Barrel Length

Elvis · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:52 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

thanks MacD now my head hurts....

PaulS · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 4:59 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

I thought it was illegal to own a rifle with a barrel shorter than 16 inches....... so what are they going to do with a 10" rifle barrel?

Suzanne · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 5:16 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Peace pipe !! Very Happy

Suz

chambered221 · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 6:46 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Slim, don't know if I can completely agree with the article you've posted !!!

It's hard for me to believe that cutting 6 inches off a barrel and no resulting loss of velocity. I can see lighter bullets and faster powder having less affect but should still see some loss.
Before I'd accept this I would want to see more data on a bigger control and the experiment done across more cartridges.

As for the shorter barrels being more accurate ......... that is more of a issue that deals with harmonics.
The link TRBLSHTR posted shows this in the way the accuracy comes and goes as the length is shortened.

Some years back I read an article on a gunsmith that was known for building some very impressive shooting rifles. When questioned about barrel length his response was rather odd. He stated that each individual barrel tells him were it should be cut. (he had a method for this) By cutting a barrel to a specific length you take the chance of ruining a good barrel.

Grumulkin · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 7:50 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Aloysius wrote:

Grumulkin, were you riding that bike that was hit by that crossing animal? Smile

I don't realy know a Contender that good, but I own a Dumoulin in .375 H&H and there is no way I would put such a round in a handgun unless it was loaded very reduced. I too sometimes reload it till the energy-level of a .44 RM (with handgunpowder and a 250 gr Sierra bullet), but for a full load I have the greatest respect.

Actually, I was riding a bicycle one time and hit a deer; a feat not too many have pulled off. It kind of hurt.

As for the 375 H&H Magnum handgun; the loads aren't reduced, it's very accurate and the recoil isn't as bad as you might think. With the brake, the recoil is similar to my 444 Marlin handgun without a brake and my braked 500 S&W Magnum is a bit worse.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:00 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Elvis, don't shorten the barrel on your .270 just yet. If it works for you, I wouldn't change it.

slimjim · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 8:01 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

PaulS wrote:

so what are they going to do with a 10" rifle barrel?

Make a small pry bar or a wisk broom handle out of it.

Pumpkinslinger · Posted: Fri Nov 18, 2011 10:29 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Short barrelled rifles aren't illegal, you just have to pay that special tax on them.

en.wikipedia.org/wiki/...eled_rifle

Elvis · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 1:44 am Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

too true slimjim thats why shes stayed the same.

Ominivision1 · Posted: Sat Nov 19, 2011 4:45 am Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Interesting read on barrels.

www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm

slimjim · Posted: Sun Nov 20, 2011 8:37 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Thanks, OV1. Lots of good data that shows the change in velocity per length of barrel varies from cartridge to cartridge. With right combination of bullet and powder, a shorter barrel is not a significant change.

stovepipe · Posted: Tue Nov 22, 2011 4:48 pm Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

Yup- depends on the load. I aint chopping my 300's 24" tube, wanna go bigger actually. My 308 already has a stubby 20" it came with. And how many Barrets or AI's ya see with and 18" tube? None. Ya wanna go big ya gotta go long in most cases. I'm a little leary of a big pill in a short tune anyways just dont seem right from a stability stand. The XM2010 has a 24" tube too so...untill that one come with an 18" tube I aint sold on all this short stuff in magnum calibers. Goign shoter might not hurt much but add some and see if that perks things up a lil....meh...just my 02.

slimjim · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 5:40 am Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

stovey, the SWAT article supports the rifle combination you already have. 20" on the .308 and they started loosing velocity at 24" on the 300WM. Depending on the powder and bullet combination, longer is better in both cases.

stovepipe · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:15 am Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

I like shorty tubes, very cool. Esp in shotty's. I'm getting into 20-21" tubed pop guns, love the way they snap shoot and point. Dont like long barrels for swinging- the old addage is bunk, at least for me. And, if it slows the string down due to a shorter tube the pattern will be denser. Barrel lentgh on a shotty IMO is better shorter. Check out the SARPA line-up. Turkish made tanks, DIRT cheap. A 20" tube just gets me into my local trap range (with a ton of stink eye) and I cant wait to bust some handi-cap back fence doubles with a 20" pump.

stovepipe · Posted: Wed Nov 23, 2011 8:16 am Post subject: Re: Barrel Length

And, in case ya aint seen our new Army sniper, they finally saw the light and went to the 300wm.