Barrel length for a hunting rifle

[Alan]

I am looking at rifles and can't decide between 20 inch or 22 inch barrel. Does it actually matter for deer hunting inside 300 yards? I know the ballistics are different but is it enough to care about in real hunting situations?

 

[Robin1]

Inside 300 yards, it really doesn’t matter much.

 

[Indigo22]

Back in the day when I hunted, I most often did so in my uncles woods. In general it was thick and a long shot was 50 yards. most clear shots were 25~35 yards. I liked my barrel length to be less than 20 inches, most were 16~18 inches. I did use a 26" muzzleloader on the farm belonging to my brother in-laws family where the woods were more open and it had decent fields. I never liked hunting the fields as there were always plenty of hunters sitting along the edges. It just didn't feel safe. Handgun hunting always sounded interesting to me but the couple times I tried it the place and time just didn't connect with a harvest.

 

[Alan]

Back in the day when I hunted, I most often did so in my uncles woods. In general it was thick and a long shot was 50 yards. most clear shots were 25~35 yards. I liked my barrel length to be less than 20 inches, most were 16~18 inches. I did use a 26" muzzleloader on the farm belonging to my brother in-laws family where the woods were more open and it had decent fields. I never liked hunting the fields as there were always plenty of hunters sitting along the edges. It just didn't feel safe. Handgun hunting always sounded interesting to me but the couple times I tried it the place and time just didn't connect with a harvest.

Thick woods and short barrels just go together!

 

[white eagle]

Depends a lot on cartridge for me
I wouldn't want to shoot a 30-06 based cartridge in a 20" barrel
most of my rifles wear 24" barrels
woods only would be a compact rifle with a short barrel, slug gun or handgun
I have a 358 Winchester with a 21" barrel on a compact frame that works beautifully in a tree stand or tight spot in the woods

 

[Tabby]

A long time ago I learned that any gun is better than the one you don't have. I have a Remington 700 in 338 Win Mag with a 24 inch barrel. If I'm hunting in mixed terrain with that rifle I'm not going to stay out of the woods just because my rifle has a 24 inch barrel. Pick your rifle and go wherever you want and shoot within the rifle and your limitations and all will be good and no game animal will be safe.