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Barrel length
What is the difference between a 22" & a 24" barrel,other than the ovivious 2". Reason I ask is I owned a Rem. 700 in 30 06 & I believe the barrel length was 22". I now own a Rem. 700 in 243 & the barrel length is 24". So I'm curious why the different lengths?
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The longer barrel will give you more velocity and there's a good chance that it'll be more accurate, but it affects the feel and handling of the weapon. A few extra fps won't do you any good if the gun feels clumsy in your hands while walking around in the woods. Every gun is different and how it feels is different for everyone. If your walking around out west where you're out in the open the longer barrel will work best. If you're walking around in a thicket where the barrel is getting caught on every other branch I'd go with the shorter barrel.
Another thing to think about now that I reread your post. The 30-06 uses a long action and the .243 uses a short action. The barrel on the .243 is 2" longer but the overall length of the gun is probably only about 1" longer. That's why the balance of every gun is different. |
They say about 100fps per inch. If you can tell the difference between 3000 fps and 3200 id worry
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i asked this question on another forum. The answers i got back were that it doesn't really make a difference. More of a marketing thing. I prefer 22" barrels and usually cheaper guns have 22" barrels. magnums usually have 24" barrels.
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I believe there is something about harmonics, but not too sure about it.
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i heard it all now
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For all practical purposes the 24" barrel is just a bit heavier. Very few people would ever notice a difference.
Mitch |
The effect of barrel length, and the need for more, is really determined by the cartridge you're firing. The bigger the case for a given bore diameter, the greater the benefit of more barrel length. This is why magnums generally have more barrel length than standard length cartridges, and why short action cartridges often have even shorter barrels. The velocity difference is different between rifles, but generally, the bigger the case, the greater the velocity per inch of barrel. Magnums, and certain overbore non-mags (the 25-06 Rem, for example), really need 24" bbls minimum to take advantage of their ability to burn large amounts of slow powder, and 26" is better. Anything less than 26" on a modern super-mag (Rem Ultra Mags, 378 Wby based cases, 338 Lapua, among others), and you're just wasting powder. Most standard and short action cartridges are fine with 22" bbls, with some taking advantage of 24" (like the 243 Win). IMO, 20" is about the practical minimum for most CF rifle cartridges unless the advantage of a shorter bbl significantly outweighs the performance lost (the M4/CAR-15 for close quarters combat, for instance).
As for accuracy, more than likely a SHORTER barrel will be more accurate simply because it will be more rigid (if the contour is the same). What's easier to flex, a 12" piece of steel 1/2" rebar or a 12' piece? The longer piece will sag noticeably under it's own weight, where the short piece will not. The same is true for a barrel. When the barrel vibrates on firing, the longer barrel (all else equal) will vibrate with greater amplitude than the shorter barrel, making the possible shot dispersion from an "out-of-tune" load greater. Make the barrel shorter and it'll be stiffer and groups will TEND to be smaller overall. Long, thin barrels tend to be the least accurate. To stiffen a long barrel, the contour needs to be thicker, at the cost of added weight. Mike |
Originally Posted by driftrider
(Post 3516550)
The effect of barrel length, and the need for more, is really determined by the cartridge you're firing. The bigger the case for a given bore diameter, the greater the benefit of more barrel length. This is why magnums generally have more barrel length than standard length cartridges, and why short action cartridges often have even shorter barrels. The velocity difference is different between rifles, but generally, the bigger the case, the greater the velocity per inch of barrel. Magnums, and certain overbore non-mags (the 25-06 Rem, for example), really need 24" bbls minimum to take advantage of their ability to burn large amounts of slow powder, and 26" is better. Anything less than 26" on a modern super-mag (Rem Ultra Mags, 378 Wby based cases, 338 Lapua, among others), and you're just wasting powder. Most standard and short action cartridges are fine with 22" bbls, with some taking advantage of 24" (like the 243 Win). IMO, 20" is about the practical minimum for most CF rifle cartridges unless the advantage of a shorter bbl significantly outweighs the performance lost (the M4/CAR-15 for close quarters combat, for instance).
As for accuracy, more than likely a SHORTER barrel will be more accurate simply because it will be more rigid (if the contour is the same). What's easier to flex, a 12" piece of steel 1/2" rebar or a 12' piece? The longer piece will sag noticeably under it's own weight, where the short piece will not. The same is true for a barrel. When the barrel vibrates on firing, the longer barrel (all else equal) will vibrate with greater amplitude than the shorter barrel, making the possible shot dispersion from an "out-of-tune" load greater. Make the barrel shorter and it'll be stiffer and groups will TEND to be smaller overall. Long, thin barrels tend to be the least accurate. To stiffen a long barrel, the contour needs to be thicker, at the cost of added weight. Mike If the barrel stays cool without rapid firing the longer barrel will not be effected in accuracy in my experience. Now this is standard cartridges, NOT wildcats and short magnums. These need to burn alot of powder and generate alot more heat and FPS. Again JMO and what I have experienced through my experiments. :party0005: |
Thank-you for the education guys. I went in Remingtons website and it seems like all the 700's have a 24" barrel {except the carbines} no matter what caliber.
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Originally Posted by jerry d
(Post 3516835)
Thank-you for the education guys. I went in Remingtons website and it seems like all the 700's have a 24" barrel {except the carbines} no matter what caliber.
Mike |
Originally Posted by Hammer Wrench
(Post 3518339)
You don't shoot much,do you?
For conversation,my 22,23 and 24" 25-284's are birds of a feather in the velocity department,with less than 75fps betwixt the trio in a worst case scenario. My first 378 was 26",my second 24" and the difference was even less. My 375H&H Ackley Improveds ran the gamut from 22-24" and the differences were nothing. Have had 375H&H's from 22-26" and there's no difference there,worth fretting. The 24" 338Ultra is an outstanding platform too. Have built 243AI's from 22-26" and it's performance isn't hinged on long tubes. Reality is,contour means little to nothing,because downrange performance is factored by the bore's interior,it's chambering quality and throat/mag harmony. One of the most accurate rifles I've ever shot,is a 700 based sub MR contoured 26" 257Wby wearing a PacNor 1-10". Wives Tales are perpetuated by folks who don't shoot. ........Uhhhhh....Let me see if I get this right.... Brand new poster, talks the same as Rifle Looney, Busheles, Jesus Trip, etc., etc., and several other aliases....HE'S BAAAAACK........ |
Originally Posted by Pawildman
(Post 3518646)
........Uhhhhh....Let me see if I get this right.... Brand new poster, talks the same as Rifle Looney, Busheles, Jesus Trip, etc., etc., and several other aliases....HE'S BAAAAACK........
Mike |
Yes the genius of all things firearm related is here once again. How long before the old foot ends up in his mouth? Want mustard with that?
Evidently, he has read everything ever written about firearms and has shot every caliber at every animal that ever walked the planet. Didn't you guys know he is the son of the great Hath****, grandson of Samuel Colt? Yes and all that knowledge and "expertise" + $0.50 will get him a cup of coffee at his local gun show. Oh, yeah not to mention he is the greatest gunsmith that ever walked the planet. He did say he's built everything known to man. I'll bet he doesn't make it to 12 posts, any takers? |
Originally Posted by Hammer Wrench
(Post 3519257)
vabyrd,
Feel free to use your very modest comprehension to copy/paste anything I've mused,that you take issue with and I'll happily use smaller words and more pics,to help you understand. I reckon I shoulda mulled the 223AI too,as I drive them from 20-26" with all stops in between. The 22-250AI,243AI,7-08 and 308 are nicely covered too,as far as firsthand extrapolations...but knowing is akin to "cheating" in these circles. Feel free to guess on,as it is hilarious. |
Originally Posted by Hammer Wrench
(Post 3519317)
To frost same,feel free to wax eloquent on like chamberings of differing barrel lengths that you've owned and the chronographed differences attributed to same in extrapolation. That as a shallow muse,because it is largely moot,due to different chamber reamers and bore dimensioning,which do skew pressures despite like ammo.
More succinct would be you mulling the bob of a given rifle's barrel and the velocity "loss" founded after the fact,again via chronograph and ammo denotation. Feel free to mention which chronograph you gun,as well as a sample of your wares. laffin' Boys and girls, this is why they banned lead paint. |
I think this guy is a well known gunners long lost brotha' - LAME SIMPSON!!!
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Most firearms manufacturers will match the barrel for optimal performance with a specific round in hunting applications.
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