The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

[18Echo]

Just got done reading this article about the Houston Warehouse here. The article talks about these benchrest shooters that set up a basically zero effect shooting environment inside of a warehouse to perfect accuracy in their guns. The group sizes talked about in the article are ridiculous small.

Towards the end of the article they talk about "THE" optimum barrel length for a rifle and it measures to 21 3/4 inches, that harmonically this is "the" spot for a barrel (used on .22, 6mm, 30 cal which are referenced). Has anyone ever heard of this sweet spot?

The article is on the long side but definitely worth the read. I would love to hear opinions of other experienced shooters on this. I'm looking at a .338-06 build right now for hunting and 21 3/4 barrel would be a nice and short little shooter.

Thanks.

 

[Kells81]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

That is pretty interesting.

 

[308sako]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

Deleted in protest!

 

[selfbowhunter]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

i have a hard time believing any two barrels would be EXACTLY the same in reference to a "perfect" barrel length. the type of rifle you are building wont care and the accuracy expectations certainly are not the same. build it how you like it and it will be "perfect" for you. say for instance, a 21 3/4" barrel is optimum in a 338-06 and the rifle is capable of 1/4MOA in a machine rest. you are NOT going to duplicate it very often off a bipod with a 2 or 3 pound trigger. so if a 24" barrel is capable of 1/2MOA in a 338-06, you will probably shoot very similiar groups out of the rifle under field condtions. dont sweat it because it will be a killer no matter the barrel length.

chuck

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

Nice article!

His brass prep has a lot to do with that level of accuracy. Rick Beginski has a technique for his brass prep that he doesn't tell anybody as well. Makes sense to me, a consistent combustion pressure and bullet release equals precision.

The majority of these cases were similarly short. I wonder if that barrel length is optimal for shorter cases. I know Tac Ops likes 18" for .308 and 22" for 300win, maybe he's on to something.

 

[Hummer]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

Nice article!

. Makes sense to me, a consistent combustion pressure and bullet release equals precision.

MuleHunter just said it all above and yes no two barrels are the same. For instance I chambered up two rifles the same day with the same reamer by the same manufacturer received in same shipment headspaced to snug on GO Gage and the Erosion Gage showed a difference of 1.5 rings without being fired.
This is the reason three barrels are used by gov't to qualify ammunition for NATO acceptance. Ammo must meet acceptance accuracy at long range with ALL THREE rifles.

 

[19Scout77]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

A benchrest cartridge at a max distance of 325 yards has far different needs insofar as velocity and ballistics are concerned.

Apples vs. Oranges

 

[J.Boyette]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

I say try it.

That 1/4" off a 22" is not a big deal.

If it works great, if not get a hacksaw and go 18"

John

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

I believe glen seekins has a 7wsm with a 22" barrel. It would be interesting to see if he thinks its any more accurate. I seem to chicken out on barrel length. I want to shoot heavy caliber bullets in a fast twist and I have yet to have the cohonies to lop off a long heavy barrel.

When I get the DTA I am going to experiment a lot more with calibers and barrel length.

The ppc guys run flat based bullets sometimes over 4000fps. So I tend to agree a little with what was stated above about 'different' ballistics, however if you have a true rifle with a good straight chamber job, anal reloading practices, and consistent technique you can get some pretty amazing results. I have seen 10 shots go into 1 1/2" at 504yds with 8 of those shots measuring under 3/4" from a bipod. That same rifle from a sled rest would shoot .3's at 300yds. Its a tactical style rifle in .243 and was in a 700p take off stock. Untouched factory Rem short action with a Douglas barrel.

I was able to get some 1 1/2" groups at 500yds with my 308 in good conditions but I have since gotten lazy on load practices. That barrel was 20".

 

[selfbowhunter]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

"The ppc guys run flat based bullets sometimes over 4000fps. So I tend to agree a little with what was stated above about 'different' ballistics, however if you have a true rifle with a good straight chamber job, anal reloading practices, and consistent technique you can get some pretty amazing results. I have seen 10 shots go into 1 1/2" at 504yds with 8 of those shots measuring under 3/4" from a bipod. That same rifle from a sled rest would shoot .3's at 300yds. Its a tactical style rifle in .243 and was in a 700p take off stock. Untouched factory Rem short action with a Douglas barrel.

I was able to get some 1 1/2" groups at 500yds with my 308 in good conditions but I have since gotten lazy on load practices. That barrel was 20"."

there are NO match bullets the ppc in either 22 or 6mm will push beyond 4000fps. the 20ppc will do it but most dont consider it a BR cartridge with the current bullets available. this .243 you speak of should be out setting world records in matches rather than banging steel. 1 group doesnt make a rifle. i have shot some low 1's with my .308 but it is a 3/8" rifle. i really dont know how you could prove an ideal barrel length as far as accuracy is concerned other than have 100's of barrels at different lengths. the br guys shoot short barrels because they have a weight restriction to meet and most feel a shorter stiffer barrel has more accuracy potential. i would say most br barrels are closer to 20" than 22". why worry about it? YOU WILL NOT MAKE ANY CONCLUSION WITH ONE BARREL ONE WAY OR THE OTHER and it dang sure isnt going to make a difference to most of us.

chuck

chuck

 

[RemingtonSPS]

Re: The 21 3/4 inch barrel....

I admit that i dont own a ppc. I have shot at 300yd benchrest. The guys using 6ppc were shooting i believe 55gr flat based moly berger bullets and they told me they were pushing between 4000-4200fps in a 1-14 twist barrel. They were dipping into the .2's when the wind wasn't gusting. As for the 243...the 600yd world record right now is 3/8" for 5 shots thats hardly the territory of this 243. Yes that was the best group at 504yds out of that rifle (1.5") however it shot a sub 1.75" (10 shot) group right after that first 10 shot group. If i need to i will call lucas and have him send me a picture of his 504yd target.