Barrel length and Accuracy

[RW]

I have a rifle that when I had it re barrelled I had it left long 27" and I was thinking of cutting it back to around 24" or 25". Would I have to re- work up loads with the shorter barrel length? It is a sporter contour measuring .650 at the muzzle. I was wondering if there is anyone who has any experience doing something like this? Thank You, RW

 

[Homerange]

Most likely. Change the barrel length, it'll impact on it's harmonics.
Possibly just small tweaks in seating depth will counter any misbehavior.

 

[Bart B.]

It could change up to 1/10th MOA either way 2 or 3 inches shorter. If it averages 3/10ths MOA at 27 inches you could see a difference; perhaps down to 2/10ths.

Same amount of change If it averaged 1 MOA. Or 2 MOA.

I doubt you will see any difference.

The barrel cannot misbehave. It, like all the other gun parts, has no behavior system to change its size or movement by itself. These are the reason why guns don't kill people.

 

[284winner]

I have a rifle that when I had it re barrelled I had it left long 27" and I was thinking of cutting it back to around 24" or 25". Would I have to re- work up loads with the shorter barrel length? It is a sporter contour measuring .650 at the muzzle. I was wondering if there is anyone who has any experience doing something like this? Thank You, RW

Velocity loss is the only thing you'll lose. Accuracy will not get any worse. Possibly get better depending on the harmonics. Often times shorter barrels improve harmonics. No real way of knowing until you do it. I chopped a 308 barrel down from 26 to 22 and it did not change accuracy, only velocity and the elevation adjustment on my scope. Not hardly enough to notice really until ranges beyond 600 yards. The gun was set up for ranges under 400 after shortening the barrel so was no issue.

 

[Bart B.]

Velocity loss is the only thing you'll lose. Accuracy will not get any worse.

Accuracy will get worse if bullets leave at a bad range of the bore axis vertical angles relative to the line of sight.

Shortening the barrel makes it stiffer and vibrate at higher frequencies. And barrel time for a given load will be less. Both don't change the correct amount to let bullets leave at the same place on the muzzle axis vibration cycle.

 

[FatOldMIHunter]

Wind sensitivity will slightly increase as velocity decreases. Longer airtime with slower bullet means more time for wind to push. Bump the velocity back up with a higher charge and all bets are off, but accuracy may actually improve.

 

[oldroper]

I have a rifle that when I had it re barrelled I had it left long 27" and I was thinking of cutting it back to around 24" or 25". Would I have to re- work up loads with the shorter barrel length? It is a sporter contour measuring .650 at the muzzle. I was wondering if there is anyone who has any experience doing something like this? Thank You, RW

I've got couple rifles with 27" barrel and their long throated and I'm getting better than published velocity. I've only had one cut from 28" and to play it safe, I just reworked my loads and I knew I was going to get less velocity but didn't figure it was going to be that much. When I reworks loads I did play with seating depth. I was more disappointed in the loss of velocity and I think I forgot why I wanted that longer barrel. I did drop rifle off at gunsmith and had him put new barrel on so for me it was lesson learned.