Myth! Short barrel velocity vs. std. 24" barrel velocit

[wingnut]

Decades ago, Shooting Times magazine did an article that contained a experiment on rifle barrel length vs speed. I believe Wooters (sp) wrote it. Several rifle barrels 20-26 inches long were chrono'ed then cut down an inch and chrono'ed again. This went on until all barrels were about 16 (IIRC) inches long. The average speed loss was about 25fps/inch.

However, a longer barrel (to some reasonably max degree) still remains the cheapest and safest way to gain speed. Also, IMO, a longer barrel allows me to use slower powders (for a 95-100% fill) with heavy bullets at good speed at lower pressures thus lower throat temps for longer barrel life. YMMV.

ETA: For example, take a look in the 2 recent Nosler reloading guides. They use a 26 inch barrel in the 280 Rem and a 24 inch barrel for the 7mm RemMag & 7mm WhbyMag. The speeds are not that far apart even though much more powder is used in the mag's. The 7mm RemMag & WhbyMag would have much better showings in a 26 and more so in a 28 inch barrel with slow powders (H1000 or Retumbo) and heavy bullets.

 

[baltz526]

just got my 300win mag vangard back from gunsmith and finished fitting the new carbilite stock. 20" barrel now. feels like a remington model #7 now in my hand. great balance. with the new target crown i'm hoping it performs better than the 1 3/4" groups it averaged before the cut. my goal is a 200gr Partition at 2800fps out of the 20" barrel. it should be very close

 

[FOTIS]

It can be a myth, but not when you have a super slow barrel to begin with. You cut that puppy from 24-16.6" and you go from a 300 WBY to a 300 savage. :lol:

 

[Big Squeeze]

Baltz.......................If I can get 2828 fps. using a 200 gr. Nosler A/B from my 16.5" barreled 300 WSM Ruger Frontier, the chances are VERY high that your 20" will do as well if not better!!! That load was 69 gr. Rel#19!.... With a 24" barrel, the 300 WSM max. load in my Sierra manual using their 200 gr. is 68 gr. of Rel#19 @ 2900 fps......My rifle can handle 69 gr. with the AccuBond which gave me 2828 fps..........You should expect around a 3% loss in total velocity vs. the 24" with your 300 Win`s 20" barrel!....Granted! It could be more than 3% and it could be less than 3%. Only your chrony will know for sure!!!

 

[baltz526]

it is a 300 win mag, before the cut it shot the 200gr Partition at 2950 with a max load of imr4831

 

[Big Squeeze]

If you got 2950 fps. before the cut down, then you should get between 2820 & 2860 fps. Somewhere in that range!....We`ll see if I`m close!

 

[Big Squeeze]

POP!...........I don`t think Baltz has a slow barrel if he shot 2950 fps. before the cut down to 20".............

 

[baltz526]

:roll: not a slow barrel, just a copper fouling piece of junk i'm experimenting with. if this dosnt (FIX) it i may go to another barrel with the same bolt face cartrage in the 20". 375 ruger, 358 norma, 338 win mag and 300 win mag are the real choices

 

[Big Squeeze]

Baltz...............I just bought the .375 Ruger Alaskan with its 20" barrel........Shot 40 rounds last weekend with the 270 gr. Hornady factory ammo! My chrono results were averaging 2706 fps...........The 375 Ruger? How about 375 H&H ballistics from a 24" & 25" barrel coming from the Ruger`s 20" tube!!................A great choice if you choose the 375 Ruger!

 

[FOTIS]

It can be a myth, but not when you have a super slow barrel to begin with. You cut that puppy from 24-16.6" and you go from a 300 WBY to a 300 savage. :lol:

This was a generalized statement :wink:

 

[baltz526]

there is a 300gr 375 ruger load in nosler #6 at 2507 and one at 2494. i think these loads would be plenty for cascade elk.

 

[Big Squeeze]

Yeah!! No kidding there!! More than enough power. But if I use my Alaskan for elk, I will use the 225 grainer at about 2900 to 3000 fps.

 

[Sharpsman]

In the final analysis....there's not a whitetail or mule deer buck out there that's going to be able to tell you if there was 4.2% difference in what they got hit by!! Dead...is dead!

As for long barrels.....the added advantage there is going to be for a lot of the guys shooting steel or elk WAY OUT THERE.....and for the target shooter who will gain the advantage of increased sight radius using aperture sights! :lol:

 

[bullet]

Yeah!! No kidding there!! More than enough power. But if I use my Alaskan for elk, I will use the 225 grainer at about 2900 to 3000 fps.

Big Squeeze, left you a PM

 

[Big Squeeze]

Bullet...................Try sending the PM again! I didn`t receive it...

 

[bullet]

Bullet...................Try sending the PM again! I didn`t receive it...

I sent it again. It show that the first one was sent so I don't know what happened but I sent it again.

 

[tjen]

Does it not depend on the cartridge and also the powder used?
For a 25-06 with slower powders a longer barrel will make a bigger difference. But for a more efficiant cartridge like the 358win if you have a shorter barrel say a 20 incher Then just select a faster burn powder from those apropreate for it. Say 4895 instead of 4064 etc. and the loss of velocity won't be that great.

 

[rick smith]

Switching to a faster powder will not solve the velocity loss. The powder that gives the fastest velocity in a long barrel will also give the highest in a shortened barrel.Rick.

 

[Big Squeeze]

tjen.......................A faster burning powder in shorter barrel will burn more efficiently, but not increase the velocity. Rick Smith is correct!.........As for me, since I started this subject, I`m concerned with two things and only two things!... Accuracy & velocity!!.....I try to achieve
both from my 300 WSM compact and distinguish between hunting loads vs. the more accurate bench loads. I reload em up accordingly!

 

[bullet]

In studying the 350Rem mag to make up my mine it seemed to me that the 350 Rem mag case compresses more from the rear and not as much from the sides or the sharp angled shoulders as longer cartridges do. The short 350 Rem Mag is highly efficient and with w748 out performs the 35 Whelen with 225gr bullets and does it with a 20" barrel even though their case capacity is all but the same. Once again illustrating how the short not to fat not to skinny cases are more efficient powder burners. This will also allow the barrel life to not be an issue at all since the column of powder compresses more from the rear of the case causing less broken and un-burned powder from cutting the throat which shortens the life of a barrel. IMR4320 and IMR4895 are also powders that produce great results in the 350 Rem Mag. Just bought me a Rem Mod 7 CDL in 350 Rem Mag and will use a 2-7x35mm scope on it. It will be a handy and powerful short mag rifle for pine woods, juniper thickets, and from tree stands while being light, easy to carry while spotting and stalking and can be brought to bare quickly on short up close shots with a whole lot of thump and not to much recoil. Pushing a 225 AccuBond bullet at 2712fps with 59.2grs of WW748. That is 3673ft pounds of energy at muzzle and still has 2000ft pounds of energy out to 360yds. Sight in 2.7" high at 100yds and -6.3" at 300yds, hold on top shoulder good to 390yds