04-28-2011, 02:04 PM
Barrel length is an interesting and somewhat controversial issue.
Clearly, if you adopt a general-purpose cartridge with excellent long-range potential, it makes sense if the gun you use it in is capable of exploiting that potential. Which is to say, has a barrel long enough to develop the velocity the round is capable of. On the other hand, the current trend with rifles is to use ever-shorter barrels in order to keep the guns compact for urban warfare and clambering in and out of cramped vehicles.
So there would seem to be three options:
1. Select an intermediate length barrel (say 16 inches) which isn't quite short enough to be really handy and isn't quite long enough for good long-range performance.
2. Choose a modular gun with a quick-change barrel and issue both short and long barrels - and hope that your troops don't get caught with the wrong barrel fitted if the tactical circumstances change suddenly.
3. Choose a bullpup, and for the same length gun enjoy a barrel eight inches longer than with a traditional design. This is by far the most logical choice, but the US seems to have something against bullpups...
Clearly, if you adopt a general-purpose cartridge with excellent long-range potential, it makes sense if the gun you use it in is capable of exploiting that potential. Which is to say, has a barrel long enough to develop the velocity the round is capable of. On the other hand, the current trend with rifles is to use ever-shorter barrels in order to keep the guns compact for urban warfare and clambering in and out of cramped vehicles.
So there would seem to be three options:
1. Select an intermediate length barrel (say 16 inches) which isn't quite short enough to be really handy and isn't quite long enough for good long-range performance.
2. Choose a modular gun with a quick-change barrel and issue both short and long barrels - and hope that your troops don't get caught with the wrong barrel fitted if the tactical circumstances change suddenly.
3. Choose a bullpup, and for the same length gun enjoy a barrel eight inches longer than with a traditional design. This is by far the most logical choice, but the US seems to have something against bullpups...