Thread: Barrel length vs speed

As a general (approximate ) rule of thumb, for centrefires it is usually about the 50fps per inch when a barrel is shortened so the estimates of about 150fps would be within reason. As mentioned, in most rifles the projectile is accelerating rght up unto it exits the muzzle at which point the pressure behind it is released and it then relies on momentum.

This can be countered by using a faster burning powder that expends all of its energy in the time it takes to move the projectile to the muzzle, but to be hones, 100-200fps difference at the muzzle will not make much "real world" difference to most hunters.

If I run a basic calc with the Hornady white tail, instead of getting 2840fps at muzzle and just dropping below 2000fps at 400yds, it would be 2640fps at the muzzle and would drop below 2000fps at a bit over 300yds. If you are shooting eggs at 300 yards this might make a difference, but anything bigger than the 3" difference in drop and it wont matter....