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  #1  
Old 08-30-2014, 11:54 PM
barretcreek barretcreek is offline
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Default How much difference does barrel length make

In overbore cartridges such as .17 Rem. and .204 Ruger is there any difference in trajectories between 22" and 26" barrels? Has anyone cut down a tube and wished they hadn't because it just didn't have the reach any more?
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Old 08-31-2014, 12:48 AM
Chickenthief Chickenthief is offline
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It is about speed and for the 17 rem the difference is @ 180fps and for the 204 @ 120fps.

That "small" amount is only really wisible beyond 300-350yds

17 Rem sighted on at 300 yds is +-3" to 345yds in 26" and +-3½" to 345yds in 22"
So the point blank circle went from 6" to 7"

204 Ruger sighted on at 300 yds is +-3.25" to 345yds in 26" and +-3.75" in 22"
Here the point blank circle went from 6½" to 7½"

Did it help?

Last edited by Chickenthief; 08-31-2014 at 12:50 AM.
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Old 08-31-2014, 03:51 AM
Tim Anderson Tim Anderson is offline
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For me and killing coyotes its all about speed that's what gets the results. 130 fps less is just that and even worse at longer ranges.
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Old 08-31-2014, 05:49 AM
trotterlg trotterlg is offline
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The more powder in the cartridge the more barrel length makes a difference, it takes time to burn it up so you need the bullet to stay in the barrel longer, so you need a longer barrel to make the bullet go faster. Only way to make a bullet go faster is more pressure or more time it is being pushed. Remember, the powder also has weight, and the gasses it makes weigh the same as the powder does, so you not only have to move the bullet down the barrel but you have to move all the weight of the gasses also. This is not a real simple thing. Larry
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Old 08-31-2014, 05:52 AM
georgeld georgeld is offline
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Barrett:

This is not small cal of course but, fits the subject.
Rider and I went to the range Friday. I took three .38/.357's for kicks and the CEDm2 figuring he'd be shooting his b/p .40/70 and might like to get readings.

Since this is the subject, look these over. All the same loads from the same box. Cast 147gr SWC, 4.0gr Red Dot. These are my "plinker" loads (by the thousands)

NEF rifle .357 22" lo 1048--hi 1125
S&W K-38 6" 927 1063
S&W .38 snubby 1 1/2" 800.7 855.5

Considering the difference between 1 1/2" and 22" that's sure not a whole lot per inch. Rider did all the shooting and everyone made less than 3" group at 25yds, even the snubby, all with iron's. Pretty good shooting considering he'd never shot any of them before.

Since you asked, and this was handy I thought a few might be interested in seeing the results. Oh yeah, this is at 4700' alt too.
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Last edited by georgeld; 08-31-2014 at 05:58 AM. Reason: clean up a bit
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  #6  
Old 08-31-2014, 01:23 PM
Chickenthief Chickenthief is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by georgeld View Post
Barrett:

This is not small cal of course but, fits the subject.
Rider and I went to the range Friday. I took three .38/.357's for kicks and the CEDm2 figuring he'd be shooting his b/p .40/70 and might like to get readings.

Since this is the subject, look these over. All the same loads from the same box. Cast 147gr SWC, 4.0gr Red Dot. These are my "plinker" loads (by the thousands)

NEF rifle .357 22" lo 1048--hi 1125
S&W K-38 6" 927 1063
S&W .38 snubby 1 1/2" 800.7 855.5

Considering the difference between 1 1/2" and 22" that's sure not a whole lot per inch. Rider did all the shooting and everyone made less than 3" group at 25yds, even the snubby, all with iron's. Pretty good shooting considering he'd never shot any of them before.

Since you asked, and this was handy I thought a few might be interested in seeing the results. Oh yeah, this is at 4700' alt too.
Fair point, but then again you didnt load for the long barrel using slow powder now did you
Load a full case of optimum powder for the 22" and you will see that length matters.
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Old 08-31-2014, 07:09 PM
wally bennett wally bennett is offline
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Quote:
Originally Posted by Chickenthief View Post
Fair point, but then again you didnt load for the long barrel using slow powder now did you
Load a full case of optimum powder for the 22" and you will see that length matters.
Saw an article where somebody cut down a 17HMR barrel 1" at a time i think it was on Varmint ALLS..

I myself cut over 9" off a Anni 22LR barrel i use Eley subs that are supposed to be 1,085ft/sec but the most i got was 1,070ft/sec when i cut down the barrel from 23.1/2" to 14.1/4" i was getting 1.058ft/sec i had no loss of accuracy at all but my longest shots are about 85 yds.
I have also cut down a RUGER 77HMR to 17.5" i never measured it before but i think it was about 23.5" i still got 2,450ft/sec instead off 2.550ft/sec. Wally
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Old 08-31-2014, 07:58 PM
tred1956 tred1956 is offline
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Not sure if you have seen this. But might be just what you are looking for:

http://www.bullberry.com/204_ruger_velocities.html

Safe shooting
Doug
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  #9  
Old 08-31-2014, 09:53 PM
Alycidon Alycidon is offline
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In practise this ballistic difference is franky minimal but if you are having to carry the rifle especially if you also have a sound moderator attached then a shorter barrel in my book is preferred. I suppose if I was 30 years younger then I would be far less bothered.

I was using a semi 22LR with 14 barrel and moderator 20 years ago, yes I lost a few fps but at the ranges I was shooting it at it made no real difference ballistically but handling it inside a 4x4 at night was massively improved.

My 20BR has no moderator and a 27 inch barrel designed to hold the bullet in long enough for a slow powder to fully burn. Thats a bench or truck gun, far to heavy to carry far.

A
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  #10  
Old 08-31-2014, 11:29 PM
Chuck Miller Chuck Miller is offline
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Default barrel length

Seems this topic gets kicked around all the time. Like 100-150fps is going to change something. Differences in barrels, powder lots, etc can account for that much of a difference. When your talking about that small of an amount of speed you can spend a lot of time chasing your tail. Most of us have had barrels that are fast as well as slow, shooting the same load with a spread of up to 100-150fps or more. My thoughts are that barrel length should be a function of what your going to use it for. If it's a carry gun then a rifle that is well balanced is going to be more desirable than one that is either too short or too long. Off the bench for colony varmints as long as possible so it can be shortened and re-chambered extending the life of that 350.00 pc of pipe, doesn't matter if it takes a fifth wheel to get it to the bench. Lots of off hand shots muzzle heavy is the ticket. I've seen numbers like 25-35fps per inch when you shorten them, that's not my experience, it can be all over the map. I have a Sako 20VT with a 21" barrel that is faster than a heavy barrel Rampro 20VT with a 25" barrel. Both rifles built by Kevin Weaver at the same time with the same reamer, barrels are 1-12. The Sako a smooth 125fps average faster with the same loads. Bullet slowing down? Bad barrel? Should I cut all my barrels to make them faster? For something that I will be hard pressed to tell a difference at the other end. Seems the new norm is 10-15fps per inch, depending on what someone's study shows. Don't worry, if you don't like one guys study another is right around the corner.

Last edited by Chuck Miller; 09-01-2014 at 05:46 PM.
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