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From: snitor!petert@uunet.UU.NET (Peter Toth)
Newsgroups: rec.guns
Subject: Accuracy, as function of barrel length
Message-ID: <34930@mimsy.umd.edu>
Date: 27 May 91 21:44:22 GMT
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Some time ago the accuracy of short barreled guns was brought up here.
I've just come across a few pertinent articles.

Mark Morritz wrote up a slicked Smith and Wesson Model 60 Stainless Steel
Chief's Special in Vol 1, #1 ('89) of the Pocket Pistol Handbook (Harris).
(J frame, 5 shot .38 with 2 in barrel and adjustable sights).
The slicking consisted of stoning the actions into smoothness.

He testfired out of hand, from a bench, at 25 yards.
His first string was 2 and 1/2 inches wide.
After trying various factory loads, including +P-s, he found most ran
under 2 inches.
The best group came with Federal 125gr JHP's (+P). The group was "opened" to
1 1/2 inch wide, by a "flier". 4 shots were within an inch, with 3 of them
touching.

In the same publication, Bob Shimek was evaluating  handguns for outdoor
carry. He picked 24 ounces as an upper weight limit, so a lot of short
guns were looked at.  He only mentioned actually shooting the
Charter arms Bulldog (.44sp, 5 shot, 3 in barrel, fixed sights).

He fired out of hand, from bench at 50 yards.
He doesn't mention his first try (must have really screwed it up),
but his second string is shown at 4 1/4 inches. No mention of the ammo.

Wiley Clapp, in the June '91 issue of G&A (i know, i know), writes up his
experience with chopping a 10 1/2 inch Ruger Super Blackhawk (44 Mag)
back to 1 1/2 inch in 9 not so easy steps. After each cut he fired 36 rounds,
12 of 300, 12 of 250 and 12 of 200 grain projectiles, all from a Ransom rest.

The best 12 shot group, 1.64 inch at 25 yards, with Hornady 200 grainers (JHP),
came at 8 1/2 inches.  Given that the ammo chosen was aimed at long barrels,
as indicated by his selection process, that's no surprise.

In his conclusions he writes: (reproduced without permission)
"Accuracy has nothing to do with barrel length. As long as the barrel is
properly crowned and the ammo is good, you'll see good groups at any
barrel length."

I would like to find the article which describes the process of finding
the projectile length and speed of propellant best suited to a given
barrel length and rate of twist. Anybody ?

Peter Toth