Barrel length

[7mm-08]

I know barrel length affects velocity but does it also effect muzzleblast and felt recoil.

 

[Boomer]

Reduced barrel length = less weight = higher recoil velocity.

Muzzle blast will depend a great deal on what powders you shoot in what caliber. My 21" .375 Ultra has noticably more blast when I load with H-4831 rather than H-4350.

As to velocity this same rifle gives me the velocity you might expect from a .375 H&H with a 26" barrel.

 

[tiriaq]

All things being equal, a shorter barrel = more blast and a bit less velocity. The velocity loss is usually irrelevant for hunting purposes. Barrel length affects iron sight radius, balance and handling.

 

[jiminthecorner]

All my custom mauser bbl,s are 20" I've never noticed muzzle blast/felt recoil as a problem. Shorter bbl,s are also easier to manuver in tag alders!JITC

 

[SuperCub]

I have a 760 Carbine (18.5" bbl) in .308 that gives considerable blast and muzzle jump.








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[boonerbuck]

I don't think shorter barrel length always means lower velocity. At some point the gas is done expanding and barrel length starts to steal velocity.

Take a peak at this experiment with the 204 Ruger.

http://www.bullberry.com/204Rugerdata.html

 

[Levi Garrett]

Longer barrel will give more velocity , how much depends on caliber and how much of an increase in length Oh and for sure an increase in noise with shorter barrels
Frank

 

[NAA]

Within practical ranges I doubt a deer would know the difference if he was shot by a rifle with a 18 1/2" or 26" barrel. So long as the rifleman did his part.

 

[stubblejumper]

Within practical ranges I doubt a deer would know the difference if he was shot by a rifle with a 18 1/2" or 26" barrel.

That depends on what you consider practical ranges.With some cartridges that much of a difference in barrel length will add up to between 200 and 300fps.At longer ranges,which I still consider practical,that extra 200fps to 300fps could mean the difference between a clean hit and a marginal hit due to bullet drop or wind drift.Now if your shooting is always at 200 yards or less,there will be no noticeable difference.

 

[Riflechair]

rule of thumb
For most centrefire catridges with a bullet dia of .284" + one inch of barrel length = 100 fps muzzle velocity.

So if you have a 26" barrel and you cut her down to 22" then you just lost in the ball park of 400 fps muzzle velocity (guestimate).

Barrel length is quite important for long range shooting as you can see. Shorter barrels are not effcient at burning propellant and energy is lost as powder burns once it exits the barrel.

Longer barrels allow the propelant to burn longer as the bullet makes its way down the tube (gaining velocity) and less powder is wasted.

 

[Mauser98]

rule of thumb
For most centrefire catridges with a bullet dia of .284" + one inch of barrel length = 100 fps muzzle velocity.

That's way too big a generalization.

I might agree with that statement on a super over-bore cartridge(.30-378) but on my .35 Whelen, I'll bet it's more like 25-50 fps/inch.

 

[Levi Garrett]

Agree less than 50 fps normal per inch
Frank

 

[bisonhd]

You will get less muzzle blast and less felt recoil with a longer barrel. Velocity increase will vary from gun to gun, powder to powder, bullet to bullet, etc.etc.etc.

 

[stubblejumper]

Actually my experiences have been,that depending on the cartridge,the velocity can vary from 20fps to 50fps per inch.Cartridges like the 308win are much less effected than the huge cased cartridges like the ultramags.

 

[NAA]

That depends on what you consider practical ranges.With some cartridges that much of a difference in barrel length will add up to between 200 and 300fps.At longer ranges,which I still consider practical,that extra 200fps to 300fps could mean the difference between a clean hit and a marginal hit due to bullet drop or wind drift.Now if your shooting is always at 200 yards or less,there will be no noticeable difference.

Sigh...

Guess I should've specified... my bet is most game taken with a rifle is taken inside 200 yards.... Probably most within 100 yards or less... so there's real no schmick of difference between an 18 1/2" - 26" barrel.

But I'm sure you longer [practical] range fellas can benefit from the longer pipes...

 

[stubblejumper]

Guess I should've specified... my bet is most game taken with a rifle is taken inside 200 yards.... Probably most within 100 yards or less...

I some areas yes,in other areas no.Where I hunt bears almost all shots are taken at less than 100 yards,where I hunt deer in the open fields,many shots are longer than 200 yards,where I hunt pronghorn,the majority of shots are taken at over 200 yards.

 

[280_ACKLEY]

A good rule of thumb is 35-50fps / inch of bbl..... like Stubblejumper said.

 

[ratherbefishin]

wouldn't the length of barrel depend on how long it took to reach maximum velocity-and after that friction would decrease the velocity?
I read a report where they chrono's 22 lr bullets and found that the maximum velocity was reached in a 16'' barrel and after that the velocity began to drop

 

[Levi Garrett]

Thats a rimfire you see the primer is not hit in the center of the case, and sends a lateral vibration forward reducing velocity.
Frank

 

[boonerbuck]

wouldn't the length of barrel depend on how long it took to reach maximum velocity-and after that friction would decrease the velocity?
I read a report where they chrono's 22 lr bullets and found that the maximum velocity was reached in a 16'' barrel and after that the velocity began to drop

I posted a link earlier in this thread that proves just that. Seems people's assumptions are better than actual tests though.

Hey Levi, you forgot to add that centre fire gives it a forward vibration and actually gives it a push to increase velocity.