barrel length- how long is too long?
- Thread starter mtwood24
- Start date
Jack Roberts
Moderator - Deceased
Really long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
muskrat30
New member
I like 22" & 20" for most hunting, the longest I have is 24". Some cartridges are more suited to longer barrels, to get the most out of the customary loading. Like a 300 Win mag with a 20" barrel wouldn't make as much sense as say a 308.
At least with a longer barrel one always has the option of removing a few inches.
At least with a longer barrel one always has the option of removing a few inches.
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: Jack RobertsReally long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Jack RobertsReally long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
Tim Neitzke
New member
Originally Posted By: mtwood24I was wondering if there is such a thing of having too long of a barrel? how can a longer barrel be detrimental to accuracy and velocity?
It would be better if you told everyone what your plans are,if you know.
It would be better if you told everyone what your plans are,if you know.
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Jack RobertsReally long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
PB shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster Unertl scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ship's crew throwing stuff overboard from a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line Unertl scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
After the weight change - the "Top" scope went from the big, beautiful Unertl's (that are still used in 1,000 benchrest), to the "Weaver" with conversion eye pieces (gag), because the Weaver was the lightest scope around.
After a few years, Leupold developed an OK benchrest scope - and it is still just OK.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
And Jack don't know "Jack" about .220 Swift's, either
.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
PB shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster Unertl scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ship's crew throwing stuff overboard from a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line Unertl scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
After the weight change - the "Top" scope went from the big, beautiful Unertl's (that are still used in 1,000 benchrest), to the "Weaver" with conversion eye pieces (gag), because the Weaver was the lightest scope around.
After a few years, Leupold developed an OK benchrest scope - and it is still just OK.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
And Jack don't know "Jack" about .220 Swift's, either
.
Last edited:
willy1947
Active member
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Jack RobertsReally long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
BP shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ships crew throwing stuff off of a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
.
+1
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
BP shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ships crew throwing stuff off of a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
.
+1
JerrySchmitt
New member
Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: pahntr760Originally Posted By: CatShooterOriginally Posted By: Jack RobertsReally long barrels are generally less accurate because they are less stiff and whip more.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
PB shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ships crew throwing stuff off of a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
And Jack don't know "Jack" about .220 Swift's either
.
.
Good thing you chimed in. I was about to get out the hack saw and chop all my rifles down.
I have two 6 MM BR rifles. One has a 20 inch barrel and the other has a 26 inch barrel. Both will shoot in the twos with occasional groups in the ones. One is a fast twist for heavy bullets and one is a slow twist for lighter bullets. At 200 yards there isn't much difference. At 1000 yards it's a whole different story.
40 inch barrels are too long. Fifteen inch barrels are two short.
The most accurate barrels are generally around 20-21 inches with real heavy ones being longer. But, you give up velocity with that short a barrel. You have to find a compromise between accuracy and velocity.
Jack
So I guess that is why the 1,000 yard benchrest rifles have 30" barrels... Huh?
.
Is there some validity to them liking the MTU and heavier contours? Is it the "whip" or something like that driving them to the longer, heavier tubes? Or is it simply the weight translating to more steady platform?
I'm not trying to be a SA, trying to learn...
What Jack said was not true - Benchrest is divided into two categories.
PB shooters (PB = point blank) shoot at 100 and 200 yards.
LR (should be obvious) shoot at 600 and 1,000 yards.
The PB guys used to shoot 26" barrels and bigassed monster scopes - and some of the records shot with these 26" barrels (5 shots in 0.009") still stand 40 years later.
Then the national Benchrest committees decided to lower the class weight limits to 10.5 pounds.
It was like a ships crew throwing stuff off of a sinking ship. There was a rush to lighten the guns to meet the new 10.5 pound weight limit, so everything that could be lightened, was... and barrels were chopped. There was a switch from the bigassed top of the line scopes, to smaller, inferior scopes because they were lighter... and stocks started being made of hollow fiberglass.
After 40 years, the quality of the BR scopes is still not as good as they were before the weight change.
So... the short barrels for benchrest rifles were NOT because they were more accurate - it was because they were much lighter.
Palma and 1,000 benchrest rifles have 30" and longer barrels...
... and Jack don't know "Jack" about benchrest shooting.
And Jack don't know "Jack" about .220 Swift's either
.
.
Good thing you chimed in. I was about to get out the hack saw and chop all my rifles down.
I have two 6 MM BR rifles. One has a 20 inch barrel and the other has a 26 inch barrel. Both will shoot in the twos with occasional groups in the ones. One is a fast twist for heavy bullets and one is a slow twist for lighter bullets. At 200 yards there isn't much difference. At 1000 yards it's a whole different story.
40 inch barrels are too long. Fifteen inch barrels are two short.
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: bfr457015" barrels work great for me. That is what most of my guns are. Just have to watch the cal of the bullet to be used.
Hey Jerry...
Wouldn'tcha know it. There is always one guy in every crowd
Hey Jerry...
Wouldn'tcha know it. There is always one guy in every crowd
CatShooter
New member
Originally Posted By: muskrat30 I wouldn't go anywhere near a 30" barrel on a hunting gun, even for a strapping young lad. If you want to go long I'd consider a 24", 26" at the most. JMHO of course.
You obviously missed something in the OP's information - he is building a long range varmint rifle, not a "hunting" rifle.
24" is average for a deer rifle, 26" is average for a midweight varmint rifle - the long range rifles start at ~28" and grow from there... and run 15 pounds and up.
.
.
You obviously missed something in the OP's information - he is building a long range varmint rifle, not a "hunting" rifle.
24" is average for a deer rifle, 26" is average for a midweight varmint rifle - the long range rifles start at ~28" and grow from there... and run 15 pounds and up.
.
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CAFR
New member
Accuracy is probably the most important component of the overall picture, but velocity and energy are greatly affected by barrel length. Many calibers require at least 24" to achieve a complete powder burn. If you are not burning 85% of your powder in the barrel, you might as well be shooting a smaller caliber and saving some money. Why feed $1.50 ammo to an 18" .300WM when you can get the same performance from an 18" .308? Most magnum rifles perform best with 26" or longer barrel. A .308 burns all its powder in 18" or less, depending on the powder's rate of burn. A longer barrel on a .308 will provide higher velocities until you reach a length in which the additional friction caused by the bullet travel after complete burn overcomes the advantage of pressure.
EJ Reichenbach
New member
Originally Posted By: mtwood24Great info. I am building a 6x284 and we shoot/ hunt in some big open hilly country. I am young and don't care if I pack around a 10-13 pound gun. I was looking at getting a McGowen 30" varmint contour to put on my savage action. Just looking for every advantage I can get!
Thats an awsome caliber, I had Snowy Mtn Rifles up in Missoula build me a 223 wssm with one of Dan's barrels from up in Plains, MT (Lilja barrel). It's a great shooter when I sort and weigh my brass. I dont mind setting up on a prairie dog town but last year I took it coyote hunting a few days through knee deep snow and it sucked, the gun was about 16lbs with my bipod on it. Hope this helps.
Thats an awsome caliber, I had Snowy Mtn Rifles up in Missoula build me a 223 wssm with one of Dan's barrels from up in Plains, MT (Lilja barrel). It's a great shooter when I sort and weigh my brass. I dont mind setting up on a prairie dog town but last year I took it coyote hunting a few days through knee deep snow and it sucked, the gun was about 16lbs with my bipod on it. Hope this helps.
I'd stick with the 24-26" barrels. They are stiff enough to give good accuracy and still be light enough for you to carry. The longer barrels might give a little more velocity and the guys shooting the .308's in the Palma Matches need all the speed they can get. Another reason they like the longer barrels, is that it gives them a longer sight radius when using iron sights. I don't think any longer barrel will give you any measureable advantage. Good Luck.
Steve
Steve