10.5" vs. 14.5" barrel
- Thread starter CDCarts
- Start date
Barrel length is a factor of what do you want to do.
In Canada, (unlike here) your not restricted by annoying rules on BBL length for AR's (its not just the Tax for SBR's, but the hassle of taking them out of state etc.).
Shorter Barrels mean more muzzle blast, and Flash.
While down here ou can suppress them (at least in Free States) - but that is not possible for civilian enthusiasts in Canada -- so your uber cool micro barrel will probably be an annoyance to the shooters beside you.
Short barrels of equal diamter and profile will be more rigid than a longer version (I mean this is simple physics) While this should mean less barrel whip, barrel harmonics are a thing of their own -- the forces from the exploding gasses cause pressure waves running down the barrel, and combination with pressue exherted on the barrel from the bullet running down the bore, this creates its own little dance.
Now for bolt guns etc with no gas system thats all that she wrote.
If you add in a gas system, when then you have even more going on.
In a DI gun the gas is vectored back thru the tube - and exits the gun prior to any carrier motion, so its just the waves hitting the gas block that can make for funny things, in a piston gun well you get movement and rearward pressure earlier - so they can act even stranger.
That said - ANY good barrel from 10.5" -20" will give you very similar results - the amount of difference we are talking about is so insignificant that human error, and ammunition capability will make it unnoticeabe.
So it comes down to what barrel length do you want/need.
Great answer. Thank you
No attacks made. I don't know anyone well enough to make attacks. Just making observations on posts. Besides, I was being sarcastic/funny/joking/attempting humor (take your pic). You know how things get misinterpreted when they're typed and not spoken.
Lol. Too true. Surprised you didn't mention Flafson's posts. Classic WTF??????
Gotta love CGN.
That's all of it folks in a nice little nutshell for easy consumption.
I value your posts as you obviously know you s@$t but can't figure out the statement above? I am probably taking it wrong. Do you mean that a 10.5" would be just as good as a 20" at 300-600m? I am asking this because as a previous poster stated, everytime I see a guy with a 10.5" AR at a multigun shoot or at the range they can't shoot well at longer distances. It's not because they are amateurs from what I have seen as the "amateurs" with the longer barrels do seem to shoot much better at the long distances.
First of all, accuracy is a wrong word. Accuracy is based on the trigger puller and the rifle.
Precision is the correct word.
Barrel whips when it is fired - for a given diameter to length ratio, it is obvious a shorter barrel behaves more like a rigid body.
The trick is not so much about barrel length on its own, but also the ammunition and the bullet itself. Also, you have to define the range for comparison. Finally, the quality of the barrel itself, and the entire system.
Simply saying that a shorter barrel is less "accurate" than a long barrel is ignorant. If a 10" barrel is drilled into a 10lb block of steel, I bet it will out shoot a 16" barrel at 100m. On the other hand, if you are comparing the precision at the range where the 10.5 is subsonic, of course the 16" will probably win.
Precision is the correct word.
Barrel whips when it is fired - for a given diameter to length ratio, it is obvious a shorter barrel behaves more like a rigid body.
The trick is not so much about barrel length on its own, but also the ammunition and the bullet itself. Also, you have to define the range for comparison. Finally, the quality of the barrel itself, and the entire system.
Simply saying that a shorter barrel is less "accurate" than a long barrel is ignorant. If a 10" barrel is drilled into a 10lb block of steel, I bet it will out shoot a 16" barrel at 100m. On the other hand, if you are comparing the precision at the range where the 10.5 is subsonic, of course the 16" will probably win.
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OldFrankHog
CGN frequent flyer
- Location
- Gatineau QC
Check balistics for how far you want to shoot. Make sure whatever barrel lenght you pick the round is still super sonic at that range. Rest is gravy. The faster the round goes the flatter the trajectory, not necessarily more precise...
I have always wondered why there isn’t a single forum on “Marksmanship”? All kind of forums on the nuances of the mechanics of firearms and "Precision" but not one on how to be a better shooter…
How about it Greentips how about a forum on MARKSMANSHIP?
I have always wondered why there isn’t a single forum on “Marksmanship”? All kind of forums on the nuances of the mechanics of firearms and "Precision" but not one on how to be a better shooter…
How about it Greentips how about a forum on MARKSMANSHIP?
It would be too frustrating unless the moderator could filter out all the posters disagreeing, flaming and bashing.
Myself I keep an open mind and try to ask questions without coming off as a prick. I have almost left CGN several times due to all the bull but find it valuable if you use some good filters. 
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
Look at what has happens when people talk about something as simple as the forward assist.
my bad........
Would the wind not play games with slower traveling rounds out past 300?
In general the barrel will have the same accuracy/precision potential.
What happens is that the lower MV, will allow for more wind affects, and the trajectory is more arced so any ranging and windage errors will be more pronounced the further you go. Also generally longer guns have larger optics. also when bullets go trans-sonic they can do strange things depending on atmospherics.
I have always wondered why there isn’t a single forum on “Marksmanship”? All kind of forums on the nuances of the mechanics of firearms and "Precision" but not one on how to be a better shooter…
How about it Greentips how about a forum on MARKSMANSHIP?
Marksmanship is about consistency, nothing more. The specific methods or techniques employed have little effect if their done consistently.
TDC
Bolivar
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
I don't know about that. I think that if you consistently use poor techniques you will consistently get poor results. (Pun intended).
I will agree that being consistent is important however. If you are all over the place on hold, body position, trigger pull, sight alignment you have little chance to do well from a marksmanship perspective.
Oops, this has f**k all to do with barrel length.
I will agree that being consistent is important however. If you are all over the place on hold, body position, trigger pull, sight alignment you have little chance to do well from a marksmanship perspective.
Oops, this has f**k all to do with barrel length.
Bolivar
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
You can also consistently use a poor shooting position, consistently yank the trigger, consistently have poor cheek weld/sight alignment.
Consistency is very important, I totally agree. You just have to be consistent in using good technique.
And both my ARs have a FA - not sure if that is degrading my shooting performance on not.
I ordered a 10.5 cause it looks cool and that is reason enough for me. As for the forward assist I agree that its pretty useless. I shoot ipsc and clearing malfuctions is a part of the game and I have never seen anybody beat their slide closed in a match.
Gunnerlove
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Vancouver Island
