16 vs 20 inch Barrel Accuracy

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-Doug-

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I have heard mixed view points on accuracy differences between a 16 and 20” barrel.
Some people have said the 16” is stiffer and more accurate, others have said within 100 yards they are the same but when you get out to 200+ the 20” stabilizes the bullet better.

What’s everyone’s thoughts.
 
Have seen a studie just about this. Done by Vudoo if I remember correctly. Basically, no accuracy difference 12" to 24" (on a scoped rifle) with an open sight rifle the sights radius is important.
 
For rimfire, barrel length will not determine accuracy... it can definitely affect velocity

Other issues like quality of barrel, chamber vs ammo will matter a lot more.

Lots of guys shooting the 16" CZ packages and doing just fine.

if you have more questions, pm or email

Jerry
 
-Doug- said:
I have heard mixed view points on accuracy differences between a 16 and 20” barrel.
Some people have said the 16” is stiffer and more accurate, others have said within 100 yards they are the same but when you get out to 200+ the 20” stabilizes the bullet better.

What’s everyone’s thoughts.
Click to expand...

You raise several points:

Stiffer = more accurate - is not always so - read up why Long Range shooters preferred the lighter barrel No. 1 LE versus the heavier No. 4 LE barrel - is old school - maybe modern thinking is different.

Stablize - if rifling is cut true, then basically bullet has same rotation-for-distance-travelled at first inch of movement, no matter how long barrel. But "bullet stability" may also be a function of velocity - so that is what might be seen - result of velocity - the "rpm's" of the bullet are created by both rate of twist and velocity.

Stiff - I doubt has much to do with length - is also about diameter, I suspect. I have an older school Schultz and Larsen Model 60 - about 1" diameter barrel or more - 26" long barrel - single shot target .22. Can read World and Olympics competition results - multiple shooters delivering under .5" 10 shot groups - at 50 meters - with no scope and no artificial supports. Must have been "stiff enough".
 
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Whether a barrel is 16" or 20" is not a factor in its accuracy. As Jerry notes above, individual bore and chamber quality will have the greatest influence in accuracy potential.

The most important factor in accuracy (assuming barrels of equal potential) is always the ammo. Too often shooters get a rifle assuming that it will make the ammo shoot well. It doesn't work that way. There's no substitute for finding and using the most suitable ammo for a particular barrel.
 
If we are talking 22lr, you can find several tests on the same barrel where they chrony and shorten it and repeat, that show that a 22lr gets its best velocity at about 16 inches. So that shouldn't be a factor. I can tell you from experience that the 16 inch barrels have more noise to them than a 18 or 20 which can get annoying.

Also certain European models like cz in particular have 1 thou tighter bore than American stuff. Or so they seem to think over on rimfire central. This tighter bore means heigher volocitys. That ive personally seen. Also tight chambers generally shoot faster.
 
-Doug- said:
I have heard mixed view points on accuracy differences between a 16 and 20” barrel.....
Click to expand...

My two bits:

For mechanical accuracy of the rifle, as stated above if all other things are equal then there will be no significant difference.

For shooter accuracy, I think most people find a heavier / longer barrel easier to shoot more accurately from a rest. If unsupported, some find lighter/shorter easier to shoot more accurately, and some the opposite.

Other factors: Longer barrels are quieter for sure. And, beyond 16" your preferred ammunition MAY slow down a small amount (depends on the ammunition), which may or may not be important to you.
 
My rimfires are all in the $400-600 price range and are bolts (one lever). 16.25"- 22" bbls
I usually shoot them inside of 75yrds and find they are similarly accurate but have found that ammo type makes a difference(as some have already mentioned).
Depending on what I what to do, I will use certain ammo for the task. eg. if just plinking I will take my 16.25" Henry and use the cheapest ammo in my stash. If I'm in the mood for tight groups I'll shoot my 22" S&L with CCI SV's..... which I'm thrilled that it likes especially since the ammo is so readily avail and "cheap to buy".
The same CCI SV's shoots almost as good in my 20" Savage TR but is usually gets a steady diet of CCI Blazers (because I have a few bricks of them)
 
prairie lover said:
If we are talking 22lr, you can find several tests on the same barrel where they chrony and shorten it and repeat, that show that a 22lr gets its best velocity at about 16 inches. So that shouldn't be a factor. I can tell you from experience that the 16 inch barrels have more noise to them than a 18 or 20 which can get annoying.

Also certain European models like cz in particular have 1 thou tighter bore than American stuff. Or so they seem to think over on rimfire central. This tighter bore means heigher volocitys. That ive personally seen. Also tight chambers generally shoot faster.
Click to expand...

Shorter barrels are indeed louder. Shorter barrels are also usually lighter and this can be a factor in rifle stability and balance, factors that should be taken into account when deciding on barrel length.

It's a fact that CZ rifles are made to CIP specifications. Mass produced North American-made firearms are typically made to SAAMI specifications.




CIP bore diameter specs are indeed smaller than those for SAAMI. That in itself is not a guarantee of faster MVs in general or in all barrels. Part of the problem is that individual bore diameters can vary through the length of the bore. Unless it is gauged, no one can really know what the bore diameter of a barrel is and how it changes from one end to the other.

Bore characteristics, somewhat like fingerprints, can vary between bores made by the same manufacturer and this can result in different barrels of the exact same length having very different MVs with the same lots of ammo. In other words, two barrels of the same length may produce different MVs.

The chamber dimensions will not have a significant impact on muzzle velocities. What's more important is having a well-finished chamber and leade, something that is not always the case in mass produced rifles such as CZs.
 
Longer barrels in rimfire rifles require much better form for shooting good groups. Most dedicated target rifles have long barrels in rimfire. Most meaning 95+%. Long rimfire barrels are slower in velocity in comparison to shorter as the powder is usually completely burned in 16 or less, anything beyond slows the projectile, unlike centerfire rifles where longer barrels increase velocity
 
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