02-04-2012, 07:37 PM
Shorter barrels ARE more accurate, but.....
Shorter barrels of the same diameter will have less whip. BUT....less velocity also.
So, IF you can make the distance so short that velocity has no effect, then the shorter barrel will be more accurate. The problem is finding that distance!
My guess is that at 50 yards, maybe even 100 yards, a shorter barrel will work better. You can see the thought process in Benchrest, where they effectively create less whip by making heavier barrels. It can be carried to crazy extremes, and thus there are weight classes!
We are seeing the facts impact in police marksman rifles, where the chance of a police intervention is most likely less than 100 yards, and the Police are often using .223 or .308's with 20 inch barrels, because velocity at that range is not so critical. Those same shooters, if forced to compete at 1000 yards, will usually push barrels out to 30 inches, or even more, to pick up as much velocity as possible from the calibers. They will have more whip, so then they go to heavier profiles, and the battle rages!
Shorter barrels of the same diameter will have less whip. BUT....less velocity also.
So, IF you can make the distance so short that velocity has no effect, then the shorter barrel will be more accurate. The problem is finding that distance!
My guess is that at 50 yards, maybe even 100 yards, a shorter barrel will work better. You can see the thought process in Benchrest, where they effectively create less whip by making heavier barrels. It can be carried to crazy extremes, and thus there are weight classes!
We are seeing the facts impact in police marksman rifles, where the chance of a police intervention is most likely less than 100 yards, and the Police are often using .223 or .308's with 20 inch barrels, because velocity at that range is not so critical. Those same shooters, if forced to compete at 1000 yards, will usually push barrels out to 30 inches, or even more, to pick up as much velocity as possible from the calibers. They will have more whip, so then they go to heavier profiles, and the battle rages!
You seek escape from pain. We seek the achievement of happiness. You exist for the sake of avoiding punishment. We exist for the sake of earning rewards. Threats will not make us function; fear is not our incentive. It is not death that we wish to avoid, but life that we wish to live. - John Galt