Shortening rigle barrel to increase acuracy

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swatman

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Shotening Rifle barrel to increase accuracy

I have read that sometimes swat team snipers have had some rifles proffesionally shortened to increase accuracy. I am not sure exactly how this makes them more accurate.
Does anyone here know how this increases the accuracy of a sniper rifle and what are the factors that are involved?
 
Rigidity

A short heavy barrel enjoys greater rigidity than a longer heavy barrel of the same diameter. Because of its greater rigidity, a shorter barrel will flex less while a bullet is travelling down its bore. Hence, great accuracy. But this is not without a price.

Everything in life is a compromise and there will be a loss in velocity and ultimately, long range effectiveness. If you read this month's American Rifleman, there's an article about the USMC's M40A3 sniper rifle. Maj. Land, a friend of the late Carlos Hathcock, remarked that the additional three pounds make it heavier. While this was good for long range (1000 meters) shooting, that the majority of shots were at shorter distances did not necessarily justify the extra weight. Such is the compromise with the shorter barrel. If you're not doing long range shooting (700 meters plus), why have the extra weight? Hence, it doesn't hurt to shorten one's barrel.

[Edited by 4V50 Gary on 01-27-2001 at 06:55 PM]
 
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