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Barrel shortening ?

tazz1958
will you loose alot of accuracy if you cut down a 26" barrel to a 22" barrel on a 243? thanks
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Comments

4 comments

Date Votes
  • Tailgunner1954
    Nope

    Velocity yes
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  • iwannausername
    Velocity yes, accuracy maybe. Might increase too.

    Your barrel vibrations will change, you will have a new crown, etc. All of this affects accuracy.

    So definately maybe. Maybe better, maybe worse.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by tazz1958
    will you loose alot of accuracy if you cut down a 26" barrel to a 22" barrel on a 243? thanks


    If the cutdown is done professionally with a good recrown (that's really the key), you shouldn't lose accuracy.

    If anything, you might GAIN a bit of accuracy, since all else being equal shorter barrels are stiffer, and therefore offer less vibration. New crown might also help IF the old one wasn't good.
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  • nononsense
    tazz1958,

    "...will you loose alot of accuracy..."

    Accuracy can be affected if:

    1) you're using open sights. The shorter sight radius can have a negative affect on 'accuracy'.

    2) there is an inconsistency in the barrel at the point at which you choose to cut. This can often be corrected by additional shortening. Not a great solution but the only alternative when the situation arises.

    Be aware that the noise from your shots will increase significantly from a shorter barrel. This is a drawback to shorter barrels, the muzzle is closer to your ears and the sound is brighter or louder. Another good reason to wear hearing protection while shooting.

    Barrels do NOT 'vibrate' less as you shorten them. The harmonics simply change shape. Think of an oscilloscope wave form.

    Factory barrels are usually the cheapest that can be supplied at the time of manufacturing. While some folks will claim high performance from some factory barrels, we find that they are generally mediocre when compared to the better aftermarket barrels makers. So altering a factory barrel can be a crap shoot with regard to enhancing performance. You should ask how much it will cost to have a gunsmith shorten your barrel first before jumping to any conclusions. There are many occasions where that money should be saved and put towards a new, high quality, aftermarket barrel.

    The crown is the last part of the barrel that touches the bullet and as such can have the most impact on some forms of accuracy. However, each and every step of fitting a barrel to a receiver is critical to the overall accuracy of that rifle. Factory barrels often show other signs of deficiencies when they are removed. That's why factory barrels usually get replaced when they are removed from the receiver for any reason.

    Best.
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