What effect does shortening a barrel have?

[hmmngwy]

I have two rifles with 20" barrels, one came that way, one I had a gunsmith shorten.

When working up a load for them, do you still start with the starting loads on tables?

i.e. does using a shorter barrel allow you to move up the tables and use more powder to start with?

 

[MTETM]

Re: What effect does shortening a barrel have?

Start low and work up...

 

[TresMon]

Re: What effect does shortening a barrel have?


Shortening a barrel generally:

1. reduces Muzzle Velocity

2. increases rigidity

& what MTETM says...

 

[ChadTRG42]

Re: What effect does shortening a barrel have?

The sweet spot load should be near the same that you had, but will run slower. Try to work around the powder charge you currently use.

 

[Fuzzball]

Re: What effect does shortening a barrel have?

Shorter = stiffer and some velocity loss, no more than that.

The barrel length doesn't impact safe charge levels for a given rifle at all.

Some folks believe short barrels may get better performance with faster powders but that isn't true.

 

[Rovieairto]

Re: What effect does shortening a barrel have?

Your loads will end up being the same pressure wise.