Barrel Length, What's the Rule?

[Mauserguy]

I have two similar sporting rifles in 30-06. They are great rifles. One wears a medium weight 22 inch barrel. The other sports a 24 inch barrel. I'm playing with different loads of 150 and 180 grain loads. Should I expect better performance with heavier bullets in the longer barrel or in the shorter barrel?
Mauserguy

 

[rcmodel]

In general, you could expect the 24" barrel to give higher velocity with either weight bullet.

But there is no way to predict it without shooting them over a chronograph.

Too many variables for a hard & fast rule.

I have seen "fast" short barrels give higher velocity then 'slow' longer barrels with the same load.

As far as accuracy, the same thing.

Some barrels like heavy bullets better, and some don't.

rcmodel

 

[skinewmexico]

I like to think of longer barrels having more velocity, and shorter barrels being more accurate (at short distances). Not absolutes though.