I read a pretty long article about what the guys were doing in the Houston warehouse back in the day, and they opined that the absolute best barrel length for accuracy is 21 3/4". My Savage 308 has a little weird spot in the grooves right at the end of the barrel so I was thinking about cutting it back & re-crowning it, and of course it got me thinking about this number. So, has anyone tsted this theory for themselves?
Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
- Thread starter GJgo
- Start date
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
.....????
care to send a link as to why 21.75" is the best???
.....????
care to send a link as to why 21.75" is the best???
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
bullet weight
powder charge
primer
neck tension
barrel twist
barrel contour
.....
need a "tad" bit more info......
bullet weight
powder charge
primer
neck tension
barrel twist
barrel contour
.....
need a "tad" bit more info......
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Not to call into question the conclusions of great minds like Virgil King and Bob Fisher, but barrel length is but a small part of the overall equation. While I agree that a 21.75" barrel may be an excellent (hell...maybe even optimal) balance of length/weight/harmonics/etc., unless you are a world-class, benchrest-caliber shooter that is taking every possible measure to extract the utmost accuracy from a rifle from points A through ZZZ and everywhere in between, it isn't going to make a statistically significant difference in terms of the accuracy/performance of a stock, factory Savage barrel what length you cut it to!
Cut it back to 21.75" or 20" or 18" or any fractional measure your heart desires along the way and shoot it.
Not to call into question the conclusions of great minds like Virgil King and Bob Fisher, but barrel length is but a small part of the overall equation. While I agree that a 21.75" barrel may be an excellent (hell...maybe even optimal) balance of length/weight/harmonics/etc., unless you are a world-class, benchrest-caliber shooter that is taking every possible measure to extract the utmost accuracy from a rifle from points A through ZZZ and everywhere in between, it isn't going to make a statistically significant difference in terms of the accuracy/performance of a stock, factory Savage barrel what length you cut it to!
Cut it back to 21.75" or 20" or 18" or any fractional measure your heart desires along the way and shoot it.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
With a heavy contour barrel at 21 ¾ should give you the <span style="font-weight: bold">antinode</span> you desire thus you have reached your objective. If one used a VB like on a Remington factory 700 P model I would go a little shorter but what the heck would I know
<span style="font-weight: bold">Mike
Tac Ops</span>
With a heavy contour barrel at 21 ¾ should give you the <span style="font-weight: bold">antinode</span> you desire thus you have reached your objective. If one used a VB like on a Remington factory 700 P model I would go a little shorter but what the heck would I know
<span style="font-weight: bold">Mike
Tac Ops</span>
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
I,m not good at linking. The Houston Warehouse article is a 'Must Read" however. Google; Secrets of the Houston Warehouse. These guys are talking about .035 MOA as being average grouping.
I,m not good at linking. The Houston Warehouse article is a 'Must Read" however. Google; Secrets of the Houston Warehouse. These guys are talking about .035 MOA as being average grouping.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
I have 21.75" Barrels, in fact the 260 barrel on my AW is 21.75"... it's accurate.
I have 21.75" Barrels, in fact the 260 barrel on my AW is 21.75"... it's accurate.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
The perfect bbl length would depend on caliber, bullet, powder charge. 21.75 would suck for a 50BMG length but works great with smaller calibers
The perfect bbl length would depend on caliber, bullet, powder charge. 21.75 would suck for a 50BMG length but works great with smaller calibers
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Interesting, although I too would be curious as to why such a specific barrel length would affect accuracy. Did they use the same load throughout? If so they might have just found the accuracy node for that particular round/rifle combo.
I'll have to look it up when I get home and give it a read.
Interesting, although I too would be curious as to why such a specific barrel length would affect accuracy. Did they use the same load throughout? If so they might have just found the accuracy node for that particular round/rifle combo.
I'll have to look it up when I get home and give it a read.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
If you're trying to tune a vibration node, it should vary based on diameter, material, profile, caliber, fluting, etc., so saying one length is optimal for everyone seems a little optimistic.
If you're trying to tune a vibration node, it should vary based on diameter, material, profile, caliber, fluting, etc., so saying one length is optimal for everyone seems a little optimistic.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Just cut it to 21.75" and at least you can feel like the length is more accurate.
Just cut it to 21.75" and at least you can feel like the length is more accurate.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jhnmdahl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you're trying to tune a vibration node, it should vary based on diameter, material, profile, caliber, fluting, etc., so saying one length is optimal for everyone seems a little optimistic. </div></div>
It makes sense that this length <span style="text-decoration: underline">may</span> be "optimal" for these conditions, however not necessarily so for other barrel profiles.
With that though, you certainly have nothing to lose by shortening it to 21.75".
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: jhnmdahl</div><div class="ubbcode-body">If you're trying to tune a vibration node, it should vary based on diameter, material, profile, caliber, fluting, etc., so saying one length is optimal for everyone seems a little optimistic. </div></div>
It makes sense that this length <span style="text-decoration: underline">may</span> be "optimal" for these conditions, however not necessarily so for other barrel profiles.
With that though, you certainly have nothing to lose by shortening it to 21.75".
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Here's the link, it's a worthwhile read. If I decide to try it out I'll let you know.
http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html
Here's the link, it's a worthwhile read. If I decide to try it out I'll let you know.
http://www.angelfire.com/ma3/max357/houston.html
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Yup, you need to cut yours soon. If you are not shooting .05" groups when you get it back...you suck.
Seriously, iot wont hurt, give it a try.
Yup, you need to cut yours soon. If you are not shooting .05" groups when you get it back...you suck.
Seriously, iot wont hurt, give it a try.
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Hey is that 21.75" to the lug or to the end of the chamber......... I want to get this right.......
Hey is that 21.75" to the lug or to the end of the chamber......... I want to get this right.......
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010...lassic-article/
http://bulletin.accurateshooter.com/2010...lassic-article/
Re: Has anyone gone to a 21 3/4" barrel for accuracy?
Tune the ammo for the barrel length, 21.75" as a "magic number" is snake oil.
I have a 21.85" 6.5Creedmoor that shoots really really well. A friend has a 22" and it shoots just as well with his hand loads.
Another friend has a 1/4 MOA 6x47 Lapua that has a 26" barrel on it... again, tune the load for the barrel length and you'll get great results.
Tune the ammo for the barrel length, 21.75" as a "magic number" is snake oil.
I have a 21.85" 6.5Creedmoor that shoots really really well. A friend has a 22" and it shoots just as well with his hand loads.
Another friend has a 1/4 MOA 6x47 Lapua that has a 26" barrel on it... again, tune the load for the barrel length and you'll get great results.
