Long barrel for velocity or short barrel for moving?

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  • Limpy88

    Expert
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    36   0   0
    Nov 12, 2009
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    43
    Lafayette
    Building a 350 legend ar.
    Can't decide on what barrel
    What I find with out custom orders

    18" 1/16 twist
    16" 1/15 or 1/16 twist
    13" 1/14 twist

    Will be shooting 200 gr hunting loads as well as 124 gr 9mm bullets

    This will be a fun/hunting gun

    A velocity test with cutting down a barrel inch by inch showed only 124fps between 18" and 13" with the Winchester 147gr target ammo. Really not much. I will be handloading with the once fired brass. So i can make that up with good reload.

    https://mos-tek.com/data


    Obviously a 13" with require a pistol brace.

    I just cant decide to many choices.
    I only want one 350 legend AR.
    Not one for every occasion.


    What are your thoughts?
     
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    1   0   0
    Jul 3, 2008
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    central indiana
    i would go with 16" , that way you are still a rifle & still have a good size for movement..
    I have a ruger 77/357 with a 16.1" BBL and it is great.. I don't think it needs to be shorter
     

    Hohn

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    Jul 5, 2012
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    With such a minor speed loss I’d be going as short as possible.

    It depends on whether you feel a brace lets you get the full range you want. I’d probably find a way to get that short barrel barely over the 16” with a permanent muzzle device if it was me. Not because you need the extra length for speed but because using a rifle lower has perceived advantages in the woods.

    If you feel like you can get good cheek weld from a brace setup, then go pistol and be done with it.
     

    Limpy88

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    Nov 12, 2009
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    Lafayette
    With such a minor speed loss I’d be going as short as possible.

    It depends on whether you feel a brace lets you get the full range you want. I’d probably find a way to get that short barrel barely over the 16” with a permanent muzzle device if it was me. Not because you need the extra length for speed but because using a rifle lower has perceived advantages in the woods.

    If you feel like you can get good cheek weld from a brace setup, then go pistol and be done with it.

    Do you mean a rifle stock?
     

    Sniper 79

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    Oct 7, 2012
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    Short as possible for my vote. Pistols are wonderful and real world shooting you'll never miss the velocity drop.
     

    Nojoy621

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    Aug 10, 2016
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    14.5 with a welded muzzle device. Because when you swinging a rifle, 3 inches doesn’t make a difference but a rifle stock will be much more comfortable to shoot.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk
     

    Limpy88

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    Nov 12, 2009
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    Well in my hesitation. All the pistol barrels sold. So I had to settle for a 16". I may see about cutting down to pistol length when it shows up.
     

    MArkB

    Plinker
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    Feb 2, 2012
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    ditto the rifle stock. much more stability when firing. 16" crowned barrel or thread/cap for future suppressor install?
     

    thompal

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    Sep 27, 2008
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    With such a minor speed loss I’d be going as short as possible.

    It depends on whether you feel a brace lets you get the full range you want. I’d probably find a way to get that short barrel barely over the 16” with a permanent muzzle device if it was me. Not because you need the extra length for speed but because using a rifle lower has perceived advantages in the woods.

    If you feel like you can get good cheek weld from a brace setup, then go pistol and be done with it.


    What is the advantage of a 13" barrel with a 3" fixed muzzle device over a 16" barrel?
     

    ChootEm

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    Nov 11, 2013
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    I am assuming this will be for hunting? If so, accuracy would be my first thought, speed in handling would be my second, velocity loss of 124fps would be my last.

    16" allows for a rifle stock and a way more comfortable shooting position and it may actually be faster than trying a brace.

    Not sure on when a 350 legend is fully stable in its path and the extra 3" may help the gasses and spin find a happy place that may not be achieved in the first 13"?
     
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    Oct 3, 2008
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    On a hill in Perry C
    14.5 with a welded muzzle device. Because when you swinging a rifle, 3 inches doesn’t make a difference but a rifle stock will be much more comfortable to shoot.


    Sent from my iPhone using Tapatalk

    If you're going to go that route why not use a 16" barrel and gain a few FPS? If you HAVE to have the 16", why not make it useful?
     

    Fixer

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    Nov 22, 2009
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    Just food for thought. The 350 has decent recoil and in a shorter lighter platform might be more difficult to shoot accurately. I agree that 3" isn't much for handling to make a difference. Shootability will be quite different from a brace to a stock. If you go 13" then I would want a stock and go SBR. If you plan on a suppressor down the road then keeping the OAL to a minimum would be the key.
     

    1nderbeard

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    Apr 3, 2017
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    If you do less than 16 inches, pay the extra $200 and get a legal SBR. I was skeptical about that process, but it only took me about 3 weeks in application time for the form 1.
    I know it's a controversial topic, but in my mind it's better to pay $200 than $20,000 in attorney's fees to get you out of a felony. You're already on every government list anyway.
     

    Gingerbeardman

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    Mar 17, 2017
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    Two things: going 16" instead of 13" makes it a rifle and avoids any trouble in the future (like if pistols become illegal) and an effective muzzle device can greatly improve second-shot follow-up if you need it. I've shot pistol braces and I think a good one is just as effective as a rifle stock but YMMV
     
    Last edited:

    Tombs

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    Jan 13, 2011
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    With a short straight wall larger bore cartridge like that, I really would not get overly concerned about needing much barrel to get the full umph out of the cartridge.

    I'm not sure about muzzle device options for 35 caliber, but there's quite a few useful muzzle devices that make a 13.7" into a 16" after pinning and welding, that'd give you the best of both worlds without needing to go to a brace. Going shorter can be handier, but you start ending up with concussion and muzzle blast that requires a significant enough muzzle device that you might lose your length benefits. I'd really recommend going the 13.7" with a good pinned and welded muzzle device.

    If you're going to go that route why not use a 16" barrel and gain a few FPS? If you HAVE to have the 16", why not make it useful?

    If you enjoy being blinded or having gigantic fireballs, then sure.

    But even a brake (if well designed) tames that down significantly. Which is why a muzzle device is better than not having one.
     
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    Oct 3, 2008
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    On a hill in Perry C
    With a short straight wall larger bore cartridge like that, I really would not get overly concerned about needing much barrel to get the full umph out of the cartridge.

    I'm not sure about muzzle device options for 35 caliber, but there's quite a few useful muzzle devices that make a 13.7" into a 16" after pinning and welding, that'd give you the best of both worlds without needing to go to a brace. Going shorter can be handier, but you start ending up with concussion and muzzle blast that requires a significant enough muzzle device that you might lose your length benefits. I'd really recommend going the 13.7" with a good pinned and welded muzzle device.



    If you enjoy being blinded or having gigantic fireballs, then sure.

    But even a brake (if well designed) tames that down significantly. Which is why a muzzle device is better than not having one.


    So go with a shorter device like the A2. Not the new hotness but they work quite well and you gain a couple inches of useful barrel.
     
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