is short and stiff more accuret????

[mitchell]

i'm about to send my receiver back to NEF for some barrels. one of these barrels is going to be a 243 with its purpose being long range varmints. i know i want a bull barrel BUT do i want the 22 incher or the 24 incher?? well most people would say 24 which is what i'm leaning towred BUT if stiffer barrels have better barrel harmonics the in theory the 22 would be money accurate. but an other theory is longer barrel more accurate.

well what do you think ?? does anybody have any firsthand (or second or third or your brother's cousins sister's boyfriend had a friend that, yeah you know just talk to me) on these barrels?

like always thanks guys

[Badnews Bob]

On a scoped rifle the only thing a short barrell gives up to a longer barrel is velocity, and you'll not see enuff change in two inches to matter anyhow. In thery a shorter stiffer barrell will be more stable harmonically so it should shoot better. Don't think two inches will make any diff till your way out there anyway. Longer barrels help with iron sights by increassing the sight plane helps your eyes and decreases errors in alignment.

[marv]

MHO for what is worth If you bought a new 24 in barrel, shot it
 record how shot, thence cut 2 in off  shot again, with a good
 crowning job. bet you could not tell the difference!
 Marv

[Brett]

I agree with Bob & Marv, the two inches doesn't amount to a hill of beans. There are so many other variables involved in the accuracy of any given barrel.  I question your choice of calibers though.  If long range varminting is your goal wouldn't the .223 be a better choice?  From what I have read hear and from postal match results it seems that the .223's are proving to be the most accurate of these guns.

[Terrible Tom]

You might inquire about the new 22-250 fluted barrel.  They're selling the guns already and if you ask nicely maybe they'll fit one of those to your receiver.  The flutes make the barrel much stiffer and you get 22-250 ballistics in a 24" barrel.  Seems like the ideal varmint rig to me.  Whether or not they'll grant your request is another question.

[Lone Star]

The flutes make the barrel much stiffer and you get 22-250 ballistics in a 24" barrel.

This is a common misconception; you cannot remove metal from a tube and have it get stiffer.  What is true is a fluted barrel of the same weight and length as a non-fluted barrel will be stiffer.  Fluting is a method of lightening a given barrel, not to make it stiffer.  It also increases cooling by increasing the barrel's surface area - a little bit anyway.  In today's market, fluting is used as a sales tool, not a very practical modification.  It does look cool though, and I have two myself.  

[Terrible Tom]

The flutes make the barrel much stiffer and you get 22-250 ballistics in a 24" barrel.

This is a common misconception; you cannot remove metal from a tube and have it get stiffer.  What is true is a fluted barrel of the same weight and length as a non-fluted barrel will be stiffer.  Fluting is a method of lightening a given barrel, not to make it stiffer.  It also increases cooling by increasing the barrel's surface area - a little bit anyway.  In today's market, fluting is used as a sales tool, not a very practical modification.  It does look cool though, and I have two myself.  

I was under the impression that the flutes added rigidity like a crease in sheet metal--you know, like the old Ford pickup ads always said.  I can definitely see the higher cooling rate and 'pound-for-pound' comparison.

In either case, it'd be cool if you could get the fluted barrel as an add-on instead of having to buy that skeletonized butt(-ugly) stock!

[bajabill]

Romoving material from a bull barrel to make flutes will reduce stiffness.  BUt the stiffness to weight ration will increase and some may claim this is better from a vibration standpoint.  The natural frequency is a function of mass and stiffness.

http://www.varmintal.com/aflut.htm

[quickdtoo]

Here's an interesting fluted barrel discussion at predatormasters...

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006798

[Deadeye47]

Here's an interesting fluted barrel discussion at predatormasters...

http://www.predatormastersforums.com/ubb/ultimatebb.php?ubb=get_topic;f=1;t=006798

That is some serious accuracy that guy had for that 17  cal. pill at 100 yards!!!....and at over 4K fps!!! :eek: Makes my groups look kinda pitiful

[Sourdough]

You know, everyone keeps touting the .223 for long range shooting, even placing it against the .243.  I shoot at long ranges all the time, 300 yards and beyond.  The .223s that I own will not shoot accurately beyond 250 yards.  I own a T/C R, a Ruger M-77, a Remington 700, and two Handis, in .223.  My .243s all outshoot them, they are T/C R, Ruger M-77, and a Handi.  The .243s will reach out and touch things 500 yards and beyond.

[mitchell]

i already own a 223 ultra guys  and the 243 BC'c are so mush better its no question what one can nock over groundhogs at 500

[Ditchdigger]

I like the Heavy barrels myself,mainly because they are easier to hold steady with a not so steady rest. Also the extra 2" will usually add 60 to 80 ' fps. The 223's are about 100 fps. faster with the 24" barrel(3450fps.) versus the 22" at 3350 fps. with the Win. varmit  ammo.

[Fred M]

The shorter barrel has the edge on accuracy in theory. In hunting weight rifle barrels even with the lighter contours there is practically very little or no difference in accuracy between a 22, 24, 26" length.

What is very much different with the shorter barrels is noticeable greater muzzle blast. One thing you should consider, a Handi with a 26" barrel is about the same lenght than a bolt action with a 20" barrel.

A 24" barrel is the better choice, in a Handi and it has a better balance between the hands. The longer barrels on single shot rifles also add bit of forward weight which adds to pointing and smoother swing and steadies the off hand shot.