Barrel length vs accuracy

[Veteran]

I don't see any short barrels on these things chunking 2700lb pills 20 miles! Just saying.

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Yep and they don't shoot 1 MOA groups or better either........but with a blast radius of 1000 to 2000 meters around impact, its not big thing......

Those babies also do have tremendous harmonics and recoil. Just ask the gun crews.....

 

[Critter Picker]

I don't see any short barrels on these things chunking 2700lb pills 20 miles! Just saying.

View attachment 712252

And capable of hitting a football field sized target at that distance.

 

[MW204]

Yep and they don't shoot 1 MOA groups or better either........but with a blast radius of 1000 to 2000 meters around impact, its not big thing......

Those babies also do have tremendous harmonics and recoil. Just ask the gun crews.....

And they are impressive with those long barrels, right?

 

[oneshot.onehit]

Something to think about if shooting long range with a .22 rimfire, if you are shooting a long barrel that takes bullet to above the speed of sound,then it will have to drop back down to subsonic. We all know that the transition causes turbulence that can affect the bullet. So if the bullet leaves the barrel subsonic it can be advantageous. Just my $.02

Good point.

But in the 22LR world the longer the barrel the slower the speed gets, I also use match ammo that is not fast to start with.

I did mess around with Mach tuning but its not worth the effort because the change in the day temps changes the speed of sound.

Osoh

 

[MarkInPA]

I consider the following points with regard to barrel length on a hunting rifle:

1) I look for 100% burn rates for more consistent SD\ES which generally means 24+ length barrels for magnum cartridges over ~70 grains.

2) Off hand balance vs muzzle velocity and overall weight.

The weight aspect is divided between length and contour and I prefer medium\ med heavy vs light contour.

Accuracy & precision do not enter the equation when deciding barrel length for me.

I was just about ready to mention 100% burnt propellant could be a factor. Short barrels could have a hard time achieving this and it may be a exercise in finding the proper powder.

For those familiar with Gordons Reloading Tool, try and find how many powders are available for a 100% burn rate using a 18" .308 Winchester Barrel and a 165 grain projectile. I found just one.

 

[Critter Picker]

Good point.

But in the 22LR world the longer the barrel the slower the speed gets, I also use match ammo that is not fast to start with.

I did mess around with Mach tuning but its not worth the effort because the change in the day temps changes the speed of sound.

Osoh

I ran a bunch of rimfire ammo over my chronograph this summer.probably 15 or so different brands and high velocity/standard velocity. Used a 6 7/8 Ruger,10 " TC Contender,16" Ruger 10-22,24" Remington 541T, the standard velocity seemed to register approximately the same velocity from all of them,maybe 100 FPS difference,shortest to longest. But the high velocity would change 250 to 300 FPS from shortest to longest.

I found it a very interesting waste of time. Also learned that you won't get above the speed of sound with a short barreled handgun. I should have tried a revolver to see how much barrel/cylinder gap changes things. Oh well I need a way to waste time next summer.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

Some say that max velocity for the 22 Lr comes from a 20"
After that it starts slowing down
BUT the accuracy May get better
Finding the ammo the barrel likes is the Trick. So they say.

 

[MarkInPA]

Some say that max velocity for the 22 Lr comes from a 20"
After that it starts slowing down
BUT the accuracy May get better
Finding the ammo the barrel likes is the Trick. So they say.

It's not only a matter of finding the right brand and load but, then once you find it to find enough of the same lot number. Different lot numbers can shoot differently.

 

[Critter Picker]

I have several .22 rimfires. There are ammo brands that do all of them shoot well,but no 1 brand that they all shoot best with. If that makes sense. There's got to be at least 75 to 100 different brands and levels of .22 rimfire ammo. For Instance, Eley has at least 12 different levels of ammo that they make. They range in price from about $6.00 per box of 50 to over $25.00. you get what you pay for,but I believe that somewhere in the middle,there will be a plateau, where the accuracy of ammo, vs accuracy of firearm, vs accuracy of shooter will make going farther up the scale an exercise in futility.

 

[MarkInPA]

I have several .22 rimfires. There are ammo brands that do all of them shoot well,but no 1 brand that they all shoot best with. If that makes sense. There's got to be at least 75 to 100 different brands and levels of .22 rimfire ammo. For Instance, Eley has at least 12 different levels of ammo that they make. They range in price from about $6.00 per box of 50 to over $25.00. you get what you pay for,but I believe that somewhere in the middle,there will be a plateau, where the accuracy of ammo, vs accuracy of firearm, vs accuracy of shooter will make going farther up the scale an exercise in futility.

I have been having good luck with mid-range Elley and SK ammo. Can't remember the names of the loadings but, yes, I think you are correct. I think you can get some good stuff with the Lapua brand too and pay for it.

 

[K.E.C. Darkside]

I mite go down that rabbit hole next year/ maybe.

 

[Critter Picker]

I mite go down that rabbit hole next year/ maybe.

It's a deep one.

 

[nksmfamjp]

The only time a longer barrel is more accurate is when velocity becomes a factor.

That is, at range when you are adjusting elevation in the scope, counting on same bc's & velocities, avoiding transonic/subsonic, velocity helps for all of those. The bigger the velocity drop, the more variability will effect it.

This is why you see competition rifles in larger cartridges as they increase distance. Then after years or development, cartridges start to shrink to improve shooting capability.

That said, 2 barrels of same taper, one 18" and the other 26" 0-300yards…..shorter barrels should have a statistical advantage as long as the shorter barrels are not at some super high muzzle exit pressure. High muzzle pressures drive bullets all over.

 

[Derfman]

I am a person that doesn't put up with crap and will call it out when I see it. I have never heard of anyone saying that longer barrel rifle are inherently more accurate than shorter barrel rifles. Got into a discussion with a YouTuber who thinks a long barrel rifle will make the gun inherently more accurate.

I have never heard of such a thing, the only thing that I know is that barrel length will affect speed and that's about it. Twist is a different story and I am not talking about that. I have seen some amazing shooters and rifles shooting shorter barrel rifles and smashing steel and critters way out at range.

Is there any evidence to support that a shorter barrel rifle is inherently less accurate than a longer barrel rifle?

I have 18" rifles that are 1/4" rifles and 26" barrels that shoot about the same. I just don't understand the concept

I remember reading that quite the opposite might be true. Longer barrels are more difficult to make and are often not perfectly straight. I'm not certain if that would affect accuracy, and if so, how much. Mark, from Mark and Sam after work….the Aussie, tested a structured barrel from TACOM and commented that it was the straightest barrel he ever measured…consequently there must be crooked barrels if his statement is true. He didn't elaborate on that. Longer barrels do let you burn more powder, increase velocity and extend the effective range of the weapon. So, from that angle, they are probably more accurate at longer ranges….if you have enough space in the case for more powder….whereas with a shorter barrel you'll just blow the unburned powder out the barrel. I might say that a longer barrel can increase the effective range and thus the accuracy at that extreme. One final thought: A longer barrel allows longer burn time and thus you can burn a slower powder that might yield a better es, or use a colder primer and slow ignition. ES doesn't matter much at 100 yds, but increases your group size at longer ranges. So, the statement was not specific enough. I'm safe in saying my non specific response of yes, no, and maybe.