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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.

[QUOTE="CAFR, post: 2277029, member: 31886"] 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. [/QUOTE]

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