What is the rationale for the 18” minimum barrel length?
What is the rationale for the 18” minimum barrel length?
Just proves rimfire is not as gooder as center fire.Ha! To add to this mystery, the IBS also has an 18” minimum, EXCEPT rimfire. Rimfire is the expected 16.5” minimum barrel length.
A scooch forward would solve thatMaybe so that the end of the barrel cleared the bench.
As I said, I have read through those Archives going clear back to the 1950’s, and cannot recall the actual reasoning behind the 18 inch minimum.Thanks Jackie. I was just hoping it was some logical reason that I couldn’t think of. 16” would make sense due to federal law. 18”? Hoping someone on this forum might know, rather than pour through all the archives.
Per your rec, I did skim through all 396 pages of board meeting notes from 1964 to 2004. I found 2 or 3 references to the 18” barrel length restriction in 1964 and later. They simply repeat the restriction with zero explanation or discussion. There aren’t any files posted prior to 1964 that I can review. While it was fun to see some familiar names in the industry and that this rule has been in place, unchallenged, for more than 60 years, I didn’t learn why 18” was chosen as a minimum rather than 16”.You asked for the rational?
The 18 inch or longer barrel mandate has been around for eons.
As with many things in Benchrest, I suspect that it was to keep the Rifles in a somewhat practical assumption as to what the shooting community considered a “Rifle”.
It’s a lot like the stock rules. For instance, why does the bottom of the Butt have to be tapered in the two Varmint Classes.? Why can’t you use a straight barrel profile in LV and HV. Why limit the forearm to 3 inches maximum.
But even in Sporter and Unlimited, where there are no barrel restrictions on profile, it still must be 18 inches+.
There are Archives somewhere which minutes of every BOD meeting in the NBRSA. I guess you could search way back and the true answer will lie in there.
Board Minutes - National Bench Rest Shooters Association
Our board minutes are archived and available here for viewing and download. If you have any questions, you can contact us! Board minutes are in PDF format.www.nbrsa.org
I have gone back and read most it through the years, but really cannot recall the rational in making the minimum length 18 inches. I’m sure it’s in there somewher
Amazing that ChatGPT has access to nBRSA rules discussions that took place more than 60 years ago. I would argue that all 4 points are wrong.
I agree that short barrels can be obnoxiously loud, but is there really a difference between 16” and 18”? 90% (tens of millions) of the AR’s come standard with 16” barrels.Isn't the GCA of 1968 where the 16" minimum law originated? If so, and if the 18" rule pre-dated the GCA, then it had nothing to do with the law...fwiw. Short bbls can be obnoxiously loud and the concussion can be problematic to the guy next to you. I'd suspect it had more to do with that than anything else.
Isn't the GCA of 1968 where the 16" minimum law originated? If so, and if the 18" rule pre-dated the GCA, then it had nothing to do with the law...fwiw. Short bbls can be obnoxiously loud and the concussion can be problematic to the guy next to you. I'd suspect it had more to do with that than anything else.