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Posted: 2/1/2009 5:02:04 AM EDT
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I'm looking at a RRA EOP Varmit upper for shooting up to 500 yards. They have a 16", 18", 20", and 24". I'm leaning towards the 16 or 18".
Obviously shorter = lighter, but at 500 yards how much accuracy would I sacrifice going with one of the shorter barrels. |
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Barrel length has nothing to do with accuracy. Two barrels of the same make, one a 14.5" and one a 20" will, in theory, have the same accuracy.
A surplus 20" barrel will shoot way worse than a match grade 16". What differs is velocity. You will get more velocity out of a longer barrel. I wouldn't go any longer than 20", but that's my preference. ETA: If you want a bench rest gun for 500 yards, a 24" might be what you need. On the other hand, if you want a gun that serves as both a range rifle and a self defense rifle, I would go 20" or even 18". I have an 18" SPR build that can handle targets out to 500 yards. |
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GPS sniper school has an excellent article on barrel length. Check out the following link:
www.sniperschool.com/barrel-length-revisited/ |
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Quoted: I am trying to understand. Are you saying that longer barrel is good accuracy or short barrel is good accuracy? Sorry if i ask this stupid question.  Given barrels of the same quality the accuracy will be the same. The extra length gives you more velocity so you can reach out further. |
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Quoted:
Quoted:
I am trying to understand. Are you saying that longer barrel is good accuracy or short barrel is good accuracy? Sorry if i ask this stupid question. Given barrels of the same quality the accuracy will be the same. The extra length gives you more velocity so you can reach out further. ah now I got a light over my head! Thanks man! 
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As others have mentioned, shorter barrels only give up MV when compared to their longer brothers being equally made. No real proof, but it has been mentioned that shorter barrels are more accurate because they have less whip than longer barrels. IIRC, the theory is that the bullet exits in a shorter period of time (and you are only talking about milliseconds) in shorter barrels so the effect of barrel vibration (harmonics) on the bullet is not as great as it is with longer barrels.
Sight radius will have a lot to do with accuracy when shooting with iron sights. Essentially a longer barrel with a longer sight radius will trump a short barrel with a small sight radius. However, give a long and short barrel the same sight radius and you will probably not see much difference in accuracy. The only real problems I see with short barrels is if the MV is below a certain point, terminal ballistics can suffer at greater distances and the wind will have greater effect on bullet flight at longer distances. |
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