Re: How much does barrel length effect range?
<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Asmith5144</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I should have added a bit more info in my first post. I would like to be able to ring steel at 1000yds. I think what I've learned is that if I cut the barrel to 16" I will most likely lose MV, but this can be corrected somewhat with different load configurations. <span style="color: #FF0000">Would a MOA at 1000 yds still be reasonable?</span> </div></div>
Again as I and others stated earlier in this thread, it would all depend on the specific load and the muzzle velocity you were able to achieve from your short barrel setup. The MV is going to dictate a lot of the limitations with a shorter barrel setup, so until you know exactly what your MV is, the best you can do is estimate based on other's MVs with short barrels.
As an example, there are a number of people here that regularly use a 16-18" barrel setup out to 1000 yd with very good results. However, at least some of those individuals are using barrels with fairly "tight" bores, so that they aren't losing nearly as much velocity. Again, the MV is a critical factor for estimating how the performance of your setup will be out to some specific distance.
Another important consideration would be the projectile in your load. For example, 168 gr SMKs are well known for instability issues past 700-800, even with decent MV to start. There are other examples, but the main point is that if your short barrel setup is on the slow side (MV), you might still be able to shoot ok to longer distances if you choose a projectile that remains stable after going trans/subsonic. In the end, you'll probably have to play around and optimize a few things once you decide what length to go with. Of course, then you'll have to deal with the wind, which is going to be a major source of error (inaccuracy) at 1000 yd, regardless of the MV you get. Unfortunately, "slow" amplifies the effect of wind, so you might be at an even greater disadvantage, depending on the MV from your setup. So whether you can achieve MOA accuracy at 1000 yd with a short barrel will depend on a lot of different factors, not the least of which are you as the driver, and wind conditions.