20" barrrel VS. 26" barrel??

[mikeinla]

Why do so many people run a 20" barrel?? What is is a reasonable distance a 20" is barrel is able to reach?

[wildcard]

Typical argument is that there will be no loss of accuracy and you'd be able to hit whatever 1000+yd target your heart desires with the right load. The loss of velocity is a non-issue.. etc..

If you don't mind losing a little velocity for portability and weight reduction, go for it.

I personally run a 27" but i'm indifferent. I just hate buying a $300 blank and lopping off 1/3 of it!

[buffybuster]

There is the "Short Barrel" group and the "Long Barrel" group.

Short Barrel: (16-20")
Pros: Easier, more manageable, "theoretically" more accurate (shorter barrel is stiffer than same contour longer barrel)
Cons: Potentially reduced MV, which may or may not be an issue depending on conditions and how far you shoot.

Long Barrel: (+26")
Pros: Maximize velocity for best downrange performance. If you left a shank, then barrel can be setback. For open sights, long sight radius improves precision.
Cons: Heavier, more difficult to manage and move with, "theoretically" more barrel whip which could effect accuracy.

Many shooters split the difference with 22-24" barrels.

There is no debate that given two identical barrels, the longer one will generally provide higher MV. The debate comes in that two barrels are never identical, so there are "fast barrels" (tight bore, etc) and there are "slow barrels". If you shoot inside 800yds and very rarely shoot to 1K at Sealevel then a shorter barrel will probably work very well. If you're shooting mostly beyond 800yds and also shooting at/near Sealevel then you might want the added velocity of a longer barrel.

OR just get lucky and hope for a "fast" barrel. The accuracy difference for our type of shooting is largely theoretical. In BR shooting they shoot short, fat barrels.

If you can swing it, have one of each. Having the right tool for the job.

[CamW]

Here's a video of a 18" barrel shooting out to 1000 yards.

http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=15qj032UJ1I&feature=player_embedded

[Gnzrme]

I shoot to 1000 yards from a 20" bbl....Interesting the guys at Cuyama call my rifle "Stubby" since it's a heavy bbl config...anyway, if I do my part, I can hold about 1/2-1 MOA...However, if it gets windy or cold, I will have problems as my velocity runs about 150fps below everybody else....

[Bug Splat]

I think it largely depends on the round you are shooting out of it. Some rounds will just not burn all the power in 20 inches and it needs more.

[buffybuster]

The 20" or 26" debate is only for .308Win.
If you're shooting a .243Win, .260Rem, or any other "go-fast" caliber, then IMO anything less than 24" defeats the whole purpose.

[Bserebreni]

My Alexanderf Arms 6.5 grendel is going to be a fun experiment. Light weight for tactical and competitive to 600 yards so far. I just turned 70 and running with an F Class is just a little too heavy for me. Work it progress

[Fjold]

Size matters