Ever wonder if short rifles can outperform ones with longer barrels?
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Short Barrel Rifles verses Long Barrel Rifles test. Details Below...
- Thread starter B P Maniac Shooter
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Banjoman
Hillbilly
Very interesting!
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It would be interesting to see if the results were the same using a conical style bullet in both guns.
Heck even conical vs round ball penetration test. Common sense would say the heavier conical would penetrate deeper. However, if it just flattens out the results might be the same, or less penetration due to become a larger/mushroomed chunk of lead. Could be fun test for ya.
Interesting, Just thinking out loud here. But that long barrel can take and consume a larger charge than that shorter barrel could. Yes, please do the Chronograph test with the two. Thanks for the video BPMS, Always enjoyable.
I've never tried conical bullets in these guns. I'm just an ol' round ball shooter.
I need to follow up on that to see what is needed to shoot.
What does others use??
A couple things come to mind that muddy the waters a bit.
The longer barrel rifle is flintlock vs the shorter is percussion. I don't know about your rifles but the vent of my flintlocks is significantly wider than the hole at the bottom of a nipple. That loss of pressure in the flint system could cause a slight loss in velocity, though it would take a chronograph to verify.
Regardless of any pressure differences, if there is a speed difference in either case, then that may affect the penetration as well. More speed can decrease penetration as it causes the ball to expand more upon impact, increasing the resistance. This is most pronounced on handgun bullets but I see it in my unmentionable rifles as well. If I shoot a deer or bear inside of 30 yards, there is often no exit & I recover the bullet. But just about every shot outside of 50 yards will exit. Slower projectiles sometimes penetrate deeper than faster ones.
The longer barrel rifle is flintlock vs the shorter is percussion. I don't know about your rifles but the vent of my flintlocks is significantly wider than the hole at the bottom of a nipple. That loss of pressure in the flint system could cause a slight loss in velocity, though it would take a chronograph to verify.
Regardless of any pressure differences, if there is a speed difference in either case, then that may affect the penetration as well. More speed can decrease penetration as it causes the ball to expand more upon impact, increasing the resistance. This is most pronounced on handgun bullets but I see it in my unmentionable rifles as well. If I shoot a deer or bear inside of 30 yards, there is often no exit & I recover the bullet. But just about every shot outside of 50 yards will exit. Slower projectiles sometimes penetrate deeper than faster ones.
Pete G
76 Cal.
Longer barrel has more velocity therefore bullet has more expansion and less penetration.
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You could get away with maxi's and lube them with crisco. Maybe some one can send you some 50 cals for a upcoming video.
Velocity and distance to target both affect likely penetration. I have shot round ball and conicals out of my .58 caliber Hawken. The round ball leaves the barrel at a much higher velocity than the conical. The energy level shifts rapidly to the conical as you get farther away from the muzzle due to weight advantage and the "long for caliber" bullet shape (ballistic efficiency). Beyond 75 yards the conical will have a definite energy advantage and a sharper point for penetration. Testing at 25 yards may work for squirrels but testing and 75 to 100 yards would be more realistic for a hunting situation.
TDM
Cannon
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Interesting video Mark. Keep them coming.
Oh..I can pick some conicals up.
I'll get over to Friendship soon to try this again
I know a fellar over there that has one of those chrono devices to use.
Thanks for the idea..
I gave away a Woodsrunner rifle a few months ago. Pretty sweet gun for sure.
I wouldn't accept a rifle from Kibler for tests. If I used one of his, it would be a purchased gun.
I want to keep the channel "commercial" free as much as possible.
Thanks for the thoughts though.....
If you're going to try conicals in that round ball twist barrel. I would use the Hornady PA Conical. That is a great shooting bullet out of a round ball barrel.
I'll pick up some of those & try them out, thanks.
Uncle Miltie
50 Cal.
The most accurate muzzle loaders ever made had barrels under 30"....
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Longer barrels get you closer to the target. Everybody knows that!
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