how much does accuracy suffer as the barrel length shortens on a lever rifle?

[SHELL SHUCKER]

Accuracy in the field with a very short barrel carbine is poor for two reasons, short sight radius and bad handling characteristics. Muzzle light rifles are difficult to hold steady from field positions. I have two .44 magnum carbines. Put receiver sights on both, to improve the sight radius and precision of aiming. The 16" barrel Rossi and the 20" barrel Chiappa both shoot similar groups when rested on a solid bench rest. But I can shoot much better with the longer barrel from kneeling, offhand, or with an improvised rest. I only carry the short barrel carbine for "bear repellent" and would only use it at very close range anyway. So it's OK for that purpose. But for hunting the longer barrel carbine is far superior.

I've found the Rossi Ranch Hand shorties to be sweet shootin' out to 100 yds. I zeroed my .45 Colt version at 75 yds. & she prints tight if I do my part.
I fitted an XS rear and Marbles front on mine with gives a very workable sight radius of 13 7/8" which beats out the 16" barreled Rossi & is dang close to the 20" barreled units with their issue irons.


Hard to beat a 300+ gr hardcast boolit at 1500 fps on the big stuff inside 80 yds on shoulder shots. Ferget trying to recover yer boolit though, as it be usually a pass through.

Long range bombing is big fun with these buggers, just gotta shoot hardcast a fair bit to get dialed in and to save on costs.

 

[Johnn Peterson]

I've found the Rossi Ranch Hand shorties to be sweet shootin' out to 100 yds. I zeroed my .45 Colt version at 75 yds. & she prints tight if I do my part.
I fitted an XS rear and Marbles front on mine with gives a very workable sight radius of 13 7/8" which beats out the 16" barreled Rossi & is dang close to the 20" barreled units with their issue irons.
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Hard to beat a 300+ gr hardcast boolit at 1500 fps on the big stuff inside 80 yds on shoulder shots. Ferget trying to recover yer boolit though, as it be usually a pass through.

Long range bombing is big fun with these buggers, just gotta shoot hardcast a fair bit to get dialed in and to save on costs.

I guess where the longer barrel helps accuracy wise is in the benefit a longer sight picture offers.

 

[SHELL SHUCKER]

I guess where the longer barrel helps accuracy wise is in the benefit a longer sight picture offers.

Fer me, the 24 & 26" barreled 92's & 94's are best for offhand shootin', but the little guys can hold their own easy enough in the bush.
A 26" tubed 94 has the best "hang" for me fer stand-up shootin'.