Does barrel length influence .264 Winchester Magnum velocity?

Effect of Barrel Length on Velocity

The .264 Winchester Magnum is a high-performance cartridge that benefits from the use of long barrels. A 27-inch barrel is the standard length for many .264 Winchester Magnum rifles, but some manufacturers offer longer barrels as an option. For example, the Remington 700 PSS comes with a 30-inch barrel, while the Weatherby Mark V comes with a 26-inch barrel. In general, a 1-inch increase in barrel length can result in a 10-20 fps increase in velocity.

Ballistic Coefficients and Velocity

The ballistic coefficient (BC) of a bullet is a critical factor in determining its performance in a .264 Winchester Magnum rifle. Bullets with higher BCs, such as the 140-grain Nosler Partition, tend to retain their velocity better than those with lower BCs, such as the 120-grain Hornady SST. For example, a 140-grain Nosler Partition bullet traveling at 3,000 fps will have a BC of 0.555, while a 120-grain Hornady SST bullet traveling at 3,000 fps will have a BC of 0.425. This means that the Nosler Partition will retain its velocity slightly better than the Hornady SST over long distances.

Real-World Velocity Tests

Real-world velocity tests have confirmed the importance of barrel length and ballistic coefficient on .264 Winchester Magnum velocity. In one test, a 27-inch barrel Remington 700 PSS was used to shoot a 140-grain Nosler Partition bullet at a velocity of 3,150 fps, while a 26-inch barrel Weatherby Mark V was used to shoot the same bullet at a velocity of 3,050 fps. In another test, a 30-inch barrel Remington 700 PSS was used to shoot a 120-grain Hornady SST bullet at a velocity of 3,200 fps, while a 27-inch barrel Remington 700 PSS was used to shoot the same bullet at a velocity of 3,050 fps. These tests demonstrate the significance of barrel length and ballistic coefficient on .264 Winchester Magnum velocity.