Most accurate 21" or 24" contender barrels

[Ahlosojoe]

Just an opinion poll for all of you contender experts. In your experience in general which barrel length 21" or 24" is most accurate? Thanks, Joe

[Grumulkin]

There will be no appreciable difference in accuracy.

[Antietamgw]

I don't believe you could say one length would be more accurate than the other. The 21" that I'm familiar with are the tapered factory barrels. I had a .22 Hornet 21" that would literally shoot ragged hole groups at 100 yds from the bench if you could hold it consistantly, but that was the problem. It was also a princess and there were very few loads it would shoot well. Those it did like would go in the .3's-.5's but only with Win 680, a discontinued powder. I find "bench technique" with Contenders is critical. Get sloppy, change your grip, cheek or down pressure on the forearm and you will see the difference on the target with an accurate barrel and load. Though I like my 21" 7TCU, I have to work real hard to shoot it off-hand. I like the bull barrel carbines much better, especially in the field. That extra muzle weight helps me in shooting from field positions, The longest barrel I have now is a 23" .223. It feels pretty good with that small hole in it. I have 22" Bullberry barrels in 30 and 32 cal. and wouldn't want them any lighter. If I ever run across a 26" .30-30 bull barrel I'd waste no time putting it on the mill and making it a very slightly tapered octagon barrel. I think that would be about perfect and look good too. I believe T/C making 24" bull barrels available was a good move and I'd like to try one sometime. I'm comfortable in shooting the older 28" and 30" barreled single shots and my preferences run that way. Alot of guys really like the short, stubby 16" and 18" barrels and do well with them. Fred, the Bullberry guy, says that a 20" or shorter carbine barrel gives the best chance for best accuracy due to barrel time and stiffness. He also backs it up with a MOA accuracy guarantee. The benchrest guys shoot alot of 20" and 21" 6PPC's so I guess it's true, from the bench at least. If you could handle a carbine with a 21" tapered and a 24" bull barrel, I'd pick the one you like best and go with that. What you are comfortable with would probably make more difference in the realized accuracy than the length of the barrel.

[Grumulkin]

The shorter barrel better accuracy theory is just that; a theory.  If it were true that shorter barrels give better accuracy, the bench rest guys would be shooting 10 inch barrels.  Velocity as well as barrel twist is important in getting good accuracy and it's easier to get good velocity in a longer barrel.

Fred Bullberry is very safe in giving a 1 MOA accuracy guarantee.  In my experience, pretty much all factory centerfire scoped Encore and Contender rifle barrels will meet that criteria with the right handload.

The barrel used to shoot the group was a 28 inch Pro Hunter barrel.

[skb2706]

On a Contender platform, at least for me a 23" bull barrel is easier to shoot accurately. Not more accurate.