Barrel length vs. accuracy..
I have yet to get a longer barrel for my SS, but I’m sure a few of you have swapped different length barrels on yours. Just wondering if anyone noticed a improvement with accuracy going from the 12″ to longer ones, and if so, how much better? I know you get more power.
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What these folks are telling you is exactly correct. Now let me throw a wrench in here. Slower and loopier is indeed more difficult for long range. It add so many more variables. But as always, there are exceptions. The .20 shoots fairly flat . The .22 almost as much so. The .25 a touch more of an arch. But because of the higher Grain wt. of the pellet, It will be less effected by light cross wind than the .20 or .22. So even though it shoots a little loopier, due to both higher weight, but more importantly, higher frontal cross sectional density, it will be able to buck the wind better. Making connecting with your target or quarry easier for the field shooter. It is sometimes called practical accuracy vs. inherent accuracy.
Mike
In a puire sense, barrel length has nothing to do with accuracy. But longer barrels are generally faster and the effects of trajectory seem to give the faster pellets an advanatge in long range accuracy. So in a way, it’s NOT the barrel length, but it can be the secondary effects of barrel length.
There is thought that shorter barrels are stiffer…which is true of any tube…but as air guns don’t have the same amount of whip-saw vibration, it’s not a big important factor.
Now, a longer barrel can, inderectly, give you better accuracy. If it’s dead calm, with the exact same conditions for every shot, a short barrel can be equal to a long one. Now, if there is a little wind, a long barrel can win, because the pellet going 950fps will be less affected by wind than a 600fps pellet.
That’s how it works.
Lama you are correct. If the shooting is done with no outside influences the barrel length alone does not make the gun more accurate. But when someone says barrel length does not effect accuracy they are leaving out other elements that do. For example when shooting Crosman premieres out of my 12″ barrel they shot at 850fps and when shooting at 100 yards it was not as accurate as it is with the 16.5″ barrel due to the loopy trajectory. The longer barrel shoots at 955+fps and the trajectory is flatter giving it less time in the air and it travels a shorter distance then the loopier trajectory.
The shortest distance between 2 points is a straight line. When the trajectory is a loopy it has to travel a longer distance at a slower speed which allows more elements to enter the equation and affect the outcome accuracy wise
Fast and straight in the hands of a shooter is always easier to shoot then slow and loopy at the same distance.
Thx for the input guys. This is what I am thinking… the first and last time I cronied my gun, I got a 787 fps with a Kodiak. So, adding 12 more inches to the barrel, and maybe using lighter .25’s in the mid 20 gr range, I think I’ll hit the 800 mark no problem. A custom valve is tempting, but I want to also keep shot count up… which brings me to another question.
I had my tank re-filled for the first time yesterday, I got it from Mac1 Tim used. I got about 7 fills on my gun at 2800 psi. The gauge on the tank showed 2500 psi when shot count got stinky. Does this sound about right? I’ve been shooting alot latley, so it looks like I’m gonna be a regular at the scuba section of Sports Chalet. Oops.. tank is 80 cu ft
I was getting in the upper 700’s (780-800), and when I did a valve mod, I jumped to the upper 800’s. That was with 31 grain kodiaks.
From what I’ve always heard, barrel length has absolutely no effect on accuracy.
Now, a longer barrel can, inderectly, give you better accuracy. If it’s dead calm, with the exact same conditions for every shot, a short barrel can be equal to a long one. Now, if there is a little wind, a long barrel can win, because the pellet going 950fps will be less affected by wind than a 600fps pellet.
That’s how it works.
Accuracy is not related to barrel length.
My accuracy increased when I went from a 12″ barrel to a 16″ barrel at distances over 50 yards. With the 12″ the velocity is not there like it is with the longer barrels and so the trajectory is more loopy the further out you shoot. With the increase in speed the trajectory flattens out and it is much easier to hit targets out to 120 yards.
That is how it worked out for me anyways.
Be best if you could mod the talon valve as it will add 100fps in stock configuration. When shooting .25 that extra fpe will be of agreat help.
And that’s exactly my plan dnc… my next barrel will be 24″ in .25. I understand it’s a great combination. If you don’t mind me asking, what kind of fps are you getting on full power in .25? (and what grain) I believe Tony said to expect roughly 800 fps with a stock Talon tank, 31 gr Kodiak I think.
My 12″ was about the same as my 24″ in terms of accuracy (maybe slightly more accurate). My .25 24″ is about the same as well. I’ve never seen barrel length affect accuracy. If you do upgrade, you should consider jumping straight to .25. Its just my openion, but think about it.
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More good input thx. I was mainly wondering about any accuracy differences in short barrel compared to long barrel at shorter distances, say 40 yards or so, and it seems then that if there is any difference at that range it is practically non existent where a longer barrel would be more accurate at longer ranges, which of course makes sense. Can’t wait to get the 24 incher.