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NBRSA 18” barrel length minimum?

DEFINITIONS2.1. Bench: A bench shall be a rigidly constructed table being of a height to permit a shooter of more orless than average height to sit comfortably there at by merely increasing or decreasing the heightof the stool on which he/she sits. It shall preferably be constructed to permit firing by either a rightor left handed shooter.2.2. Unlimited Rifle: Any rifle having a barrel 18 or more inches in length, measured from the face ofthe bolt to the muzzle, and having a safely operated firing mechanism. For minimum barrel length,the legal method of measurement from the face of the bolt shall be employed.2.3. Heavy Varmint Rifle: A Heavy Varmint Rifle is any rifle having a safe manually operated firingmechanism that weighs no more than thirteen and one half pounds, inclusive of sights. Any sightwill be permitted. The stock should have a flat or convex forearm not more than 3 inches wide andhaving a toe formed by an acute angle that conforms to the varmint rifle diagram on page 99. Thebarrel shall not be less than 18” long forward of the bolt face and a diameter of not more than1.250 inches from the bolt face forward 5 inches. From said 5-inch point, the diameter shall not begreater than would be defined by a straight taper between such point and a muzzle diameter of.900 at 29 inches. The barrel may be attached to the receiver, bedding blocks or sleeve orcombination thereof for a distance of no more than 4”, measured from the face 5 of the bolt. Theoverall length of the receiver, bedding block or sleeve or the combination must not exceed 14”.(Maximum dimensions shall not include normal scope blocks or sight bases). A metal skeletonframe that serves as a stock and has a fore end that may or may not attach to the barrel and meetsall other requirements of a Heavy Varmint rifle is permissible (i.e. Beggs Stick Gun). Any “SavageType” barrel nut shall be considered as part of the action and therefore shall be legal in all NBRSAClasses.2.4. Light Varmint Rifle: Any rifle of not more than 10 1⁄2 lbs in weight, inclusive of sights, andotherwise meeting the requirement of the Heavy Varmint Rifle.Rules: Revision #47 January 2025By-Laws: Revision #43 January 2025
 
What is the rationale for the 18” minimum barrel length?
 
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.


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 somewhere.
 
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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.
 
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.
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.
If you have a little time, those old minutes can be a rather interesting read, especially when you see the names involved through the years of changing leadership.

I personally think it is a great example about how regardless, of how much things change, human nature remains the same.
 
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.


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
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”.
 
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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.
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.
 
Mike you stole my response. Back in the day and I can't believe I'm the oldest here, it was just unrespectful so show up with some thunder heaving rifle. Out of respect for others the rule was adopted to limit noise and distractions. I remember another respect rule that you couldn't get up from your bench until the ceasefire was called so as not to distract other shooters. To this day it's the polite thing to do.
 
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.

Per ChatGPT

That rule goes back to the National Firearms Act (NFA) of 1934. The NFA (enacted June 26, 1934) defines a short‑barreled rifle (SBR) as a rifle with a barrel less than 16 inches (or an overall length under 26 inches). Rifles with barrels shorter than 16" are therefore regulated under the NFA (registration, tax stamp, transfer restrictions, etc.).


If you want, I can summarize how the NFA requirements work today (registration, tax, penalties) or outline differences between SBRs, pistols, and other classes — or dig up citations, but I can’t run a live web search right now unless you want me to (I’ll note any sourcing limits).
 

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