Barrel too long

B

BLS700

New member
I was reading a different post and someone made a comment that the prohunter barrels were too long and have had accuracy issues because of it. I haven't had that experience (mine best groups come form my prohunter .204) but have any of you found that issue and I'm curious why?
 
I've seen that comment on other forums. It doesn't always happen. With any barrel, there is a vibration that occurs as the bullet travels down the bore. That is called 'harmonics'. Some pro-hunter users have experienced inaccuracy with their barrels because the harmonics were wrong.
 
so it's a harmonics issue and not a powder burn or stabilization issue. That makes more sense. Thanks. Would the longer barrel make it more common for the harmonics to be off possibly?
 
I deliberately chose a 26" barrel for my '06 because I wanted max velocity for hunting in very-open country.

I did a little tweaking of the forearm and had no trouble getting sub-MOA groups with handloads.

IMO, it's less the harmonics as such than it is uniformity of the harmonics. The deal, IMO, is that they be the same, shot to shot. I don't really see where length is a factor.

There were some posts at THR from guys using the '06 with 230-grain VLDs and 30" barrels for tight groups at 1,200 and 1,300 yards. But, that was their own specialized game.
 
Having the same results,...

have two M70, first is post-64 first edition with 24" barrel & wood stock, second is late 90's Black shadow with 26" barrel & composite stock [POS].

Both barrela are free-floated and the post 64 was sighted in with 6 shots, the blk shadow [ aka male bovinemanure] will put first shot on then the others are high and tending right.
Same caliber, using same commercial ammo.

Next step is to do an engineering calculation to see if shortening the barrel to 24 will stiffen and replacing the flexible composite stock with a laminate / wood.
 
length of barrel isn't the issue, it is the "stiffness" of the barrel that is the issue.

Long skinny barrels are harder to "tune" a load to often because they experience larger amplitude in the harmonic vibrations and as the steel heats up more the effect is again amplified.

But for putting first shot on target? Long skinny barrels are every bit as good as short fat barrels.

Jimro
 
Pro Hunter

I have a friend that rechambered a 28" 25-06 barrel to .257 STW ! it will not group bullets over 87 Gr. . But it'll put 87s through the same hole all day long , and is the scoruge on any coyote that can be seen . I suspect that twist rate has as much to do with this as barrel length ! It's one hot rod of a rifle for sure !
 
Guys, remember that the OP was asking specifically about T/C ProHunter barrels - not longer barrels in general.
 
The OP said he was not having a problem, but asked the question just as a general observation.

If he knows of someone that is having a problem they could, just have the barrel cut down to 24 inches and re-crowned.

Jim
 
I was curious about both prohunters in particular but longer barrels in general. I'm about to put a .308 barrel on my prohunter and was just trying to figure out what that issue could be caused by after reading people posting issues of it online. I have had great results from my .204 I wasn't sure if a .30 caliber bullet would cause an issue in the longer barrel.
 
Pro hunter barrels are all fluted heavy barrels to the best of my knowledge. This does not lend itself to shortening. I would bet the inaccurracy problems were likely caused by twist rate or too much pressure or any of the other causes of inaccuracy. The longer barrels can be tuned to the proper harmonics but it is not an easy, fast process. lots of testing loads and all of the other things that can be done. But that is the fun part of learning a rifle.

Don't let any stories about barrels being too long for accuracy scare you away from triing a longer barrel on your gun.
 
All of the above posts simply prove why Browning and Winchester put the B.O.S.S. system of tuner on their barrels- to modify the harmonic vibrations. As far as the T/C barrels, I haven't worked with one to weigh in on their accuracy or lack of it.
 
I like long barrels on my hunting rifle 24" to 28" long #2/#3 contour. I think it's important to get a good gunsmith and he understand how to build a accurate rifle with a longer barrel.

I enjoy shooting 5 shot groups and I have no problems doing that with my rifles. I normally take 2/3 rifles to the range spread the barrel wear out and it's alot more than just barrel length = accuracy. Some good barrels being made today.
 
All the prohunter barrels are heavy and fluted. I found those posts origianlly when searching for the Bergara vs TC Prohunter barrels. I'm leaning towards TC but I did notice the other manufacturers seem to be 26 or less and TC is at 28". Made me wonder if there was something to that, like excessive barrel whip in bigger calibers or so.
 
The B.O.S.S is for the guy that doesnt hand load , so he can tune his gun to the ammo ! Instead of vice versa . They work fine but I just can't get by the ugly ! Plus I hand load , so have no need of a barrel tuner .
 
I don't think 2 more inches will lead to excessive barrel whip on a heavy fluted barrel. The fluting stiffens the barrel. I have read many reviews in researching my purchase as well. I only saw 1 negative out of hundreds towards the TC Prohunter. And I suspect that guy did not know what he was talking about. He said he never even shot it because it was such a tight barrel that he could not get a bore brush to bo down it so he sent it back. No mention of measuring the bore or anything else. I suspect he tried the wrong size brush. I now have a Prohunter with a 12 ga rifled barrel. I have not shot it enough to tell how accurate it will be. It kicks like an angry mule. I had to stop at 13 shots to prevent flinching. I can usually go 20 with my 338 mag. However my first impressions are that it will do what I need it to. Every shooter has thier own idea of what accurate is. In the OP you mentioned that someone was having trouble with accuracy. Did he expect it to shoot 1 hole groups at 300 yards? Or was he triing to get it to stay inside a milk jug at 50 yards. Some people may have a negative view of some guns because they expect to much. My point is that the Encore platform is great for hunting accuracy 1 to 2 MOA. Many get better than that with handloads and some with factory ammo. If I wanted a gun for 1000 yard match competition, I would not get the Encore or any other break action. I would get a bolt action, they are easier to tune for accuracy. But I love my Encore for its purpose.
 
I believe that the most imprtant thing affecting internal accuracy of a rifle is the gunsmith assembling/tuning the rifle.

Diameter of barrell will be affect the number of shots fired. I had a 243 with a super thin 24" barrell. At a 100 meters it would shoot a perfect triangle in a 3/4" group. Rounds 4 and five would stack on top of the triangle at 3/4" intervals. Great hunting accuracy.

My 257 Roberts with its 27" list barrell shoots one ragged hole at 100 meters as long as I do my job. I like the extra velocity, about 100 FPS per inch over a 24 inch barrell, the extra length gives me.
 
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