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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Barrel length vs. powder burn
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<blockquote data-quote="BallisticsGuy" data-source="post: 1613499" data-attributes="member: 96226"><p>The smaller the bore, the heavier the bullet and the more the case volume slower the powder needs to be to not reach catastrophic pressures and thus the longer the bore needs to be for a complete burn (for the purposes of this discussion, let's call a full burn "that barrel length where you cease seeing any muzzle flash while shooting in the dark.")</p><p></p><p>Here's a set of examples that show what's going on a little bit. I've normalized them for bullets on the light side of the range you're likely to find normally in each.</p><p></p><p>.22LR (36gr) tiny case capacity, .22" bore, very short pistol barrel required for a full burn and a very fast burning pistol powder being used.</p><p>.224BOZ (55gr), small case capacity, .22" bore, moderately long pistol barrel required for full burn and a slow burning magnum pistol powder being used.</p><p>.223rem (55gr) moderate case capacity, .22" bore, carbine length rifle barrel required for full burn and a relatively fast burning rifle powder</p><p>.223WSSM (55gr) large case capacity, .22" bore, full length rifle barrel required for full burn and a relatively slow burning rifle powder.</p><p></p><p>As the case grows or the bore diameter shrinks or the bullet gains mass you have to slow down the burn speed and increase barrel length to get a full burn. </p><p></p><p>For the pedants: Yes, I've trivialized a lot but it should at least get the point across.</p></blockquote><p></p>
[QUOTE="BallisticsGuy, post: 1613499, member: 96226"] The smaller the bore, the heavier the bullet and the more the case volume slower the powder needs to be to not reach catastrophic pressures and thus the longer the bore needs to be for a complete burn (for the purposes of this discussion, let's call a full burn "that barrel length where you cease seeing any muzzle flash while shooting in the dark.") Here's a set of examples that show what's going on a little bit. I've normalized them for bullets on the light side of the range you're likely to find normally in each. .22LR (36gr) tiny case capacity, .22" bore, very short pistol barrel required for a full burn and a very fast burning pistol powder being used. .224BOZ (55gr), small case capacity, .22" bore, moderately long pistol barrel required for full burn and a slow burning magnum pistol powder being used. .223rem (55gr) moderate case capacity, .22" bore, carbine length rifle barrel required for full burn and a relatively fast burning rifle powder .223WSSM (55gr) large case capacity, .22" bore, full length rifle barrel required for full burn and a relatively slow burning rifle powder. As the case grows or the bore diameter shrinks or the bullet gains mass you have to slow down the burn speed and increase barrel length to get a full burn. For the pedants: Yes, I've trivialized a lot but it should at least get the point across. [/QUOTE]
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Rifles, Reloading, Optics, Equipment
Reloading
Barrel length vs. powder burn
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