How do you figure what the exact length of a barrel should be? I often see barrel lengths of 25.5 inches, for instance. How did they come up with the 1/2 inch?

Other than form some of the BR rifles where weight and a harmonic target come into play hunting rifles barrel lengths are pretty much left to the desire of the builder.

It is simply 25.5 because the builder wanted it. Either for balance, looks or simply because.

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Originally posted by Road Dog:
How do you figure what the exact length of a barrel should be? I often see barrel lengths of 25.5 inches, for instance. How did they come up with the 1/2 inch?

You can get a long barrel and a chronograph, and begin cutting the barrel back in 1" increments for a particular load. As you begin shortening the barrel, there will be less friction and so the velocity will increase. Eventually you will reach a point where the velocity begins to drop off. When that happens, stop cutting, measure the barrel and add a half inch to that length and there you have it. Just don't change loads.

Its ususally a metric conversion issue. 600mm = 23.5 inches, 650mm = 25.5 inches, etc.

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Its ususally a metric conversion issue. 600mm = 23.5 inches, 650mm = 25.5 inches

Hadn't thought of that aspec. Thanks

for me it's simply "personal preference."

I like 22" and shorter and some like 24" and longer.

As long as it meets the federal minimums, barrel length is arbitrary.

RoadDog ; Perhaps this will help explain things clearly . These people seem to know what their doing .

I have two Rifles with their barrels and they PREFORM as the Squids would say Hot Straight and Normal !.

http://www.riflebarrels.com/ar..._barrel_velocity.htm

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:

quote:

Originally posted by Road Dog:
How do you figure what the exact length of a barrel should be? I often see barrel lengths of 25.5 inches, for instance. How did they come up with the 1/2 inch?

You can get a long barrel and a chronograph, and begin cutting the barrel back in 1" increments for a particular load. As you begin shortening the barrel, there will be less friction and so the velocity will increase. Eventually you will reach a point where the velocity begins to drop off. When that happens, stop cutting, measure the barrel and add a half inch to that length and there you have it. Just don't change loads.

How do you add the 1/2"?
Don

Well, you would have to get a new barrel and cut it to the correct length which would include the 1/2 inch. Why do I always have to be the one figuring this stuff out?

And to answer your next question, you sell it on ebay.

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:
Well, you would have to get a new barrel and cut it to the correct length which would include the 1/2 inch. Why do I always have to be the one figuring this stuff out? .

And I thought you were just being a smart ass! Thanks for the reply's. That link to riflebarrels.com was interesting.

quote:

Originally posted by Road Dog:
And I thought you were just being a smart ass!

No, actually I was serious. You asked the question "How do you figure what the exact length of a barrel should be?" The key word being "exact". There is no cheap and easy way to determing that. You would have to experiment with various barrel lengths and loads. That could be pretty expensive. And the results are subject to change with the loads.

quote:

Originally posted by Westpac:

quote:

Originally posted by Road Dog:
And I thought you were just being a smart ass!

No, actually I was serious. You asked the question "How do you figure what the exact length of a barrel should be?" The key word being "exact". There is no cheap and easy way to determining that. You would have to experiment with various barrel lengths and loads. That could be pretty expensive. And the results are subject to change with the loads.

Thanks for the info. I guess the best way may be to leave that detail up to a good gunsmith, which I am not.

And...if you got the correct length as Westpac says, you may not get the same results with a new barrel that is 1/2" longer due to different hormonics.

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Thanks for the info. I guess the best way may be to leave that detail up to a good gunsmith, which I am not

Best suggestion I have is choose the length that you feel looks and feels good on your rifle. Then work up an accuracy load and be happy. I sure wouldn't spend any of my time testing and trying to decide if a hunting rifle should be 23.5 24 or 24.5.

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Originally posted by ramrod340:
Best suggestion I have is choose the length that you feel looks and feels good on your rifle. Then work up an accuracy load and be happy. I sure wouldn't spend any of my time testing and trying to decide if a hunting rifle should be 23.5 24 or 24.5.

Me neither! Life's too short to be worrying about things like that.

Sounds like good advice!

Changing the load, bedding, etc. has as much or more impact than the barrel length. There is no "right" or "proper" barrel length. That is like asking who is the prettiest woman in the world. Well, it depends on a lot of things and there is no one answer!

Correction-I know the right answer, but others can make equally storng arguments and their answers are correct for them.

Again, barrel length is arbitrary. Just like setting head space. The actual final measurement, if it is within range, is completely and totally arbitrary when seen in the big picture.

A shorter barrel does have more muzzle blast and is closer to the ear, so....

quote:

Originally posted by 303Guy:
A shorter barrel does have more muzzle blast and is closer to the ear, so....

In the US we have what is called the "NRA Salute." When two shooters of my age and older talk to each other, they both cup their hand behind their off (away from the muzzle) ear. Helps us deaf guys talk. The shorter the barrel, the earlier age you learn the salute!!!

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Helps us deaf guys talk

Darn shotguns take care of them too. My wife got tired of repeating everything on TV so I had to go to electronic help last year. Took two months for me to get her to lower her voice enough that she wasn't yelling at me. Since then added a set of E.S.Ps for shooting. Work great I can hear to talk but no rifle noise. Best $880 ever spent.

I work hard at protecting my hearing! My buddie on the other hand does not. He says that it was the speakers at the club that munted his ears for the whole day after and that firing his 22-250 that same afternoon was not worrying him! Nor the short barreled 358 Win. Oh boy!

This is how I save my ears - ugly but effective in conjunction with ear-plugs which allow me to pretty much hear normally in the field.


This little one doesn't even look too bad and only extends the barrel by 2".


They have the added benefit of keeping crud out of the muzzle.