The rule for rifle barrel length was, if it was a standard cartridge, such as a .270 or a .30/06, 22 inches was the ideal length. For the smaller rounds, you could go as short as 20. For magnums, 24 inches was de rigeur and, for a few specialty rounds such as the .220 Swift, 26 was the only rational way to go.
Are 22 inch barrels good for hunting?
A 22″ barrel will fill a different role. They are not ideal for flying or running game, but work better than many purists want to admit. Sometimes a shorter gun is more important.
What is the best length barrel for deer hunting?
While a 26” barrel is lighter and more maneuverable, a 28” barrel is going to be more accurate for long-range shots and should be regarded as perhaps the best all-around barrel length. Keep in mind that choke selection can mitigate the inherent differences between 26” and 28” barrels.
Is a 22 inch barrel good for 308?
One of the guns with the 22″ barrel is always 30ish fps faster than the other 22″ gun. The faster 308 is only 60 fps faster than the 18″ barrel and my handloads come within 20 fps of published 308 load data from 24″ barrels. The slower 22″ barrel only about 30 fps faster than the 18″ rifle.
Is a 24 inch barrel too long?
So 24″ is absolutely fine and will definitely get you to the advertised velocities for the caliber. The extra 2-4″ of barrel length may not help the 308 as much as it would some other cartridges, but it doesn’t hurt it at all. I don’t think I’d go any longer than 24 though.
Is a 20 inch barrel more accurate?
a longer barrel does increase range by increasing velocity. (Up to a certain point). But increasing barrel length DOES NOT DECREASE ACCURACY. Increase in barrel length INCREASES accuracy.
Is a longer barrel more accurate?
5 Answers. The short answer: Yes, a longer gun barrel improves accuracy. Theoretical accuracy of handguns and rifles is driven by rifling, barrel length, and bullet mass.
How long is too long for a hunting rifle?
These days, no self-respecting people-shooting rifle comes without a suppressor, so a barrel longer than 24 inches is ruled out. And speaking (loudly) of noise, carbine-length barrels and large-ish cartridges don’t mix because the report is absolutely deafening.
Is 28 or 26 Barrel better?
26 or 28. You lose very little range and power with a 26 inch barrel. The only advantage that a longer barrel has it that is is easier to swing. You are probably losing 15 fps if that.
Can a rifle barrel be too long?
tl:dr; Longer than you can probably put on a firearm, and too long to be practical for anything other than experimentation.
Does a shorter barrel affect accuracy?
In theory, shorter barrels are more accurate. Tolerances are more difficult to hold over longer distances. Shorter barrels also are relatively stiffer for the same profile, and so the harmonics are easier to work with.
What’s the best barrel length for 308?
Our experience has shown that for a . 308 caliber tactical rifle with the overall rifle weight and shooting distances mentioned earlier, a barrel of 24-27″ is optimum in one of the fairly heavy contours we discussed. Closer ranges or other considerations might dictate a shorter barrel.
What is the best barrel length for a 308 caliber rifle?
This is all just conversation/opinion, but I’d suggest a 20-24″ for all around use, depending on your preferences. Longer or shorter lengths than that, are getting into niche-rifle territory, in my humble opinion.
How far can a 22 inch barrel shoot?
A 22 short round fired from a pistol will travel around 200 yards (170m) at sea level when aimed flat. A 22LR cartridge in a rifle will be accurate to 300m so can be zeroed to that distance. The round though is capable of going much further but a great deal of bullet drop needs to be accounted for.
Does the length of the barrel affect distance?
The length of the barrel does affect the velocity of a projectile and therefore will affect the accurate distance and the total expected and real distance of the projectile. A general rule of thumb is the longer the barrel, the higher the velocity.
What is the shortest rifle barrel length legal?
Short-barreled rifle (SBR) is a legal designation in the United States, referring to a shoulder-fired, rifled firearm, made from a rifle, with a barrel length of less than 16 in (41 cm) or overall length of less than 26 in (66 cm), or a handgun fitted with a buttstock and a barrel of less than 16 inches length.