barrel length question

cavedweller · Mar 2, 2023

I am wondering what are the determining factors for barrel length when trying to achieve the highest degree of accuracy in a given shooting discipline?

ADD to thread: with this question of barrel length also comes questions like rate of twist? choke? Free floating? Steel Bedded? Polished? and probably several other things i don't yet know about or haven't even heard about?

The reason i am asking, is i see shorter barrels used in FT applications and longer Barrels used in bench rest which leads me to believe at some point "more barrel length will hinder a field target shooter" and start to "benefit a bench-rest shooter".

I understand hunting in the woods / stalking prey where more barrel is more chance to snag things and make noise

i did find this thread on barrel length and speed of pellet: https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/min-barrel-length-vs-max-fpe.1274983/

elh0102 · Mar 2, 2023

The high power air rifles need more length to utilize the additional air, so longer barrels are common in longer range BR, and in HP hunting applications. FT, depending on class, is limited to either 20 or 12 fpe, so shorter barrels are often used. I expect that most FT shooters prefer the handling balance of a shorter barrel also. But that's just my guess, as I'm not a participant.

JimD · Mar 2, 2023

Barrel length does not aid accuracy, it aides velocity. That may indirectly aid accuracy as it may help reduce wind drift. But it doesn't have a direct effect. If anything, a short stiff barrel will have lower amplitude vibration from the shot which will help. Benchrest shooters may use long barrels simply because they are not supporting the gun and so weight is not a problem. It may help keep the gun stable. FT shooters support the gun so they want to weight to be reasonable. At least that is the way I see it.

HogKiller · Mar 2, 2023

cavedweller said:
I am wondering what are determining factors for barrel length when trying to achieve the highest degree of accuracy in a given shooting discipline?

The reason i am asking, is i see shorter barrels used in FT applications and longer Barrels used in bench rest which leads me to believe at some point "more barrel length will hinder a field target shooter" and start to "benefit a bench-rest shooter".

I understand hunting in the woods / stalking prey where more barrel is more chance to snag things and make noise

i did find this thread on barrel length and speed of pellet: https://www.airgunnation.com/threads/min-barrel-length-vs-max-fpe.1274983/

There are a ton of variables, it's not quite as simple and quite frankly you may get a good barrel or you may not. According to Joe B it's 200fps or is it 50fps, I forget/100mm but accuracy is the same no matter what length.

AirNGasman · Mar 2, 2023

"I am wondering what are determining factors for barrel length when trying to achieve the highest degree of accuracy in a given shooting discipline?"

Achieving the right BALANCE of all the variables.

willy · Mar 2, 2023

All i can say? is i have a TX 200 carbine in 22 and it has a 7" barrel, and is one of the most accurate springers i have"

Healthservices · Mar 2, 2023

For me a longer barrel allows me to easily shoot faster with less air. But don't get greedy on speed. Speed does not mean accuracy. Accuracy trumps speed in competition. The longer it is the more time it is in the barrel. With heavier projectiles the barrel will kick or move more than a shorter barrel, making it more hold sensitive. So I guess only use as long as a barrel as you need.

Allen

qball · Mar 2, 2023

shortest barrel you can get away with.

Twist rate and bore size are ammo specific.

cavedweller · Mar 9, 2023

Well - darn, was hoping there was some science around this matter. Conjecture is fine, and our lifetime experiences are invaluable, but, there certainly has to be some real world number crunching in airgun development.

beerthief · Mar 9, 2023

cavedweller said:
Well - darn, was hoping there was some science around this matter. Conjecture is fine, and our lifetime experiences are invaluable, but, there certainly has to be some real world number crunching in airgun development.

there is a science , buy you would have to be a scientist to understand what was said . i think i said that right ?

jps2486 · Mar 9, 2023

Longer barrels result in longer lock time. In other words, the time between you pulling the trigger and the time the projectile exits the end of the barrel is a lot longer. There's more time for you to move the gun during that time and accuracy can suffer, so the theory goes.

Hateful McNasty · Mar 9, 2023

cavedweller said:
Well - darn, was hoping there was some science around this matter. Conjecture is fine, and our lifetime experiences are invaluable, but, there certainly has to be some real world number crunching in airgun development.

Its more to mad science...lol.

All i see with my stuff it's either a good'un or it's not. No matter what barrel or length..

Take the hw 95 vs 85. 85 longer barrel maybe a gew extra fps but.... ??

boscoebrea · Mar 9, 2023

There is a knowledge basin,you can check it out yourself, fact is barrel length is not about accuracy, then it is.
Think "Gasalt", that word and meaning will go a long way to know something about the "science of barrel length.
Gasalt,the whole is greater than the sum of the parts,;Break that down and you can see that it is not one thing, but the combination of the situation = when All comes together, you tried harder or got Lucky!
A Blind date that went right.

cavedweller · Mar 13, 2023

Firewalker · Mar 13, 2023

JimD said:
Barrel length does not aid accuracy, it aides velocity. That may indirectly aid accuracy as it may help reduce wind drift. But it doesn't have a direct effect. If anything, a short stiff barrel will have lower amplitude vibration from the shot which will help. Benchrest shooters may use long barrels simply because they are not supporting the gun and so weight is not a problem. It may help keep the gun stable. FT shooters support the gun so they want to weight to be reasonable. At least that is the way I see it.

Pandora's Box

Centercut · Mar 13, 2023

Who is John Galt? Huh?

MartyMcFly · Mar 13, 2023

Longer barrels are also harder to make uniform. The longer the barrel the more chance that something will get out of alignment during manufacturing. Couple that with harmonics and you have many more variables to ruin accuracy. That said, there are a few different ways to make barrels, each of which probably has its own pluses and minuses… I’m guessing that most manufacturers keep their trade secrets close to their chests.

-Marty

cavedweller · Mar 14, 2023

cavedweller said:

McGowen Barrel Making: An Inside Look

An inside look at the history and manufacturing process of barrel making at McGowen Barrel.

gundigest.com

How Barrel Rifling Works | Vortakt Barrel Works

Accurate rifle barrels are manufactured using a controlled, three step machining process. Parts undergo gundrilling, reaming, and button rifling, followed up by stress relieving, before being finished into rifle barrels.

vortakt.com

All About Barrels: How To Choose The Best Rifle Barrel - RifleShooter

There are many factors that go into making an accurate rifle barrel. Here is everything you need to know to pick the right barrel.

www.rifleshootermag.com

EP3039375A1 - Gun barrel manufacturing process - Google Patents

Disclosed herein is a method of manufacturing two or more gun barrels, the method comprising: machining (103) a single metal block to form a barrel preform having the outer shape of at least a first gun barrel and a second gun barrel; drilling (105) a first hole through the first gun barrel to...

patents.google.com

How Does Barrel Length Affect Accuracy And Ballistics?

How does barrel length affect accuracy, muzzle velocity and delivered energy with various classes of rimfire ammo? Find out!

gundigest.com

and closest to what we need to learn is:

The Truth About Barrel Length, Muzzle Velocity and Accuracy - The Truth About Guns

&#9664Previous Post Next Post▶ Josh Wayner’s taken it upon himself to challenge what everyone “knows” as far as barrel length, velocity and accuracy are concerned. According to his results, the conventional wisdom ain’t all that wise when it comes to longer-barreled ballistics. The only question...

www.thetruthaboutguns.com

up until now, i find it odd no one went for the science.

iAMzehTOASTY1 · Mar 14, 2023

Depends on the goal for your slinger.

Arzrover · Mar 14, 2023

Just some thoughts here...
Barrels were originally long to give a greater sight radius , which enhanced accuracy in non scoped rifles. As your last article explains, the lost velocity is not related to accuracy itself, but more about the effective range.
In pcp's, you can get more velocity in any given barrel length by using more air or higher pressure. As shown in several threads, including my own, pellets have an optimum velocity so faster is not necessarily better. It then becomes a choice of HOW to get there. A short, high pressure blast in a short barrel may get you to the same speed as a longer lower pressure blast in a long barrel but which will give you better shot count? Also to consider are the harmonics... short being higher frequency but less amplitude, and balance... longer putting mass further from center thus helping damp movement (easier to shoot).
In EBR type benchrest, pushing the heavy pellets fast enough is easier with longer barrels so you'll likely only see long barrels where 25 meter doesn't allow or need that power so SOME airguns have been made with shorter barrels with no detriment. In AAFTA style FT, power is limited and you'll also see barrel length vary a good bit.
Aiguns are a huge collection of tradeoffs so weight, ergonomics, power, balance and shot count are just SOME of the things barrel length will affect more than accuracy .
Bob

barrel length question

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