.357 Carbine: 16 inch beats 18 inch

[LaEscopeta]

Came across this thread:

http://www.thehighroad.org/showthread.php?t=453030

...about a site listing muzzle velocity vs. barrel length for a wide variety of pistol calibers. This page:

http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/357mag.html

…is for .357 Magnum. Note velocity maxs out with an 16” barrel. I’m glad I got my Marlin 1984C cut down to 16”. Never missed losing one round out of the magazine.

 

[ArmedBear]

Depends what loads you put in it.

Something like the IMR 4227 I use probably does get a tad more velocity from a longer barrel, since it's a relatively slow-burning powder. I don't have a 16" barrel to test, though.

 

[zxcvbob]

It probably also depends whether you are using cast bullets or jacketed.

 

[LaEscopeta]

The site lists the ammo used, commercially available pistol ammo with mostly some sort of jacket. So I guess the Buffalo Bore of LEVERevolution stuff, with slower powder, could be faster out of a barrel longer then 16”

 

[351 WINCHESTER]

I doubt you could tell the difference in performance between the two.

 

[zxcvbob]

A 158 grain cast lead bullet, even with barrel friction, is still accelerating as it exits a 24" barrel (when loaded with 14 grains of AA#9)

Same load with a 158 grain jacketed bullet seems to max out at about 22".

Either bullet is still gaining at 18". It's mostly academic though, there's not a lot of acceleration left.