How many folks shoot a shorter barrell better than a long

[gym]

Yes we all know that the longer the barrell the more accurate the weapon, or sniper rifles would fit in the glovebox, but. For target shooting, I bet some folks shoot a 3 or 4 inch pistol better than a 6 or 8 inch, what do you say? and revolvers also, just curious? Distances etc.

 

[Bitmap]

A long barrel is not more inherently accurate than a short barrel. However, with iron sights (especially on a handgun) the gun will usually have a longer sight radius and hence better practical accuracy. If someone is shooting better with a 4" revolver than a 8" revolver it probably is not because of the shorter barrel. It is probably because of a better trigger pull, a caliber with less recoil that doesn't wear the shooter out as fast or maybe the gun is just more accurate or likes the ammo it is being fed. If you try 10 samples of the same model gun you will likely find a huge difference in accuracy between them.

 

[hockeybum]

i shoot the 26 inch barrel on my shotgun better than my 28 inch barrel. mainly shooting at ducks. that count?

 

[jmr40]

On rifles the longer barrels are needed to burn more powder to get maximum velocity. It has nothing to do with accuracy. In fact shorter barrels tend to be more accurate because they will be stiffer.

 

[oldgold]

Dwell time comes into play with the longer barrel. From the time ignition takes place until the bullet leaves the barrel the pistol is trying to rise and torque the gun from the shooters hand. Grip, hand strength, caliber, bullet weight and velocity all play into the equation. A big slow heavy bullet in a long barrel pistol is , to me, the hardest to shoot accurately. Five inches or less seem to be my best choice.

 

[51Cards]

I'm pretty sure the sight radius of a Sig 229 with TFOs is the same as an XD subcompact. Now I don't know if I'm shooting the XD better, or the Sig worse!

 

[BobMcG]

With my revolvers, I've always shot better with a six inch barrel over a four and a four inch over a two.

 

[MT GUNNY]

5in best of both

 

[Fly320s]

I shoot my commander-size (4 inch) 1911 better than my full-size 1911. I think that is primarily because I have more experience and training with the 4 inch gun.

In general, I prefer shorter guns over their longer counterparts. Not sure why. Maybe because I'm weak in the upper body.

 

[tblt]

No longer is better

 

[ambidextrous1]

I practice a lot of personal defense tactics, with emphasis on multiple targets and rapid delivery of the "goods" at ranges of 10 to 20 feet.

For this regimen, I have a higher speed/accuracy capability with an alloy frame 1911 with a 3 inch barrel that with a steel frame full-size pistol.

I believe the same would be true with a single target.

 

[jad0110]

Bitmap summed it up nicely.

Today I handily outshot my 5" 1911 with a 1 7/8" airweight hammerless snubbie, does that count?