Barrell Length
- Thread starter jperos
- Start date
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Pros and cons could be made for either case, but luckily life is full of choices, and we can both use whatever we deem to be best!
Not only do I happen to deal in barrels, I happen to do a great deal of long distance competitive shooting.
Fact: Assuming every given length barrel from a given manufacturer shot exacly the same (and lord knows, they DON'T!) opting for one that is 4" shorter/longer will not make a pinch of coon $hit worth of difference to its accuracy. The different barrel lengths are for contolability. Short barrel are faster to aim off-hand quickly, longer barrels tend to be easier to hold in the aim.
greater length equals greater velocity - to a point - and if your particular load has an accurate node at the high end of velocity, well theoretically it may shoot better, but this is not the rule.
Barrel harmonics DOES influence all barrels, and the shorter a barrel, the stiffer it tends to be. The harmonic effects are proportional to the square of the barrel length,
but it is the way it resonates is what makes the difference. Short barrels can vibrate at a frequency that produces poor accuracy and so can long barrels.
I would argue that opting for increased barrel thickness will be a better strategy to fend against harmonic effect and increase accuracy with all else being equal.
Fact remains, there is so much variation in factory barrels from gun-to-gun and brand-to-brand that I would worry more about just fining one that shoots well.
Fact: Assuming every given length barrel from a given manufacturer shot exacly the same (and lord knows, they DON'T!) opting for one that is 4" shorter/longer will not make a pinch of coon $hit worth of difference to its accuracy. The different barrel lengths are for contolability. Short barrel are faster to aim off-hand quickly, longer barrels tend to be easier to hold in the aim.
greater length equals greater velocity - to a point - and if your particular load has an accurate node at the high end of velocity, well theoretically it may shoot better, but this is not the rule.
Barrel harmonics DOES influence all barrels, and the shorter a barrel, the stiffer it tends to be. The harmonic effects are proportional to the square of the barrel length,
but it is the way it resonates is what makes the difference. Short barrels can vibrate at a frequency that produces poor accuracy and so can long barrels.
I would argue that opting for increased barrel thickness will be a better strategy to fend against harmonic effect and increase accuracy with all else being equal.
Fact remains, there is so much variation in factory barrels from gun-to-gun and brand-to-brand that I would worry more about just fining one that shoots well.
Jordan Smith
CGN Ultra frequent flyer
- Location
- Calgary, AB
Long barrels tend to be easier to hold steady while swinging through a moving target, as well.
