Barrel stiffness plays a big role here as well. There's a reason that shorter bull barrels are often preferred for accuracy over super long pencil barrels. A pencil will be lighter and handier to carry, but a heavier barrel with less flex you need to worry less about barrel harmonics during the shot. So everyone asking for crazy long barrels thinking that'll make their gun more accurate is also hurting themselves that way, because a longer barrel of the same thickness is going to flex more.
It also helps with heat which can shift impact points. A heavier barrel and certain materials won't heat up as fast as a long thing barrel. If you look at most of the ultra accurate custom bench guns they are running heavy short barrels, not long ones. And they are using hand loads tailored that specific rifle. In reality though barrel harmonics shouldn't make a rifle less accurate. It just changes the initial impact point. In theory the barrel should flex the same amount with every shot so accuracy should be the same from shot to shot. If it isn't it normally comes down to inconsistant ammo, a bedding issue, heat or some combination of those.
I have a AR14.5 BCM pencil barrel that shoots as accurate and sometimes more accurate than heavy and longer barrels I've tried. Even after I get that barrel scalding hot, it still is a tack driver. When I'm shooting competitions where I'll be shooting standing I prefer lighter barrels. My Remington 700 24 in hunting barrel is just as accurate as my Remington 700 18in heavy barrel. I've tried heavy barrels, standard, carbon fiber, cheap and expensive and my opinion is it's whatever works best for the individual and what it will be used for. Regardless of the gun or barrel I'll find a way to shoot it accurate, as long as the sights don't keep moving like on my Mini-14.
Something I learned from archery: when we have an arrow that has too flexible of a spine, we can cut it shorter and that will make the arrow behave as if it were more stiff. The longer a tube is, whether it be a carbon arrow or a stainless match grade rifle barrel, the more opportunity it has to flex and affect harmonics. A slightly shorter, thicker barrel will have less barrel whip as the cartridge fires and typically have better harmonics. Of course there are exceptions and there are some long barrels that are even fairly thin that shoot pretty accurate, but that is probably because the harmonics are consistent, and that means while the barrel is whipping around a little bit more the bullet leaves the barrel when it is in the same spot every time.
A shorter barrel of same outside diameter will be more accurate than a longer barrel given that both can fully burn their powder charge. Shorter but same diameter barrels will be much stiffer compared to their longer counterparts and that would help with accuracy since your barrel will go up and down less
However if you are using consistent ammo the barrel should flex the same amount for every shot so it really shouldn't matter. A stiffer barrel would be more forgiving of this though. I would say most people don't shoot well enough to notice a difference and chances are they blaming the barrel for some other issue.
longer barrel helps to increase velocity if i recall correctly this is the primary reason for having a long barrel, having a heavy barrel (HBAR) would allow for less barrel whip and slower accuracy decrease when barrel starts to warm up.
Up to a point they will. That is why you want enough length to burn all the powder. Too long of a barrel will actually start to decrease velocity. There are many reasons for different length barrels that have nothing to do with accuracy or ballistics. Sight radius, heat build up, weight, balance ect. Barrel length can have an affect on how the gun feels in your hand, how it aims, how it holds, how it swings, how easy or hard it is to carry. Some of these are very important with shotguns.
I have this discussion all the time. Actual capability of the gun vs shoot ability. Lots of things make the easier to shoot accurately but really don't effect the inherent accuracy. Thanks for another great video.
Another fine video gentlemen, thanks for the concise and well articulated reasoning. On the .22 rimfire, not that you need my verification in any way, but chronographing different length barrels has shown exactly that barrels longer than a 16" rifle we tested didn't show any gains in velocity with standard match ammo. There might have been some differences with the velocity of Stingers that I recall, but can't verify that and it might be just an old guy misremembering yet again! :) Thanks again and stay well folks.
great video guys for 3 reasons: 1) you share talking equally and never talk over the other guy 2) your videos are generally 4 to 5 mins. in length 3) most important you get to the point asap
"Yeah, velocity is going to give you a flatter trajectory, in most cases...." No, in EVERY case (unless the bullet disintegrates or tumbles). Newtonian physics. Since we are here anyway: just because the powder BURN may be over at x inches, it doesn't meant the expanding super-heated gasses are done accelerating the bullet. Of course that will taper off but back of notepad guesstimate is 5-6ft barrel. If I am wrong, I am wrong short (*no correction for a gas block). Rather than shrugging at barrel harmonics, has anyone considered measuring a barrel's harmonics (speaker, microphone, oscilloscope) and then attaching an inertia damper tuned to that frequency? Surely someone has done this.
My most best ever, most accurate, deer rifle is a 7x57 on a T-99 Arisaka action. It has an 18 1/2" barrel(IMI surplus Mauser barrel) and it is LOUD. The muzzle blast is awesome. People next to me at the range always ask "What the heck are you shooting?" I am getting old and have problems shooting really accurate groups. I pull it out before deer season to check it. The first shot is always 1 1/2 "--2" high. That is the "Dirty it" shot. Many times the next three leave only two "Half" holes on the target. Over the years the groups are getting bigger, but I suspect it is me just getting old.
I wondered why, until a few months ago, AK barrels maxed out at 16". I figured out that that was kinda the most optimal, but didn't know why until this video.
For most self defense or combat scenarios (outside of sniping, for instance) anything that's at least 4MOA is pretty good. The accuracy standard for AK rifles is about 4MOA. As is the case with the M1 Garand. It all depends on what you're trying to do.
Ya when I was in the Air Force we had to qualify every year and I scored "expert" which honestly wasn't that hard compared to hunting standards. I always thought I should have done better but it just wasn't possible because honestly the rifles we used were utter crap lol. They were beat up, didn't function well and were not that accurate. And we didn't shoot long distances. They simulated it by using smaller targets. Some of us that could shoot and owned our own guns would finish shooting and say "well that sucked". Then they would score us as expert lol. We would look at each other and say "that is just sad". My cheap little marlin 60 would drill half inch groups at that distance all day long.
I used an old beat up M16 when I was in the Marines and shot 2-3 inch groups.. I switched to Army and I got handed an M4 figured ny groups were gonna be a bit bigger since shorter barrel.. nope .5-1 inch groups. The M4 was in such a better condition
I rechamber my barrels. I like a little longer barrel, gives me extra when cutting out the old chamber. Also, like the longer barrel, extra weight for bench rest shooting.
As to preferring shorter barrels, assuming the minimum is meet with burn rate, twist, etc. I have a US M1917 rifle, and that 26" barrel is about as long as I'd ever want to go except maybe some super-magnum type cartridge. It does allow for some nifty experiments with slow powder types to lose less velocity in heavier projectile weights, but... Like you said in the video, velocity isn't everything. (I'm looking into a duplicate M1 Ball load in .30-06)
Agree totally with the top load isn’t necessarily the optimum. I found a low/mid load of 23.8gr vit 140 behind a 55gr hornady vmax gives me a .224” group at 100 metres. This puts foxes down on the spot every shot with a heart/lung shot.
Excellent information. Personally I consider anything over 22 inches a long barrel and I find them much less handy in the field. Of course for bench shooters this is not a concern. Powder burn is a big factor on barrel length / velocity but this can be mitigated somewhat with faster burning powders.
failure2flinch yeah I'd like to hear these guys no nonsense thoughts on those as well. I know the science makes sense but also..., maybe it doesn't. I mean it makes sense to some people to wear a cloth mask on their face all day.
Marcos Martinez I personally don't believe anyone actually believes that. Sorta like people that say they don't "believe" in God. They're just trying to be contrarian.
@@thestonethatthebuilderrefu5231 I thought the way your thinking for a long time until I was given a barrel tuner and tried it on my 17 And it made a believer out of me along with Several match wins under my belt since then. I encourage you to go out and buy one they are very cheap Do is the instructions tell you Your MOA Increase and decrease Through the movement of the damper
hsmallwood40 you misunderstood my comment brother. When I said I don't believe it, I was responding to someone's joke about the earth being flat. I know the tuners can work because the physics is there. Erik Cortina and Tiborosaurusrex explained it well enough. I'm just kinda fuckin' around in the comments to help out the content creators. Thank you for your input though.
I would think that you'd need some barrel length beyond the complete burn of powder. Wouldn't there need to be a little more room to build up momentum? You've reached full burn, meaning that all the gas has been produced, but it still needs _some distance_ for the gas to expand to add speed to bullet?
If you're going to all the trouble of looking at muzzle crowns could you discuss the relevance of crown shape, if any, between hunting and target rifles and any effect a muzzle brake or suppressor may have on the effectiveness of the muzzle crown. Love your work 🇦🇺🍺
Pretty sure their are charts. Probably in re loading manuals or something related to it. I don't think they will be exact but they should be close. Try searching for re loading info on a specific caliber or "optimum barrel length for X caliber". Most of the time for most normal calibers it will be a range and they will be close to the same. Ultimately you want enough barrel length to burn the powder and stabilize the bullet but not so much that it starts to cause drag or decrease the energy of the bullet before it leaves the barrel.
Paul is right. Keep in mind, however, that if you are replacing your rifle barrel with one that is less than 16 inches then you might be creating an SBR which is regulated by the NFA (illegally regulated, but regulated nonetheless). Most rifle calibers are optimum over 16 inches but if you were building a 9mm or 22LR then you have full powder burn several inches prior to "rifle length." Then if you are loading your own ammo, it could be very different. Also if you are using something like 300 blackout, the full powder burn occurs at different barrel lengths since the cartridges vary wildly by grain. Needless to say, there are a lot of factors.
This is a fine video, accuracy is like the shape of a hourglass, a firearm may be accurate at high velocity or low velocity or anywhere in between. Choosing a barrel length is very complicated with many things to consider, I think they covered the high points nicely.
There is this question of 'harmonics' that we hear about, but less and less. Nobody doubts that powder loads and bullet construction have their influence on a particular barrel's precision. The reason why barrels have their preferred loads is apparently that the vibrations created in the barrel by the blast have to move 'harmoniously' (or is it 'harmonically?) with the exit of the bullet out the barrel. One can only surmise that the thickness of the barrel, its length and its metal composition will be factors influencing these vibrations. If you really want to study it, undoubtedly, humidity, air pressure, temperature will also have an impact. Bullet surface, weight and shape should also probably have their influence. But this whole question of 'harmonics' appears to need some busting. Browning introduced the Ballistics Optimizing Shooting System (BOSS) for its BAR Mark II, which consist of a metal cylinder screwed at the end of the barrel, which can be screwed in our out so as to adjust the vibrations for best ballistic results. Browning are the only ones that I know to bring this system to rifle ballistics and it does not appear to have had a great impact. How 'bustable' is this mythic barrel harmonics?
@@mychevysparkevdidntcatchfi1489 thats technically incorrect. anything touching the barrel effects harmonics. its like placing your finger on a guitar string, it changes the note you just have less area vibrating. the barrel still flexes from the connection point to the tip. I know this sounds really weird, but you can actually see it in slow motion.
So i just ordered a 12" Ar15 with Geiselle 2-stage-tigger and a separate upper with a 20" barrel for competition. Both are stainless steel heavy barrels. Caliber is .223 Remington. I was convinced, that the 20" barrel is making sense in this case. Right? Greetings from Germany!
I believe the myth that they busted is the inherent accuracy of the barrel. a longer barrel for your competition can make you yourself inherently more accurate from at least two factors. If you're using open sights, the longer sight radius helps. if you're shooting at long distances, the higher velocity from the longer barrel decreases your bullet drop.
One thing I never really hear being brought up with longer barrels is barrel harmonics. If you have a longer, certainly pencil barrel I don't care what ammunition you use that thing whiplashes like crazy. Shorter (especially thiccer) barrels are much less susceptible to this phenomena in my experience.
@Booger Balls It does though dude. Is it dramatic? No, but in certain barrels it can make it a half MOA or so in difference. We're talking precision here not combat accuracy. If you're trying to shoot through the same hole at 200 yards barrel harmonics absolutely plays a factor. I don't care what you say I have my own experience.
@Booger Balls Alright well to quote the great Paul Harrell "different people have different experiences so they have different opinions". Fair? Stay safe out there brother.
Are factory velocity numbers inflated vs real world? I notice a lot of ammo makers state they use a 24" barrel, trouble is not many rifles are bought with a long barrel, 22" is more common.
In my experience (60+ years shooting), most factory velocity numbers are “optimistic.” Longer-than-typical barrel length certainly is frequent, as well. I have not studied this in depth, but my opinion is Buffalo Bore often is more “realistic” than many other manufacturers.
Some are higher, some are lower. There really isn't a standard test they are required to use. And there really isn't anything that says it has to be right either. They can just put whatever they want on there if they want, and some do. There is also a lot that can effect velocity that they just can't take into consideration. Its best to get a chrono and check it yourself if you care about it. Or go by a third party that has tested it. However that doesn't mean you will get what that person got with that rifle on that day.
Buy a chronograph and check the values. For the most part any bullet shot fired from a shorter barrel than what was used when it was tested will see a reduction in the advertised velocity. The amount of difference will be based on the actual length of the barrel, along with environmental factors of temperature, humidity and barometric pressure. As Paul Harrell says remember that chronographs may not necessarily agree with each other.
If my brother in law was more sociable I'd ask him if he remembered the testing distance Hornady used for Chrony tests, since he did work for them at one point in time. I was expecting Chronos to be expensive, but $125 isn't bad.
Honestly unless you are doing specific testing or trying to test hand loads there isn't a huge need for a chronograph. Its fun data to know but not super important. If you are using factory ammo just find something that works well in your rifle and run it. It really doesn't matter much in the scheme of things if one brand is 1800 fps and another is 1900 fps or whatever. You can also estimate velocity by shooting at different distances and using a ballistics calculator. I find chronos to be much more useful with air rifles, airsoft and archery. You can use them to track the performance and health of the system. If it starts dropping off you know something is wrong. This isn't a huge issue with firearms. I have managed to make it for 40 years worth of shooting and not needing one for a firearm.
I think you can't ignore barrel harmonics when looking at barrel length too. Every load has a sweet spot where the muzzle is perfectly aligned with the breech at the moment the bullet leaves the barrel and that will greatly decrease group size (and is the whole point of dialing in a hand load). I suspect that longer barrels with more mass in the free floating portion of the barrel have inherently less muzzle whip because they are longer than their resonate frequency?
The variables that contribute to rifle accuracy include: powder volume, burn rate, bullet BC, twist rate, and distance you want to be accurate to. Ideally you want all propellant spent, bullet stabilized, and maximum bullet velocity at the muzzle. There are definite reasons why Olympic biathlon competitive shooters and ultra long range shooters use 26” plus barrels to maximize accuracy at range distances. This propensity today to limit Center fire hunting rifle barrels to 20 inches me thinks is more about weight reduction, handling efficiency, and aesthetics over accuracy at distance.
Thanks for posting this info. One piece of info which is missing from this is a discussion about whether there are any advantages to hunting with a longer barrel (e.g. 20" to 26") for larger calibers .308 through 300 Win Mag and at distances between 150 - 300 yards and 300-600 yards?
I’ve always been a big fan of the .257 weatherby mag but it’s one of those exceptions need a 26 inch barrel most are 28 inch. That’s probably the only thing I dislike about the round is the need for those long barrels.
Powder capacity is the reason for barrel length. A .338/.378 Weatherby powder capacity requires at least a 32" barrel to burn all the powder for maximizing velocity. A .220 Swift has less powder capacity with faster burning powders and thus needs a shorter barrel.
Why did it take me one year to find this video. Excellent points made. I am curious in regards to the 22 long rifle, Since most standard twist rate is 1 in 16, It would stand to reason that anything with a shorter barrel wouldn't be quite as stable? But most pistols including including the ruger charger which I believe has a 10" barrel seems to be fairly accurate even out to 50 yd. What gives?
I've always thought the longer barrel = accuracy is a hold over from black powder days when powder burned slower and needed the extra barrel combined with the practical accuracy of a longer sight radius before widespread use of optics.
I would recommend visiting websites like ballisticsbytheinch. You can look at the tables and see where your muzzle velocity start to taper off. There are also a fair number of ballistics calculators online that you can enter your own data and get estimates.
I have a .308 with a 26-inch barrel on a Ruger No 1. This single shot rifle does not have a bolt and the long barrel lengthens the rifle a lot less than the same barrel length on a bolt action. This is a rifle with a good precision for hunting and I like the fact that I probably get 30 f/s per inch over 20 inches. This is not insignificant. Any aspect that I might not have considered in using this long barrel?
Myth: 22lr bullets will enter the target, bounce around uncontrollably, and exit the target on a completely different path. I’ve heard this one quite a bit but can’t ever get an explanation about the force inside of the animal that causes a bullet to accelerate.
Engineer here. Accelerate simply means a change in velocity and velocity is a vector quantity depicting both speed and direction. Ergo a projectile, 22LR or not, is constantly undergoing "acceleration" as it slows down or changes direction. As far as bouncing around uncontrollably, I suppose that would depend on the target. If it entered a steel drum through a hole and struck the first surface at a small angle, it could bounce around uncontrollably. Exit the target on a completely different path....maybe out of another hole but not faster and I doubt in one piece. The particular instance I am referring to would be an exception though, not the rule. Then again, I am an electrical engineer and an idiot so take what I say with a grain of salt.
Non-engineer, logical, smart, not-an-idiot person here. At the grocery store, just inside the entrance, there is a pedestal-like dispenser of disposable sanitary wipes for customers' use in wiping down the handles of grocery carts and baskets. The dispenser is located on top of the pedestal. On the side of the pedestal, below the dispenser, is a tiny hole through which customers are supposed to put their used wipes for disposal into a compartment inside the pedestal. The hole is so small that one cannot put a used wipe through it without touching the filthy, dirty, unsanitary surrounding area of the pedestal, thereby defeating the purpose of using the wipe. How stupid. Nearby, there is a covered trash can with a large hinged door through which the wipes can be placed for disposal into the trash can. But the hinged door is also filthy, dirty and unsanitary, and the customer has to put their hand on it, too, to dispose of a wipe, thereby defeating the purpose of using the wipe. How stupid. I have a new Remington 700 AWR rifle. The thumb cut in the grip of the factory stock is not deep enough to allow for the bolt of the rifle to easily pass over my small, bare thumb. To cycle the bolt, I have to take my thumb off of the top of the grip. How stupid. These and hundreds of thousands, probably even millions, of stupid designs were all designed by engineers, all of whom are grossly over-rated. Accelerate means to increase velocity. Decelerate means to decrease velocity.
In the case of rimfire guns muzzle report has a lot to do with barrel length as well. A 22 out of a 28 inch barrel almost sounds suppressed compared to that of a 6 inch pistol barrel
It's all ABOUT harmonics PERIOD. Different powders different bullets will have different harmonics in the same barrel. You looking for that perfect ring by having the right combination of the three barrel bullet and powder. I call it making music tuning it like tuning a guitar. You get a perfect tune it keeps vibrating longer with the right pitch. A barrel is like a bell your just tuning it harmonics wise
Depends on your barrel harmonics but it is most likely to be between 21" and 25" at 1/9 twist but at that point you are splitting hairs. The difference between that and an 18" 1/7 twist is negligible. You increase the twist (make the bottom number lower) as the mass of the projectile increases. 62 gr is better at 1/8 twist. 77 gr is better at 1/7 twist. Again though, splitting hairs here.
So if I have my 22 inch .30-06 Savage barrel cut down and recrowned at 16.5 inches I'm not losing much as far as effectiveness on game within 300 yards then? (the maximum room I have for a shot at my normal hunting spot is around 300 yards give or take)
How do you find out what the best barrel length is for a specific caliber? For example I’ve seen advertised a Savage Long Rang Hunter in several different calibers and all with a 26” barrel with muzzle break. The calibers that interest me are the 300wsm, 6.5 Creedmore and 7mm (possibly). Is that too long for those guns? Thank you.
Ive been wondering about this.. I recently purchased a .308 that has a 21’’ barrel. I thought it was rather short for for a bigger caliber like the 308. Im not real sure of the barrel twist.
Barrel twist is likely 1 in 10 though it's 1 in 11 is on tikkas I believe. Those twist rates are gonna be enough for the 308 bullets. Heck I think even 1 in 12 is fast enough for the 180 grains if I remember rightly
With AR15 pistols I've heard you will not get the proper "rifle velocity" until at least you use a 10.5" barrel. Does that make a shorter (too short) of a barrel less accurate in this case, as well?
SO WHY DO ISEE A FLAME IN THE MUZZEL BRAKE ON A RUGER 10 /22 with 18.5 in the day light ,MY Sterling 24 INCH BARREL .22 STILL CARBONS UP THE Suppressor but the powder stopped burning 12 inches away ..give me a brake my other leg plays jingle bells //
For me, as for "dummy shooter", is no matter what barrel length rifle to buy, just to be convenient and suitable for my hunts? First I should improve my shooting skills. Right?
Not so. Ammunition manufacture often has far more effect on independent accuracy than a shooter ever can. Different brands of ammunition almost always group in different directions off the barrel. Almost every manufacturing run has quirks that change over time as well. I sincerely doubt this video actually covers *all* the issues and effects such as inconsistent taper is more likely in long barrel rifles and so-forth. That's why combat rifles have shorter specification barrels; they can have their rifle, taper, compression manufactured far more consistently.
Barrel length has less to do with accuracy than a smooth, lightweight trigger. That being said, my ol' 22lr 40X has a 28" barrel and Redfield Olympics. At some point, however, my eyes are gonna tell me it's time to admit defeat and start using a scope.
Curious to understand your comment? As a ISSF coach for both air and smallbore i dont see where gold medals equates to barrel length. That seems to totally go againt the talent of the shooter and the work they put in to get there. Not trying to start a flame war just curious to the comment thanks
@@melectrician to play devil's advocate, if every olympian is using the same barrel length there is probably a reason for that, either because it's regulation or because they have found that a certain barrel length is most accurate. It doesn't take away from the shooter skill, but the highest tippy top of the class of competition wouldn't use something that wasn't optimal, from weight to scope to grip to barrel length. The rifle is a tool, but in top competition they would want the best and most optimal tool so the only thing that makes things different is the talent and not their inferior hardware
@@AdamdaPwner Yep... That's about the size of it. Obsessives experimenting for years and years for tiny marginal advantage. With the 4 yearly award of a gold medal as a reward.
"You're a heavy weapons specialist?" "Not if I can find a light one, Sir."
I like my rifles weight balanced and on the heavy side, weight helps stability and repeatability in positional shooting
@@failure2flinch876 I agree, I was just quoting a line from "The Green Berets" :)
@@DeaconParsons One of the best lines from the movie. I followed that advice when joining the Army in the 80's.
Barrel stiffness plays a big role here as well. There's a reason that shorter bull barrels are often preferred for accuracy over super long pencil barrels. A pencil will be lighter and handier to carry, but a heavier barrel with less flex you need to worry less about barrel harmonics during the shot. So everyone asking for crazy long barrels thinking that'll make their gun more accurate is also hurting themselves that way, because a longer barrel of the same thickness is going to flex more.
It also helps with heat which can shift impact points. A heavier barrel and certain materials won't heat up as fast as a long thing barrel. If you look at most of the ultra accurate custom bench guns they are running heavy short barrels, not long ones. And they are using hand loads tailored that specific rifle. In reality though barrel harmonics shouldn't make a rifle less accurate. It just changes the initial impact point. In theory the barrel should flex the same amount with every shot so accuracy should be the same from shot to shot. If it isn't it normally comes down to inconsistant ammo, a bedding issue, heat or some combination of those.
I have a AR14.5 BCM pencil barrel that shoots as accurate and sometimes more accurate than heavy and longer barrels I've tried. Even after I get that barrel scalding hot, it still is a tack driver. When I'm shooting competitions where I'll be shooting standing I prefer lighter barrels. My Remington 700 24 in hunting barrel is just as accurate as my Remington 700 18in heavy barrel. I've tried heavy barrels, standard, carbon fiber, cheap and expensive and my opinion is it's whatever works best for the individual and what it will be used for. Regardless of the gun or barrel I'll find a way to shoot it accurate, as long as the sights don't keep moving like on my Mini-14.
This.... Internal barrel harmonics plays a big part in the exit deviation of a round and a longer barrel causes more of this deviation.
That’s why br guns use 12 inch barrels and set world records 🤣😂
Something I learned from archery: when we have an arrow that has too flexible of a spine, we can cut it shorter and that will make the arrow behave as if it were more stiff. The longer a tube is, whether it be a carbon arrow or a stainless match grade rifle barrel, the more opportunity it has to flex and affect harmonics. A slightly shorter, thicker barrel will have less barrel whip as the cartridge fires and typically have better harmonics. Of course there are exceptions and there are some long barrels that are even fairly thin that shoot pretty accurate, but that is probably because the harmonics are consistent, and that means while the barrel is whipping around a little bit more the bullet leaves the barrel when it is in the same spot every time.
I love Brownell videos, short and to the point. I watch every single one that pops up in my feed.
Agreed 👍
Love these random videos that answer everyday gun guy questions.
Barrel twist ratio and why!
A shorter barrel of same outside diameter will be more accurate than a longer barrel given that both can fully burn their powder charge. Shorter but same diameter barrels will be much stiffer compared to their longer counterparts and that would help with accuracy since your barrel will go up and down less
Indeed!
However if you are using consistent ammo the barrel should flex the same amount for every shot so it really shouldn't matter. A stiffer barrel would be more forgiving of this though. I would say most people don't shoot well enough to notice a difference and chances are they blaming the barrel for some other issue.
longer barrel helps to increase velocity if i recall correctly this is the primary reason for having a long barrel, having a heavy barrel (HBAR) would allow for less barrel whip and slower accuracy decrease when barrel starts to warm up.
Up to a point they will. That is why you want enough length to burn all the powder. Too long of a barrel will actually start to decrease velocity. There are many reasons for different length barrels that have nothing to do with accuracy or ballistics. Sight radius, heat build up, weight, balance ect. Barrel length can have an affect on how the gun feels in your hand, how it aims, how it holds, how it swings, how easy or hard it is to carry. Some of these are very important with shotguns.
I have this discussion all the time. Actual capability of the gun vs shoot ability. Lots of things make the easier to shoot accurately but really don't effect the inherent accuracy. Thanks for another great video.
Another fine video gentlemen, thanks for the concise and well articulated reasoning.
On the .22 rimfire, not that you need my verification in any way, but chronographing different length barrels has shown exactly that barrels longer than a 16" rifle we tested didn't show any gains in velocity with standard match ammo. There might have been some differences with the velocity of Stingers that I recall, but can't verify that and it might be just an old guy misremembering yet again! :)
Thanks again and stay well folks.
great video guys for 3 reasons:
1) you share talking equally and never talk over the other guy
2) your videos are generally 4 to 5 mins. in length
3) most important you get to the point asap
Fully agree with your list. Some of the videos out there are far to long and I don't have time for them.
"Yeah, velocity is going to give you a flatter trajectory, in most cases...." No, in EVERY case (unless the bullet disintegrates or tumbles). Newtonian physics. Since we are here anyway: just because the powder BURN may be over at x inches, it doesn't meant the expanding super-heated gasses are done accelerating the bullet. Of course that will taper off but back of notepad guesstimate is 5-6ft barrel. If I am wrong, I am wrong short (*no correction for a gas block). Rather than shrugging at barrel harmonics, has anyone considered measuring a barrel's harmonics (speaker, microphone, oscilloscope) and then attaching an inertia damper tuned to that frequency? Surely someone has done this.
Next topic idea for Smyth Busters: Is Caleb Steve's son?
That is a good topic! *SPOILER ALERT*: no, no relation.
The ears are a dead giveaway.
My most best ever, most accurate, deer rifle is a 7x57 on a T-99 Arisaka action. It has an 18 1/2" barrel(IMI surplus Mauser barrel) and it is LOUD. The muzzle blast is awesome. People next to me at the range always ask "What the heck are you shooting?" I am getting old and have problems shooting really accurate groups. I pull it out before deer season to check it. The first shot is always 1 1/2 "--2" high. That is the "Dirty it" shot. Many times the next three leave only two "Half" holes on the target. Over the years the groups are getting bigger, but I suspect it is me just getting old.
The DYNAMIC DUO has returned. Hell yeah, brothers!!!!
They are the most dynamicest duo!
@@brownells oh wow
I wondered why, until a few months ago, AK barrels maxed out at 16". I figured out that that was kinda the most optimal, but didn't know why until this video.
For most self defense or combat scenarios (outside of sniping, for instance) anything that's at least 4MOA is pretty good. The accuracy standard for AK rifles is about 4MOA. As is the case with the M1 Garand. It all depends on what you're trying to do.
That is the standard for most military rifles including the AR/M-16,M-4 rifles.
That 4MOA for theM1 , explains why I only made "sharpshooter" , while I was doing
much better during practice ....
Ya when I was in the Air Force we had to qualify every year and I scored "expert" which honestly wasn't that hard compared to hunting standards. I always thought I should have done better but it just wasn't possible because honestly the rifles we used were utter crap lol. They were beat up, didn't function well and were not that accurate. And we didn't shoot long distances. They simulated it by using smaller targets. Some of us that could shoot and owned our own guns would finish shooting and say "well that sucked". Then they would score us as expert lol. We would look at each other and say "that is just sad". My cheap little marlin 60 would drill half inch groups at that distance all day long.
I used an old beat up M16 when I was in the Marines and shot 2-3 inch groups.. I switched to Army and I got handed an M4 figured ny groups were gonna be a bit bigger since shorter barrel.. nope .5-1 inch groups. The M4 was in such a better condition
I rechamber my barrels. I like a little longer barrel, gives me extra when cutting out the old chamber. Also, like the longer barrel, extra weight for bench rest shooting.
As to preferring shorter barrels, assuming the minimum is meet with burn rate, twist, etc.
I have a US M1917 rifle, and that 26" barrel is about as long as I'd ever want to go except maybe some super-magnum type cartridge. It does allow for some nifty experiments with slow powder types to lose less velocity in heavier projectile weights, but... Like you said in the video, velocity isn't everything.
(I'm looking into a duplicate M1 Ball load in .30-06)
Agree totally with the top load isn’t necessarily the optimum. I found a low/mid load of 23.8gr vit 140 behind a 55gr hornady vmax gives me a .224” group at 100 metres. This puts foxes down on the spot every shot with a heart/lung shot.
Excellent information. Personally I consider anything over 22 inches a long barrel and I find them much less handy in the field. Of course for bench shooters this is not a concern. Powder burn is a big factor on barrel length / velocity but this can be mitigated somewhat with faster burning powders.
Tell us about “BARREL TUNERS”
failure2flinch yeah I'd like to hear these guys no nonsense thoughts on those as well. I know the science makes sense but also..., maybe it doesn't. I mean it makes sense to some people to wear a cloth mask on their face all day.
@@thestonethatthebuilderrefu5231 right and the earth is flat right?
Marcos Martinez I personally don't believe anyone actually believes that. Sorta like people that say they don't "believe" in God. They're just trying to be contrarian.
@@thestonethatthebuilderrefu5231 I thought the way your thinking for a long time until I was given a barrel tuner and tried it on my 17 And it made a believer out of me along with Several match wins under my belt since then. I encourage you to go out and buy one they are very cheap Do is the instructions tell you Your MOA Increase and decrease Through the movement of the damper
hsmallwood40 you misunderstood my comment brother. When I said I don't believe it, I was responding to someone's joke about the earth being flat. I know the tuners can work because the physics is there. Erik Cortina and Tiborosaurusrex explained it well enough. I'm just kinda fuckin' around in the comments to help out the content creators. Thank you for your input though.
Huh. 12" for .22lr is new to me. I thought it was 16. Now I want to shorten my 15-22 barrel.
I would think that you'd need some barrel length beyond the complete burn of powder. Wouldn't there need to be a little more room to build up momentum? You've reached full burn, meaning that all the gas has been produced, but it still needs _some distance_ for the gas to expand to add speed to bullet?
If you're going to all the trouble of looking at muzzle crowns could you discuss the relevance of crown shape, if any, between hunting and target rifles and any effect a muzzle brake or suppressor may have on the effectiveness of the muzzle crown. Love your work 🇦🇺🍺
is there a chart for barrel length/caliber/powder burn/twist rate or some sort of ratio? or is it "art"
Pretty sure their are charts. Probably in re loading manuals or something related to it. I don't think they will be exact but they should be close. Try searching for re loading info on a specific caliber or "optimum barrel length for X caliber". Most of the time for most normal calibers it will be a range and they will be close to the same. Ultimately you want enough barrel length to burn the powder and stabilize the bullet but not so much that it starts to cause drag or decrease the energy of the bullet before it leaves the barrel.
There is a science to it.
Paul is right. Keep in mind, however, that if you are replacing your rifle barrel with one that is less than 16 inches then you might be creating an SBR which is regulated by the NFA (illegally regulated, but regulated nonetheless). Most rifle calibers are optimum over 16 inches but if you were building a 9mm or 22LR then you have full powder burn several inches prior to "rifle length." Then if you are loading your own ammo, it could be very different. Also if you are using something like 300 blackout, the full powder burn occurs at different barrel lengths since the cartridges vary wildly by grain. Needless to say, there are a lot of factors.
editing note: You might want to invest in some lapel mics for both the fellas here. Would fix some of the audio issues.
So I wasn't the only one having trouble hearing both of them
This is a fine video, accuracy is like the shape of a hourglass, a firearm may be accurate at high velocity or low velocity or anywhere in between. Choosing a barrel length is very complicated with many things to consider, I think they covered the high points nicely.
There is this question of 'harmonics' that we hear about, but less and less. Nobody doubts that powder loads and bullet construction have their influence on a particular barrel's precision. The reason why barrels have their preferred loads is apparently that the vibrations created in the barrel by the blast have to move 'harmoniously' (or is it 'harmonically?) with the exit of the bullet out the barrel. One can only surmise that the thickness of the barrel, its length and its metal composition will be factors influencing these vibrations. If you really want to study it, undoubtedly, humidity, air pressure, temperature will also have an impact. Bullet surface, weight and shape should also probably have their influence. But this whole question of 'harmonics' appears to need some busting. Browning introduced the Ballistics Optimizing Shooting System (BOSS) for its BAR Mark II, which consist of a metal cylinder screwed at the end of the barrel, which can be screwed in our out so as to adjust the vibrations for best ballistic results. Browning are the only ones that I know to bring this system to rifle ballistics and it does not appear to have had a great impact. How 'bustable' is this mythic barrel harmonics?
people need to learn about barrel harmonics and how it effects the round.
Couldn't have said it better
Only applies to floating barrel. Anything on barrel (ie, barrel band) will make this moot.
@@mychevysparkevdidntcatchfi1489 thats technically incorrect. anything touching the barrel effects harmonics. its like placing your finger on a guitar string, it changes the note you just have less area vibrating. the barrel still flexes from the connection point to the tip. I know this sounds really weird, but you can actually see it in slow motion.
So i just ordered a 12" Ar15 with Geiselle 2-stage-tigger and a separate upper with a 20" barrel for competition. Both are stainless steel heavy barrels. Caliber is .223 Remington. I was convinced, that the 20" barrel is making sense in this case. Right? Greetings from Germany!
Right!
I believe the myth that they busted is the inherent accuracy of the barrel. a longer barrel for your competition can make you yourself inherently more accurate from at least two factors. If you're using open sights, the longer sight radius helps. if you're shooting at long distances, the higher velocity from the longer barrel decreases your bullet drop.
@@lostpyper This!
One thing I never really hear being brought up with longer barrels is barrel harmonics. If you have a longer, certainly pencil barrel I don't care what ammunition you use that thing whiplashes like crazy. Shorter (especially thiccer) barrels are much less susceptible to this phenomena in my experience.
@Booger Balls That's absolutely not true my guy. Barrel harmonics does affect accuracy.
@Booger Balls It does though dude. Is it dramatic? No, but in certain barrels it can make it a half MOA or so in difference. We're talking precision here not combat accuracy. If you're trying to shoot through the same hole at 200 yards barrel harmonics absolutely plays a factor. I don't care what you say I have my own experience.
@Booger Balls Alright well to quote the great Paul Harrell "different people have different experiences so they have different opinions". Fair? Stay safe out there brother.
@Booger Balls On that we most certainly agree on brother. Stay strong.
Are factory velocity numbers inflated vs real world? I notice a lot of ammo makers state they use a 24" barrel, trouble is not many rifles are bought with a long barrel, 22" is more common.
In my experience (60+ years shooting), most factory velocity numbers are “optimistic.” Longer-than-typical barrel length certainly is frequent, as well. I have not studied this in depth, but my opinion is Buffalo Bore often is more “realistic” than many other manufacturers.
Some are higher, some are lower. There really isn't a standard test they are required to use. And there really isn't anything that says it has to be right either. They can just put whatever they want on there if they want, and some do. There is also a lot that can effect velocity that they just can't take into consideration. Its best to get a chrono and check it yourself if you care about it. Or go by a third party that has tested it. However that doesn't mean you will get what that person got with that rifle on that day.
Buy a chronograph and check the values.
For the most part any bullet shot fired from a shorter barrel than what was used when it was tested will see a reduction in the advertised velocity.
The amount of difference will be based on the actual length of the barrel, along with environmental factors of temperature, humidity and barometric pressure.
As Paul Harrell says remember that chronographs may not necessarily agree with each other.
If my brother in law was more sociable I'd ask him if he remembered the testing distance Hornady used for Chrony tests, since he did work for them at one point in time.
I was expecting Chronos to be expensive, but $125 isn't bad.
Honestly unless you are doing specific testing or trying to test hand loads there isn't a huge need for a chronograph. Its fun data to know but not super important. If you are using factory ammo just find something that works well in your rifle and run it. It really doesn't matter much in the scheme of things if one brand is 1800 fps and another is 1900 fps or whatever. You can also estimate velocity by shooting at different distances and using a ballistics calculator. I find chronos to be much more useful with air rifles, airsoft and archery. You can use them to track the performance and health of the system. If it starts dropping off you know something is wrong. This isn't a huge issue with firearms. I have managed to make it for 40 years worth of shooting and not needing one for a firearm.
At 1:46. Maybe these types of people are hand loaders. Powder choice for that barrel length.
Needed this about 6 years ago, but think you.
Better late than never!
I think you can't ignore barrel harmonics when looking at barrel length too. Every load has a sweet spot where the muzzle is perfectly aligned with the breech at the moment the bullet leaves the barrel and that will greatly decrease group size (and is the whole point of dialing in a hand load). I suspect that longer barrels with more mass in the free floating portion of the barrel have inherently less muzzle whip because they are longer than their resonate frequency?
What would be the barrel length for full powder burn for a .270 and .30-06? Could they be run in 20 inch barrels and still be successful?
Best show on RUclips!
Thank you!
How important is the shape of the muzzle crown
Very and yet not, good topic! Stay tuned!
Anybody know what the rifle on the table is? Great video.
Custom FTR rifle on a Stolle Panda action, Bartlein barrel and custom MasterClass stock in English walnut.
@@CalebSavant Thank you very much for the reply. Great video and a beautiful rifle.
what about heavy bull barrels vs fluted or regular? How is accuracy compared then?
Flute is bull barrel lightening the weight , heavier the barrel the more heat tolerance can your gun can handle = better accuracy in mag dump
@@dacnien not a mag dump it’s for prolonged shooting. Nothing is designed for dumping rounds out of a closed bolt weapon.
The variables that contribute to rifle accuracy include: powder volume, burn rate, bullet BC, twist rate, and distance you want to be accurate to.
Ideally you want all propellant spent, bullet stabilized, and maximum bullet velocity at the muzzle. There are definite reasons why Olympic biathlon competitive shooters and ultra long range shooters use 26” plus barrels to maximize accuracy at range distances.
This propensity today to limit Center fire hunting rifle barrels to 20 inches me thinks is more about weight reduction, handling efficiency, and aesthetics over accuracy at distance.
Thanks for posting this info. One piece of info which is missing from this is a discussion about whether there are any advantages to hunting with a longer barrel (e.g. 20" to 26") for larger calibers .308 through 300 Win Mag and at distances between 150 - 300 yards and 300-600 yards?
I request that you guys add the model or a description of the foreground guns, especially this specific one.
I’ve always been a big fan of the .257 weatherby mag but it’s one of those exceptions need a 26 inch barrel most are 28 inch. That’s probably the only thing I dislike about the round is the need for those long barrels.
Powder capacity is the reason for barrel length. A .338/.378 Weatherby powder capacity requires at least a 32" barrel to burn all the powder for maximizing velocity. A .220 Swift has less powder capacity with faster burning powders and thus needs a shorter barrel.
For reloading, velocity is nice but finding a good velocity and seating depth node is much more important.
That is kind of what they were saying in the video.
Why did it take me one year to find this video. Excellent points made. I am curious in regards to the 22 long rifle, Since most standard twist rate is 1 in 16, It would stand to reason that anything with a shorter barrel wouldn't be quite as stable? But most pistols including including the ruger charger which I believe has a 10" barrel seems to be fairly accurate even out to 50 yd. What gives?
I've always thought the longer barrel = accuracy is a hold over from black powder days when powder burned slower and needed the extra barrel combined with the practical accuracy of a longer sight radius before widespread use of optics.
Great vid - hope u got ur audio fixed so we can hear both of you equally ;)
12 inches for a .22, would a much longer barrel actually slow down the bullet because of friction?
Depending on the round, there is a point at which it starts slowing down.
How do you calculate how much barrel length you need to burn all the powder before leaving the barrel?
I would recommend visiting websites like ballisticsbytheinch. You can look at the tables and see where your muzzle velocity start to taper off. There are also a fair number of ballistics calculators online that you can enter your own data and get estimates.
Give me a gun with 100 yard long barrel, and I'll get one hole group every time at 100 yards.
I have a .308 with a 26-inch barrel on a Ruger No 1. This single shot rifle does not have a bolt and the long barrel lengthens the rifle a lot less than the same barrel length on a bolt action. This is a rifle with a good precision for hunting and I like the fact that I probably get 30 f/s per inch over 20 inches. This is not insignificant. Any aspect that I might not have considered in using this long barrel?
A four inch revolver may group as well as longer barrels at 25 yds.
Consistency = accuracy. Outside of that, you're just aiming in the wrong spot.
Joshua Gibson except for the *you're = you are
@@joshuagibson2520It was really half a joke, very few young people today speak 'classical' English anyway...
@@joshuagibson2520 What 'dya mean? I know how to curse.
@@artmallory970 Fixed!
Consistency does not = accuracy. Consistency = precision. Precision does not = accuracy.
Acurizing wedges on ARs. They don’t make a difference.
Nope. Bill Wylde used to take boxes of uppers to find the loosest fit to the lower because looser was more consistent.
Accuracy improvement, doubtful, getting rid of annoying upper to lower rattle, sure.
@@Oldbmwr100rs I agree It makes you feel better :D
Myth: 22lr bullets will enter the target, bounce around uncontrollably, and exit the target on a completely different path.
I’ve heard this one quite a bit but can’t ever get an explanation about the force inside of the animal that causes a bullet to accelerate.
Engineer here. Accelerate simply means a change in velocity and velocity is a vector quantity depicting both speed and direction. Ergo a projectile, 22LR or not, is constantly undergoing "acceleration" as it slows down or changes direction. As far as bouncing around uncontrollably, I suppose that would depend on the target. If it entered a steel drum through a hole and struck the first surface at a small angle, it could bounce around uncontrollably. Exit the target on a completely different path....maybe out of another hole but not faster and I doubt in one piece. The particular instance I am referring to would be an exception though, not the rule. Then again, I am an electrical engineer and an idiot so take what I say with a grain of salt.
@@JenkinsStevenD So you are a chaser of angry pixies eh?
@@duster0066 If the shoe fits.....
@@JenkinsStevenD lol rodger that. Do you know where it comes from? AvE channel. A very smart and funny Canadian.
Non-engineer, logical, smart, not-an-idiot person here.
At the grocery store, just inside the entrance, there is a pedestal-like dispenser of disposable sanitary wipes for customers' use in wiping down the handles of grocery carts and baskets. The dispenser is located on top of the pedestal. On the side of the pedestal, below the dispenser, is a tiny hole through which customers are supposed to put their used wipes for disposal into a compartment inside the pedestal. The hole is so small that one cannot put a used wipe through it without touching the filthy, dirty, unsanitary surrounding area of the pedestal, thereby defeating the purpose of using the wipe. How stupid.
Nearby, there is a covered trash can with a large hinged door through which the wipes can be placed for disposal into the trash can. But the hinged door is also filthy, dirty and unsanitary, and the customer has to put their hand on it, too, to dispose of a wipe, thereby defeating the purpose of using the wipe. How stupid.
I have a new Remington 700 AWR rifle. The thumb cut in the grip of the factory stock is not deep enough to allow for the bolt of the rifle to easily pass over my small, bare thumb. To cycle the bolt, I have to take my thumb off of the top of the grip. How stupid.
These and hundreds of thousands, probably even millions, of stupid designs were all designed by engineers, all of whom are grossly over-rated.
Accelerate means to increase velocity. Decelerate means to decrease velocity.
In the case of rimfire guns muzzle report has a lot to do with barrel length as well. A 22 out of a 28 inch barrel almost sounds suppressed compared to that of a 6 inch pistol barrel
Damn it! I always thought longer was better. I guess that doesn't apply for everything in life.
No, thicker is better. Lol
Long and thin gets it in, short and thick now that’s a trick!
It's all ABOUT harmonics PERIOD. Different powders different bullets will have different harmonics in the same barrel. You looking for that perfect ring by having the right combination of the three barrel bullet and powder. I call it making music tuning it like tuning a guitar. You get a perfect tune it keeps vibrating longer with the right pitch. A barrel is like a bell your just tuning it harmonics wise
Ok well sense we're on this subject what is the optimal barrel length and twist on an AR running 55 gr 556.
Depends on your barrel harmonics but it is most likely to be between 21" and 25" at 1/9 twist but at that point you are splitting hairs. The difference between that and an 18" 1/7 twist is negligible. You increase the twist (make the bottom number lower) as the mass of the projectile increases. 62 gr is better at 1/8 twist. 77 gr is better at 1/7 twist. Again though, splitting hairs here.
Surely more velocity means less affected by the wind? The shorter the flight time, the less time the environmental factors have to act on the round.
Good info, thank you.
For a .270 Winchester is anything over a 24 inches barrel ridiculous? And will a 26 inch barrel add any benefit in terms of accuracy?
So why does Anschutz make 22lr rifles with 24 inch barrels? They seem to know a bit about 22’s.
I believe you are wrong about the .22LR, velocity is better with a 20" barrel, and you lose velocity after 20" due to drag.
So if I have my 22 inch .30-06 Savage barrel cut down and recrowned at 16.5 inches I'm not losing much as far as effectiveness on game within 300 yards then? (the maximum room I have for a shot at my normal hunting spot is around 300 yards give or take)
What would be the minimum barrel length for a 7mm Rem Mag Sporter Barrel?
So the 350 legend in 18 inch barrel should be good out to 200 yards
In which books or documents can we find the mathematics on this so that we can make better choices on our purchases?
How do you find out what the best barrel length is for a specific caliber? For example I’ve seen advertised a Savage Long Rang Hunter in several different calibers and all with a 26” barrel with muzzle break. The calibers that interest me are the 300wsm, 6.5 Creedmore and 7mm (possibly). Is that too long for those guns? Thank you.
So my Winchester model 67's 27 inch barrel is overkill?
Ive been wondering about this.. I recently purchased a .308 that has a 21’’ barrel. I thought it was rather short for for a bigger caliber like the 308. Im not real sure of the barrel twist.
Most .308 Win. is good to go for anything over 18", shorter than that and the full powder burn is not reached.
Barrel twist is likely 1 in 10 though it's 1 in 11 is on tikkas I believe. Those twist rates are gonna be enough for the 308 bullets. Heck I think even 1 in 12 is fast enough for the 180 grains if I remember rightly
Cool.. thanks guys..
What's the efficacy of short barrel ARs like 10.3" or shorter if the engagement is 100yds or shorter
Will a muzzle brake interfere with 224 bullets on 308 plastic sabots?
Most likely, as the sabot is designed to open up immediately after exiting the muzzle.
@@CalebSavant thanks, zorry the bad english, greetings from Chile.
With AR15 pistols I've heard you will not get the proper "rifle velocity" until at least you use a 10.5" barrel. Does that make a shorter (too short) of a barrel less accurate in this case, as well?
Myth... does gas block need to be pinned for heavy use ? Is clamp on okay?
Next video :
A myth who is actually true.
Keep to good work guys.
Always enjoying your content.
Why were Swedish rifles M96 barrels so long? Why were the first rifles in World War 1 so long?
conmigo carolina de norte Powder back then wasn’t real good. Slow burning
Perhaps you can help me, I am having a bolt action 300 WSM built. What is the optimal barrel length?
How many times can you chamber a round because of pushback 2. 3 times 🤷♂️
What is the best barrel length to shoot 308 in ?
SO WHY DO ISEE A FLAME IN THE MUZZEL BRAKE ON A RUGER 10 /22 with 18.5 in the day light ,MY Sterling 24 INCH BARREL .22 STILL CARBONS UP THE Suppressor but the powder stopped burning 12 inches away ..give me a brake my other leg plays jingle bells //
I cannot find a simple explanation to what they mean by powder burn in the long barrel. Why does powder burn matter in the length of the barrel?
Too short a barrel and all the powder from the cartridge will not have time to burn.
Guys I know this isnt on this post but are there ruger 10 22 magazine insides available
Can undercharging cartridges really cause detonation?
For me, as for "dummy shooter", is no matter what barrel length rifle to buy, just to be convenient and suitable for my hunts? First I should improve my shooting skills. Right?
Is a 16” barrel long enough for a 308 to get its best accuracy shooting a 165gr bullet??
Great video thank you
Thanks for watching!
Thing that affects a rifle's accuracy the most is the shooter...
Not so. Ammunition manufacture often has far more effect on independent accuracy than a shooter ever can. Different brands of ammunition almost always group in different directions off the barrel. Almost every manufacturing run has quirks that change over time as well.
I sincerely doubt this video actually covers *all* the issues and effects such as inconsistent taper is more likely in long barrel rifles and so-forth. That's why combat rifles have shorter specification barrels; they can have their rifle, taper, compression manufactured far more consistently.
@@prjndigo you haven’t see me shoot... I will agree that ammo can make a huge difference, but I’m not at the range enough to make a difference!
You never told us what gun that was for display
Is a 22" to long for a 10/22? I have an 17" on my 10/22 right now.
That rifle you have there is amazing....! What is it plse...thankssss
Custom FTR rifle on a Stolle Panda action, Bartlein barrel and custom MasterClass stock in English walnut.
Barrel length has less to do with accuracy than a smooth, lightweight trigger.
That being said, my ol' 22lr 40X has a 28" barrel and Redfield Olympics. At some point, however, my eyes are gonna tell me it's time to admit defeat and start using a scope.
Harmonics/resonance is another reason
What about the myth that all ar pattern barrels and bolts need to be headspaced
I think there is something there, thanks!
The guy on the right looks like Chester from Gunsmoke.
22lr best barrel length for accuracy is determined by Olympic gold medals.
Curious to understand your comment? As a ISSF coach for both air and smallbore i dont see where gold medals equates to barrel length. That seems to totally go againt the talent of the shooter and the work they put in to get there. Not trying to start a flame war just curious to the comment thanks
@@melectrician its a joke
I guess a 30m long barrel that can touch the target would be pretty accurate.
@@melectrician to play devil's advocate, if every olympian is using the same barrel length there is probably a reason for that, either because it's regulation or because they have found that a certain barrel length is most accurate. It doesn't take away from the shooter skill, but the highest tippy top of the class of competition wouldn't use something that wasn't optimal, from weight to scope to grip to barrel length.
The rifle is a tool, but in top competition they would want the best and most optimal tool so the only thing that makes things different is the talent and not their inferior hardware
@@AdamdaPwner Yep... That's about the size of it.
Obsessives experimenting for years and years for tiny marginal advantage.
With the 4 yearly award of a gold medal as a reward.
Faster can mean more accurate long range because there's less time for wind influence because wind is not purely consistent