diyj98 is right it helps with some velocity but nothing great..i think 10 or 20 fps per inch out to a certain point..whatever the number it wasnt worth it and after so long it doesnt do anything more..some say the longer ones are more accurate and balance better and such but i dont think it has much to do with legnth...id take a short barrel over a long one anyday..i hate my long barrel on my mauser....not sure on the legnth im thinkin 26 but i dont know...but its long cumbersome and heavy...i hunt thickets from the ground...you have deer trotting by and saplings everywhere..it makes it hard sometimes...but i still manage to make the shots..now if i was sitting on a hillside waiting for deer to pop out of the timber i wouldnt mind...the longer barrels do feel balanced more nicely to me though..swings like my shotgun! lol..its all on your personaly prefrence really..the few inches dont have much of an advantage if any anymore...