Any data on the velocity difference between a 26” and 29” Barrel? On Hodgdon’s Website FAQ’ they say 50-100 fps per inch of barrel. I don’t know if this is for muzzleloaders or centerfires.

I do not use a chronograph when I test bullets. I look for an accurate bullet with as much powder as I can use to keep it accurate. I shoot from a 22" to a 32" and never let the barrel length really concern me. Now granted, if I were shooting 200 yards each day, then I might see the need to do more testing. But for 100 yard shooting, there is no need. If the load is accurate, it will work.

Your numbers might be very correct. Sabotloader does a lot of chronograph work and might have some good information for you.

bowbender6

I am sure that additional length can add to velocity wspecially when going from 24 to 29 but I do not really believe it would be a great deal. My orginal 24" Remington says the max load is 120 grains... whenI quizzed a Remington tech about this limit - he indication was that any more powder than that it would be shot out the end of the barrel. The longer length of thebarrel will allow more powder to be burned more completelycausing an increase in velocity.

Here is the problem in my mind... Shooting BP or sub the powder can vary so much in just itself that loosing or gaining a couple hundred FPS is done almost every shot. The common thought is + or - 5 grains will not causea great deal of difference in FPS.

Shooting the 24" Remington and the longer rifles that I have 28" - really I do not see a lot of difference in velocity.

The last point I should say is I do not weight loads - I throw them by volume - if I were weighing each load the difference may be greater.

This will not apply the same to light loads as it does for me as I like a load in the gun when I shoot it.
With PRB the differance between a 22" barrel and a 32 " barrel with 120 gr RS was 400 FPS
With inlines it changes a lot in all directions the amount of powder the weight of the bullet enter into it.
For instance with a 500gr bullet in a sabot in a 54 cal you can burn the 150 gr load of RS quite well in a 22 inch barrel. but with a 200gr SW in a 50cal in a 28 inch barrel you find about 10 or 15 gr of unburned powder if you streach a white sheet out length ways 5 feet in frount of the barrel on the ground.
Its real hard to answer your question with out more info.
The most used bullet would proably be a 250 gr put in a nice tight sabot for good accuracy with the most commenly used powder charge of a 100 gr the 26 inch barrel wold do just as well add 25 gr and the 29 inch barrel would start showing an advantage in FPS. Lee

There is more of a diff in barrel length and velocity in centerfire rifles. Then in some cases that is a myth. If you hand load the type of powder you use may determine big changes in speed. Some powders burn faster and then a short barrel might be fine. Of course some powders are slow burning and hence need a longer barrel For hunting I don't believe it matters. The fastest load for my custom 220 swift is one of least accurate loads. IMHO in ML's it don't matter. Like Sabotlaoder says his Rem 700 is almost identical in his eyes to his longer barreed ML. Its all about marketing I think.

Thanks – I just got my chronograph fixed and haven’t had much time to play,but all my muzzleloaders are in the 24-26" barrel length. I know there are a lot of variables and accuracy is the first concern. I have been thinking about getting a .45 and playing with it. I thought you might be able to get a deal on one this time of year. I won a brand new 870 combo express and though I might try to trade it in on a muzzleloader.