit. Just balances differently than a longer gun. I don't think he is saying the barrel overall is less accurate.

Spot on. It's not length affecting accuracy directly...look at the barrels that some long distance shooters use...they aren't long.

I prefer short and light rifles but they take more conscious effort to hold steady offhand.

 

[grizzly63]

I shot two deer last year with a savage compact 20". One was offhand and I had no problems holding it where it needed to be. Just my take on it. Handy little rifle. Lot easier to shoot this one offhand than my 13 lb 300 wm sendero.