What barrell length do I need?

[DannyG]

Does longer barrell length mean greater accuracy or does it simply mean more velocity?  Thanks
Im trying to get my first ML and I dont know what I need.  Any help will be appreciated!
Danny G

[quickdtoo]

Usually, both...with the longer barrel you have a longer sight radius with iron sights, the distance between the front and rear sight which improves accuracy, everything else equal. The longer barrels achieve higher velocities up to a point. But there is a practical limit to barrel length particularily in a hunting rifle.

[mostlyaccurate]

I shoot a Knight Big Horn, 22" barrel.  It groups well with the 250 grain Barnes MZ.  They registered 1785 fps and the new 245 grain Barnes Spitzer flew at an average of 1991 fps.  Both loaded ahead of 120 grains of 777.

[TCAS]

I asked the same question a year or so ago to some industry folks and got a variety of answers with several variables such as pellets vs powder, sabot vs full bore bullets, maxium velocity vs accuracy.  Twist rate of barrel.

In a nut shell most of them thought 22-26 was a good length, check out your blank size for your barrel if > than 24inches is required you will pay more.  I use a 24inch barrel for sabot in a 45 and 50 cal muzzle loader and get good expansion and trajectory for 200 yard shots.

In the Encore Full bull barrels over 22-24 inches  will not balence as well as the shorter barrels, My 24 inch is a good size for velocity, accuracy, balence etc, if you want a longer barrel see if you can get a more tapered size blank.  But I would still not exceed 28 inches as the max.

DC 195 gr
120 777
25 acp
24inch Bulberry barrel
trigger job 1 .5 lbs
4x14 scope

Of all my loads this is the most accurate listed above about 2 inches at 200 with an occasional flyer. out of the group at 4 inches.  I have shot about 4 deer over 140 yard  but less than 210 yards with this load  and the longest recovery was 70 yard but the other 3 were less than 40 yards. so velocity must still be good.

Only my opinion

TC