Barrel length...

[Ghost]

Barrle Length...
I have been following another thread hear and a question came to mind. This may be irrelevant but it does interest me.

We all know that a longer barrel enables the shooter to squeeze every bit from the powder in the cartridge, right. Is it possible to have the barrel to long that one begins to go backwards? That is, can the barrel be so long that the powder/charge no longer helps the projectile or even begins to hinder the performance?


If this does occur, at what point and how would one determine it on a specific caliber/charge?

In theory there should be no effect, since the gasses are trapped. The pressure is what it is, until released. But, when does the length of the barrel, if at all, become overkill?

Of course there is another theory, inaccurate as it may be, it is still theory.
If the charge is being completely used and has applied it's maximum effect on the projectile, it would be reasonable to think that the longer the barrel is, past its beneficial length, the more resistance the charge/projectile would have to overcome this hindering the performance.
What is reality?


I am on another forum , where I posted this question, and we are trying to figure this out. All data provided is inconclusive.

HRe: Barrle Length...
Dan liljas article on barrel length
Lilja Precision Rifle Barrels - Articles: Barrel Lenghts and Velocities in the 338/378 Weatherby Magnum

Here is a link to the data.

[Ghost]

www.riflebarrels.com/articles/bullets_ballastics/long_barrel_velocity.htm

[Kt29]

Great questions for sure, and something I have no answer for. Seems like there is basically two camps. Shorter heavier barrels which exhibit less barrel vibrations and longer barrels which tend to give a boost in velocity. Both seem to get the job done, probably for different reasons.
I've always heard that powder in larger caliber rifles is burned in the first 17" of the barrel. Just something else to complicate barrel lengths and accuracy. Will continue to monitor your findings in these scenarios.

[Ghost]

Topic of the Month

Take a look at this.

It is a usually accepted fact that gun barrels of different lengths will produce different muzzle velocities with the same load. Generally, the longer the gun barrel, the higher the velocity...at least up to a point. Only a few decades ago the common length of center fire rifle barrels ranged from 26" to 30". These rifles were heavy and unwieldy to carry around in the field all day. Today, the more common lengths for sporting rifles are in the range of 22" to 24", resulting in a lighter and more portable firearm. With this change many shooters want to know just how much velocity is lost in switching to the shorter barrels or how much velocity gain can be achieved in a longer barrel.

It seems that little useful information can be gained by comparing the muzzle velocities of two different rifles, of the same caliber, but with different barrel lengths. Varying dimensions in the chamber, throat and start of the rifling affect the velocity too much for a meaningful comparison. The more obvious solution is to use a single rifle, cut the barrel off, in given increments, and carefully measure the muzzle velocity at each barrel length. Many experiments were performed using this technique on both rifle and handgun. The problem was that the variation in velocity, from shot to shot, with the same ammunition, was often larger than any effect noted by shortening the barrel in 1" or 2" increments. However, if the data were plotted graphically to smooth out the irregularities due to variations in velocity measurements then a reasonable relationship between velocity and barrel length can be shown.

Various mathematical equations were developed to relate muzzle velocity to barrel length, but one of the simplest relationships was developed by Homer S. Powley. He defined the relationship between muzzle velocity and barrel length, as one giving muzzle velocity (v) as a function of charge weight C, bullet weight B and expansion ratio (R). Here the expansion ratio is defined as the ratio of the barrel volume plus cartridge volume (total volume of the to the cartridge volume. The equation relating to these factors is represented by:

v
= K[C(1- R^-.25)/ (B + C/3)]^.5
Where, v is in f.p.s., C and B are in grains and K is a constant that depends on chamber pressure and other factors in the gun. The expansion ratio is dimensionless. From this equation, it can be seen that for a given gun, with a given powder charge and bullet weight, the muzzle velocity is dependent only on the expansion ratio. By cutting off the barrel the barrel volume is reduced, thereby reducing the expansion ratio. The relationship can be represented by:

F
= [(1-R2^-.25)/(1-R1^-.25)]^.5
Where, F is the correction factor to correct the muzzle velocity at expansion ratio R1 to that of the reduced expansion ratio R2 (shorter barrel). For example, a rifle chambered for the .223 Rem. cartridge, has a 24" barrel, and fires a 50 gr. bullet at 3,080 f.p.s. when loaded with 25.1 gr. of IMR 3031 powder. The expansion ratio is 8.5. What is the muzzle velocity if the barrel is shortened to 22"? The new expansion ratio is 7.8. Plugging these values in the equation we get:

F
= [(1-7.8^-.25)/(1-8.5^-.25)]^.5
= 0.9846
v
= 0.9846 X 3,080
= 3,032 f.p.s.
The new velocity for the 22" barrel is 3,032 f.p.s. The velocity loss for removal of two inches of barrel is 48 f.p.s. (3,080 - 3,032).

The table below lists the velocity change for different barrel lengths for several popular calibers.

Refer to link to see table



Note that the greater velocity increase, per inch of barrel length, generally occurs in the shortest barrel length. As the barrel is lengthened the velocity increase, per inch of barrel length, decreases. For instance, the .223 Remington shows a 46 f.p.s. velocity increase by lengthening the barrel from 20" to 22" This drops to 38 f.p.s. when the barrel is increased from 26" to 28". Some of the magnum calibers show more variation in velocity from barrel segment to barrel segment, but the velocity change, per segment, is generally less as the barrel is lengthened.

The powder charges and powder types shown in the table are for illustration purposes only and are not to be used as load data. For details on loading for a particular cartridge the reader should consult a good loading manual or internal ballistics software program. The software program offered at this web site will quickly calculate muzzle velocity for any barrel length from 18" to 50".

Watch our web site for the next topic of interest. Until then, shoot safely and know where your bullets are going.

Sincerely,
The Ballistician

[Ghost]

Take a look at loading software like (quick load or load from a disk). Very interesting data.