optimum barrel length

[scidx]

I was talking with someone about carbine barrel length and the person mentioned 18" being the optimum barrel length, any more only improves velocity. Now, I'm not one to believe anything until I see evidence. I've been searching and have come up empty. The person suggesting 18" is a talented and studied shooter so it sparked my curiousity. Isn't optimum barrel length based on individual cartridges? I'm not talking about max downrange performance, but ballistic stabilization. Inconsiderate of wound capability, Is 18" standard for optimum stabilization of any common rifle cartridge (above 2000 fps)? i.e. Can you hack 2 inches off a 20 inch barrel, professionally, and still produce an accurate shooter? Does anyone have the info or know where I can find it? Thanks.

[SLYoteBoy]

18" for all rifles? I dont know if thats correct. I would assume not , like you said , caliber and twist , fps , and bullet weight specific. those are all variables.

[technique]

I can answer 1 of your questions.

"can you chop a 20in to 18in?"

Yes, the one with the vortex was a 20in Colt H-bar...cut to 18in.

[CSACANNONEER]

18" is not the optimum length for all rifles or even all rifles of any given caliber. There are so many variable in the equation that it's obvious your source is just talking out of his donkey.......

[tomd1584]

if you mean optimum 'carbine' barrel length, i'd think it would be 14.5", right?

[technique]

if you mean optimum 'carbine' barrel length, i'd think it would be 14.5", right?

12.5in-13.5in, if you ask me.....YMMV

14.5in-16in for a mid.

[SuperSet]

If they're talking the optimum 3-gun rifle, 18" is the most popular.

[OutlawDon]

The person suggesting 18" is a talented and studied shooter so it sparked my curiousity.

Optimum for what??

There is NO one size fits all here. You wouldn't ask someone to bring a 28" barreled rifle to CQB, nor would you ask a benchrest shooter to use a 10" barrel for the most accurate precise shooting.

And accuracy and barrel length are independent variables.

[technique]

If they're talking the optimum 3-gun rifle, 18" is the most popular.

Probly....

Check out pic #7 and #12 here http://demigodllc.com/articles/evolu...actical-rifle/

That 17in looks bad ***!

[cal3gunner]

...

[CSACANNONEER]

Yes, you can shorten a barrel and it will stay accurate or even become more accurate.

You guys are not talking about accuracy, you're talking about precision. Or, at least posting pictures of percision groups. Accuracy is about having your POI as close to possible to your POA. Precision is about shooting small groups. So, accuracy can be adjusted by adjusting your sites/optics. Precision is much harder to acheive. But, yes, when a barrel is cut down and recrowned it can become more accurate and/or more precise but, it can also go the other way. It will depend on the barrel and how well the work is performed. BTW cal3gunner, nice looking rifle. The uppers cool but, I'd rather have your lower instead. I'm just too cheap to buy one of those Timmney Triggers right now.

[BillyGoatMachine]

Think of it this way. By cutting the barrel you do not lose bullet accuracy, only bullet velocity. If you are trying to shoot longer distances, then you will lose accuracy due to the fact that the bullet is traveling slower and can't reach the longer distances. So, in a sense, a longer barrel is more accurate and not. It depends on what you plan on using the rifle for.

[ar15barrels]

Probly....

Check out pic #7 and #12 here http://demigodllc.com/articles/evolu...actical-rifle/

That 17in looks bad ***!

Personally, I run a 17.5" barrel.
Don't want to be called a copycat...

[ar15barrels]

if you mean optimum 'carbine' barrel length, i'd think it would be 14.5", right?

Optimum barrel length for a carbine gas system is 12.5".

[ar15barrels]

But, yes, when a barrel is cut down and recrowned it can become more accurate
and/or more precise but, it can also go the other way.

I have not had a SINGLE complaint or comment EVER about a degradation in precision on the hundreds of barrels I have shortened.
I have had LOTS of accolades for them getting more precise though.

I attribute most of this to the poor quality of factory crowns.
The increase in rigidity from making a barrel shorter is probably a much smaller part of the equation.