Encore .50 cal Barrel 22" vs 26"

[smoky]

I would like to have a factory Encore .50 cal muzzle loader barrel cut and crowned at 22".  Would this affect accuracy?  What about velocity?  The projectiles I will be shooting are dead centers and/or power belts.  I will be shooting 777 powder in whatever amount needed to achieve good results (probably 90 to 120 grains).


Thanks,

Smoky

[RandyWakeman]

I would like to have a factory Encore .50 cal muzzle loader barrel cut and crowned at 22".  Would this affect accuracy?  What about velocity?  

Accuracy-- no, velocity-- you bet.

[smoky]

How much velocity loss are we talking about? And, more importantly how much will that loss affect effective range?

Smoky

[RandyWakeman]

There is no finite answer, as that is contingent on exact powder charge, barrel, sabot, and projectile. What is it you are trying to accomplish, just lose some weight?

[smoky]

Lose weight and increase handling for tree stand hunting.  But I still need it to be able to shoot somewhat like a centerfire rifle(200+ yards) under open range conditions.

Smoky

[grouse]

Lose weight and increase handling for tree stand hunting.  But I still need it to be able to shoot somewhat like a centerfire rifle(200+ yards) under open range conditions.

Smoky

wouldn't the shorter barrel hurt your accuracy at extended ranges?

[RandyWakeman]

Lose weight and increase handling for tree stand hunting.  But I still need it to be able to shoot somewhat like a centerfire rifle(200+ yards) under open range conditions.

Smoky

Well Smoky,

Your choice, but I don't see it-- the Encore is already far more compact than any bolt-action MLer. You can certainly cut off the 3/4" QLA (or whatever length yours is) section and not lose a thing. Beyond that, you lose barrel volume-- and your ability to burn powder.

[Wolfhound]

wouldn't the shorter barrel hurt your accuracy at extended ranges?

Actually no. Accuracy is not a funtion of barrel length and never has been. The reason for that myth is due to the time period it was created. With open sights if you have a longer sighting plane (more barrel) the more accurate you can shoot. Also it helps to have the rear sight further from the eye. Both of these can be acheived with the longer barrel.

With a scope, barrel length is unimportant (accuracy wise) as the target and crosshairs are on the same sighting plane.

[Bob_K]

Actually, barrel length plays into barrel harmonics, and that relates to accuracy.  However, knowing this does not help you select the best length.  It's a cut/crown/test situation.  Barrel harmonics is one of the reasons a bull barrel is generally more accurate that a light whippy sporter barrel.  It's also the reason the Browning BOSS system works.  Adjustments to the BOSS move a mass along a length adjustment, tuning the barrel harmonic vibrations.

[Wolfhound]

These are thick walled barrels. I have yet to see a flimsy muzzleloader barrel. :wink:

[RandyWakeman]

 Barrel harmonics is one of the reasons a bull barrel is generally more accurate that a light whippy sporter barrel.  

Bob, you have a point-- as far as it goes, and Dan Lilja writes of barrel rigidity well, discussing why the more accurate barrels are both huge in OD-- and short: extremely rigid, and less barrel sag. All thing being equal, a shorter rifle barrel is MORE accurate for the same straight wall.

Hardly an issue with a straight contoured, heavy Encore barrel in a two-piece stock--or most muzzleloading barrels, for that matter.


http://www.riflebarrels.com/articles/barrel_making/rigidity_benchrest_rifles.htm