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PCP barrel length vs Accuracy at 30m+

TD_boy

TD_boy

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Is there a correlation between a PCP's barrel length and accuracy at distances say 30-50m?

I am aware that a high quality barrel such as a LW one is always going to wipe the floor with a poorer quality one - so assume here we are only talking about decent quality barrels.

I'm inclined to think that a longer 18"+ barrel might have an edge over say a 12" one... But I have nothing to support that thought.

I have seen that there are short barreled gun owners such as Leishy and BSA Ultra owners that love their guns - but is there a penalty for the convenience?
 
I've read a few things about this, but there is nothing to prove barrel length (within reason) has much to do with accuracy, and anything over about 12" is not going to be any better/worse than something 18"+. Short barrels on some guns make them work harder to produce power, so perhaps people have mistakenly though it was the barrel length giving accuracy when it was probably reduced recoil, but you can tune guns to suit :)
 
ultra and short vixen spring to mind as very accurate guns ,I though length had nough to do with accuracy ,just a bit less velocity on shorter barrels
 
Taking it to a logical conclusion, the longer the better. I mean, if your barrel is 30m long you'll get exceptionally tight groups at 30m.
To be clear, this only applies to those shooters who insist range is measured from the scope rather than the muzzle.

PS
Watch out for the barrel harmonics; the gun might be quite hold-sensitive.
 
think you'll find actual gun length can be a factor, shorter guns can be twitchy whereas longer guns can be more docile, its just proportions and weight, barrel length doesn't help or hinder accuracy directly if that makes sense.
 
There seems to be that correlation with pistols. Not sure if there is a point where it stops being so.
 
BallisticBill said:
Taking it to a logical conclusion, the longer the better. I mean, if your barrel is 30m long you'll get exceptionally tight groups at 30m.
To be clear, this only applies to those shooters who insist range is measured from the scope rather than the muzzle.

PS
Watch out for the barrel harmonics; the gun might be quite hold-sensitive.
Click to expand...
I like your reasoning ,perhaps fx drs needs 30 m long barrels
 
Which smk? pistol /carbine c02 guns get a good power increase with the longer supplied barrel ,over the short barrel,action untouched , just c02 has longer to push the pellet out
 
Real world feedback here, I shoot at longer distances anything from 50 to 130yds and use both my Epoch which has a 630mm/24" LW barrel and also my DS Alpha Wolf with a 440mm/17" LW barrel and there is little between them.
 
I think barrel length makes little difference once you’ve established your POA
Obviously a longer barrel may give you more ft/lb
 
Beaver said:
I think barrel length makes little difference once you’ve established your POA
Obviously a longer barrel may give you more ft/lb
Click to expand...

I'm guessing there similarly comes a point where the added friction from a longer barrel works against the diminishing power of the expanding air propelling it...
 
TD_boy said:
Is there a correlation between a PCP's barrel length and accuracy at distances say 30-50m?

I am aware that a high quality barrel such as a LW one is always going to wipe the floor with a poorer quality one - so assume here we are only talking about decent quality barrels.

I'm inclined to think that a longer 18"+ barrel might have an edge over say a 12" one... But I have nothing to support that thought.

I have seen that there are short barreled gun owners such as Leishy and BSA Ultra owners that love their guns - but is there a penalty for the convenience?
Click to expand...
Barrel length, in & of itself has no bearing on accuracy, twist rate is twist rate. Speed of pellet though, is a different story...
 
I think it’s fair to say most shooters perform better with shorter barrels. Less dwell time means fewer chances for small form errors to creep in, which makes shorter setups generally more forgiving.

Longer barrels offer better air efficiency and sometimes improved accuracy. It’s not the length that adds precision, but what it allows: more time for the air to push the pellet smoothly, with less pressure. That “longer runway” can give certain performance gains a short barrel can’t—but it also increases the need for control. The pellet’s in the barrel longer, so you have to stay perfectly steady through the entire shot.

Take Olympic 10m —very low power, around 5.5 foot-pounds—and most of those rifles use relatively short barrels built for consistency and quick shot cycles. Compare that to 100m benchrest in the U.S., where power is unlimited and most competitors run 700mm barrels. In the end, it’s all a trade-off between air efficiency, dwell time, and how much control the shooter can maintain.

The top shooters make it look effortless, but getting that level of consistency—especially with longer barrels—takes serious command of body, mind, and rifle.
 
Paul Be Careful said:
I think it’s fair to say most shooters perform better with shorter barrels. Less dwell time means fewer chances for small form errors to creep in, which makes shorter setups generally more forgiving.

Longer barrels offer better air efficiency and sometimes improved accuracy. It’s not the length that adds precision, but what it allows: more time for the air to push the pellet smoothly, with less pressure. That “longer runway” can give certain performance gains a short barrel can’t—but it also increases the need for control. The pellet’s in the barrel longer, so you have to stay perfectly steady through the entire shot.

Take Olympic 10m —very low power, around 5.5 foot-pounds—and most of those rifles use relatively short barrels built for consistency and quick shot cycles. Compare that to 100m benchrest in the U.S., where power is unlimited and most competitors run 700mm barrels. In the end, it’s all a trade-off between air efficiency, dwell time, and how much control the shooter can maintain.

The top shooters make it look effortless, but getting that level of consistency—especially with longer barrels—takes serious command of body, mind, and rifle.
Click to expand...
I would say that while the longer/ whippier the tube, there may be more " room" for detrimental harmonic influences....but, depending on stance/ rest , a longer barrel offers a ( if design is otherwise sound) better balance/ stability for offhand shots ( rarer & rarer, I know)... More efficient in a PCP too, I hear ?
 
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