Question for the rimfire barrel length gurus

I see the experts have landed ;). Nothing there in that lengthy dissertation to explain why my longer barrels shoot tighter than my shorter ones. I didn't say a word about time in the bore. It is my personal belief that the longer barrel length gives the bullet a little more stability through extended spin- which would have been apparent if the original post had been read.

FWIW, 24" is the optimal barrel length for me and my cartridge choices, when it comes to accuracy. Again, Your Mileage May Vary.

Regards,

Doc Sharptail
 
Extended spin? How exactly do you figure anyone would read that other than more time in the bore? What I said and what you said are the exact same thing. Longer time in the bore, spinning longer by the rifling, makes no difference. It's not as though the rifling does a better and better job of spinning it the longer it is under the influence of the rifling. Yet, that is exactly what you're saying. It doesn't matter how much time is spent spinning in the rifling. It doesn't spin "better" as you're suggesting. Doesn't work that way. The rifling does its job very quickly, and gets the bullet up to speed very quickly, and any time longer than that is superfluous and irrelevent. A longer barrel doesn't influence the bullet at all in the way you think it does. Bullet stabilization is a function of its RPM, and it doesn't matter how long the rifling is spinning it. A bullet that leaves a 2" barrel at 1000 ft/s will be spinning at EXACTLY the same RPM as a bullet that leaves a 30" barrel at 1000 ft/s if they both have the same twist ratio, and the bullet will be equally stable from each one. One won't be spinning "better" than the other.

I'm telling you, as will anyone else, the reason(s) for better accuracy lie elsewhere. You are *not* seeing better accuracy because your barrel is longer. You are seeing better accuracy for any number of combinations of any number of other reasons. But the longer barrel and resultant longer rifling is definitely not why. If you honestly want anyone to explain all the other possible reasons for gaining accuracy, heh, well, that's fine. It's a very long list.
 
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heh, you don't have to believe me, there's tons of information out there about bullet stabilization. And barrel length has nothing to do with it. If you honestly think the only reason your rifles with 24" barrels are as accurate as they are simply because the barrel is 24" long, well, you need your head examined. There is an incredible list of things that you can go over to see why one rifle is more accurate than another. Why you're choosing to ignore all those things is beyond me. And it's quite funny, actually.
 
Grouseman, I can only answer this because I have in amongst my few books:
"Understanding Firearms Ballistics" that I once picked up in New Orleans on sale.
Please read this quote, from Chapter 11 on barrels;

The velocity of a 22 long rifle rimfire bullet will slow at about 16 to 18 inches, dependant upon the ammo type and firearm.
At 16 inches there is gas expansion about 37 times its original volume, The 22 has a tiny chamber, and this gas expansion is extended to 44 inches, if the barrel is increased to 19 inches.The 22 short case has an even smaller chamber, and an even higher expansion ratio in the same barrel length.
Years ago testing, by an Eric Hoffman of Hoffman Arms Co. showed an 18 inch barrel length gave the best velocity for the .22 LR cartridge.
An interesting side note: The very high velocity of 4,000 fps is hard to exceed in a .22 calibre regardless of powder charge, because of the barrel's resistance (friction) to the movement of both the bullet and the gas.
Larger centrefires have a slightly higher limit.
The barrel should have nothing in it except the bullet and the push of expanding gas.
The combustion of the powder should be in the cartridge case, not the barrel.
That is why the statement of longer barrel as best, because they let all the powder burn is wrong.
Barrel length are best at lengths (if practical) that lets the gas expansion, be most efficient. As stated combustion is best in the cartridge.
The requirement for longer barrels was stronger in black powder days than it is with modern powders. Today, the need for longer barrel for gas expansion is a fact, but in earlier times this need included time for proper burning.
Occassionally this persuades people in the present time to beleive they need a barrel much longer than is required.

Unquote.......
PS This quote refers to 22 long rifle most specifically.

Cheers
 
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