T/C Barrel Lengths

[powhs]

I have had a Contender pistol for 20 years and always wanted a compact Contender carbine for hunting thick swamps where my longer barreled rifles get caught on vines or limbs. I found a 21 inch 357 Max Contender barrel and was considering having it cut and crowned to a 16 inch barrel. Would  17 or 18 inch's be a better choice? Or would it be better to leave it 21 inches? what do you think?

[sportsman223]

  I would not cut it unless it needs recrowned just shoot it I have one that was custom built @20 inches shoots great with reloads.     
   Thats a great caliber and a light weight package you will love it There is a picture of mine on some back postes under G2 project

[powhs]

I found this info at http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm
The Lyman table shows the following approximate velocity changes:

For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 1000-2000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 5 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2001-2500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2501-3000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3001-3500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3501-4000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.

[nomosendero]

I found this info at http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm
The Lyman table shows the following approximate velocity changes:

For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 1000-2000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 5 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2001-2500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 10 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 2501-3000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 20 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3001-3500 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 30 fps.
For rifles with muzzle velocities in the 3501-4000 fps range, the change in velocity for each 1" change in barrel length is 40 fps.

I think most so-called charts that show vel. loss per inch of barrel is crap, but I think this one is more logical than any I have seen before.