Thread: Barrel length for 1 - 11.25 twist

Anyone shortened their Remington 700 5r or rifles with similar barrels? Currently shoots 168s and 175s well but at 24” barrel and recently moving to the Waikato, I’m getting sick of getting snagged up on supple jack.
Any advice would be appreciated on how much you guys took off, would still like to shoot out to 500m when I do my tops hunting


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Hey mate,

I've just done exactly that, very reluctantly got four inches lopped off my 308 5R with the 11.25 twist to make it 20" as it was getting cumbersome with the steel muzzle fwd suppressor I use on it.

Velocity didn't change at all which i found slightly perplexing, (suspicious but verified with 2 chronographs) and accuracy and group size was totally unaffected with 175 SMK and 165 GK loads, shot a 0.4" 5 round group @100m with GGG factory 175 ammo immediately after putting it back together.

Doesn't look much like an original 5R any more, but the action and barrel are still factory

Originally Posted by Dan

Hey mate,

I've just done exactly that, very reluctantly got four inches lopped off my 308 5R with the 11.25 twist to make it 20" as it was getting cumbersome with the steel muzzle fwd suppressor I use on it.

Velocity didn't change at all which i found slightly perplexing, (suspicious but verified with 2 chronographs) and accuracy and group size was totally unaffected with 175 SMK and 165 GK loads, shot a 0.4" 5 round group @100m with GGG factory 175 ammo immediately after putting it back together.

Doesn't look much like an original 5R any more, but the action and barrel are still factory
Attachment 277016

Legend cheers man, I’ll likely chop it to 18.5” to make it abit nicer in the bush but from what I’ve read it should still do the job out at 500m


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Against the results in the first post - mine experienced a massive change shortening from 24" to 20" (1-10 but not 5R). Now quite a slow barrel, and running into pressure signs early (primer squished flat as a pancake) with any reload I've tried. Need to do a bit more experimentation with why this might be happening, factory loads are giving flat primers and are slow as well. I would suggest a shorter docking at first (go back in a shorter step) and just confirm that it's still performing to what you require rather than the whole jump to 18.5...

Mine is struggling to hold it together at 300m currently, the drops are horrific and Win factory ammo is like a brick after 200m in icy weather (a lot better on hot days so the temp sensitivity was a real eye opener). Wasn't even on a sheet of newspaper at the 300m target, had to hang up a second sheet below to find where it was hitting, over 24" of drop if I recall it right.

Another option is pick up another take off barrel and use that for the shortening - my point here is that take off short barrels are dime a dozen, 5R rifled in 24" are quite sought after and you'll move it easily if a shorter take off is going to do the business for you. I have a take off barrel here that is I think 19" that might be an option?

Originally Posted by No.3

Against the results in the first post - mine experienced a massive change shortening from 24" to 20" (1-10 but not 5R). Now quite a slow barrel, and running into pressure signs early (primer squished flat as a pancake) with any reload I've tried. Need to do a bit more experimentation with why this might be happening, factory loads are giving flat primers and are slow as well. I would suggest a shorter docking at first (go back in a shorter step) and just confirm that it's still performing to what you require rather than the whole jump to 18.5...

Mine is struggling to hold it together at 300m currently, the drops are horrific and Win factory ammo is like a brick after 200m in icy weather (a lot better on hot days so the temp sensitivity was a real eye opener). Wasn't even on a sheet of newspaper at the 300m target, had to hang up a second sheet below to find where it was hitting, over 24" of drop if I recall it right.

Another option is pick up another take off barrel and use that for the shortening - my point here is that take off short barrels are dime a dozen, 5R rifled in 24" are quite sought after and you'll move it easily if a shorter take off is going to do the business for you. I have a take off barrel here that is I think 19" that might be an option?

What powder are you using? CFE223 migth help you bring it back up to speed

Originally Posted by No.3

Against the results in the first post - mine experienced a massive change shortening from 24" to 20" (1-10 but not 5R). Now quite a slow barrel, and running into pressure signs early (primer squished flat as a pancake) with any reload I've tried. Need to do a bit more experimentation with why this might be happening, factory loads are giving flat primers and are slow as well. I would suggest a shorter docking at first (go back in a shorter step) and just confirm that it's still performing to what you require rather than the whole jump to 18.5...

Mine is struggling to hold it together at 300m currently, the drops are horrific and Win factory ammo is like a brick after 200m in icy weather (a lot better on hot days so the temp sensitivity was a real eye opener). Wasn't even on a sheet of newspaper at the 300m target, had to hang up a second sheet below to find where it was hitting, over 24" of drop if I recall it right.

Another option is pick up another take off barrel and use that for the shortening - my point here is that take off short barrels are dime a dozen, 5R rifled in 24" are quite sought after and you'll move it easily if a shorter take off is going to do the business for you. I have a take off barrel here that is I think 19" that might be an option?

I’ll send you a pm, thanks for the advice


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