short 18.5" barrel vs 22"

[1bigrn]

I know there are a few guys on this board who have built many rifles.

I'm wondering is there any major accuracy differences between the 18.5" vs 22" barrel. I know the 22" should the bullet fire a couple more fps out of the barrel. But real world, isthere any major difference in accuracy.

I'm not refering to the cut down 18.5, Im refering to factory barells.
thanks,

 

[Airborn_69]

M14 right?

 

[1bigrn]

yes

M14 right?

yes m-14

 

[Herk]

When I talked to Rick at the Calgary gun show this April he said something along the lines of "I've never shortened a rifle barrel not make it more accurate" or something along those lines. He said that the optimum bbl length for a .308 with a 1-10" twist was about 19 3/4".

So go ahead, chop that sucka down! You'll lose almost no velocity and your accuracy will probably improve.

 

[Airborn_69]

I know a guy who got his chopped (Mine was ok though) but he didn't like the groups he got (Could have been the ammo & the shooter also.) but he took off the 18.5'' & got a 22'' reinstalled.

 

[1bigrn]

19 3/4 optimium

When I talked to Rick at the Calgary gun show this April he said something along the lines of "I've never shortened a rifle barrel not make it more accurate" or something along those lines. He said that the optimum bbl length for a .308 with a 1-10" twist was about 19 3/4".

So go ahead, chop that sucka down! You'll lose almost no velocity and your accuracy will probably improve.

19 3/4 optimuim. Is that why most long distance sniper rifles have barrels in excess of 26"

Ultimately I figure a longer barrel would have more velocity and be somewhat more accurate. But at this poiont in real world there is no significant ddifference.
thanks

 

[45ACPKING]

i actually prefer the cutdown barrel over an 18.5" factory barrel such as a criterion..... i don't know if it makes a difference but the cut down barrel has a thicker diameter at the muzzle, possibly dampening barrel whip that much more.... but who knows.
My cut down USGI barrel performs wonderfully and still shoots as it did before being chopped...... sub MOA all day with 168 gr winnie silver tips and hornady Amax.
haven't put in on a chrony to compare velocity loss..... but i bet it's marginal

 

[Brutus]

Along those similar lines, I have a 'Tanker Garand' T-26 copy with a 18.5 inch barrel.
I also have a Polytech M-14S with it's factory 22 inch barrel.
Without a muzzlebrake the Tanker copy, certainly has more audible bark (308)
But with a Smith Enterprize muzzle brake, it really tames this down quite a bit.
At three hudred yards and closer I cannot tell very much difference in accuracy. Not preceived recoil difference, just a little more muzzle rise.
This is a little one sided though, as a Leupold 2.5 power scope, is mounted on a scout scope mount on the Tanker, & the Polytech is most often shot with it's issue iron sights. With good ammo for each rifle, the Tanker prints a bit better.
I have yet to wring them out at longer distances than 300 meters.
Some day, I should make a point of doing exactly this.

Cheers........
EDIT: The 26 inch pipes are to maintain super-sonic bullet speeds at long distances.
Such as 1000 yards. Maintain the velocity, maintain the accuracy.
Have a long look at full bore target rifles and "F" class scoped precision rifles. Long barrels are popular, depending on cartridge selection.

 

[Northman999]

When I talked to Rick at the Calgary gun show this April he said something along the lines of "I've never shortened a rifle barrel not make it more accurate" or something along those lines. He said that the optimum bbl length for a .308 with a 1-10" twist was about 19 3/4".

So go ahead, chop that sucka down! You'll lose almost no velocity and your accuracy will probably improve.

You WILL lose velocity, no questions. I've chronied 22" and 19" barrels with exactly the same loads, from the same batch of handloads and you're looking at 225 fps difference. Now, I'm not saying that this will make your gun null and void or anything (I've sent more game piling into the ground with a 19" bbl 308 than any other rifle, including a couple of really big moose), but just lets be honest. You cut your barrel, you cut your velocity, period.