What’s the longest handgun barrel you have?

[Gunsnwater]

That really depends on the cartridge, the loading, bullet design, and even bore/groove diameter relative to bullet.


Cartridge: yeah, a cartridge like a .25ACP, .32S&W, etc may be more effected by longer barrels, possibly slowing in the barrel before others. ...less powder to push the bullets.

Loading: Powder-puff loads could slow down sooner than regular or hotter loads. The regular and hotter loads would like improve. Barrel length being relative.

Bullet Design: If the bullet has a higher bearing surface, it will have more drag. If that drag exceeds the pressure, then it will slow down.

Bore/Groove: Not every barrel is made the same. A bore or groove that is .0001 smaller than the spec of the given bullet will case more drag that one that is perfect.


For most cartridges you will gain velocity up to and past 16". Most rifle cartridge rifles "under-bored", meaning the barrels are too short to properly burn all their powder. Just about ALL handguns, shooting handgun cartridges, are "under-bored", so carbine lengths will typically provide better results.

If you are hearing a sharp explosion when you fire your gun, odds are you are not fully burning the powder or fully utilizing all of the pressure. That loud explosion is because powder is still burning and the volume behind the bullet suddenly expanded once the bullet left the barrel(close to same reason you get thunder after lightning).

Want more speed? Add more freebore. Or cowbell.

[Boo Vuccla]

Ruger Super Blackhawk, 44 Mag, silhouette model, 10.5" barrel.
I still hunt with it.

[gemihur]

7-30 Waters Thompson Center Contender Super 14 w/break and bipod

[ar15jules]

Ruger Super Blackhawk, 44 Mag, silhouette model, 10.5" barrel.
I still hunt with it.

I have the same.

[jakebrake]

currently? 4.6

[kobsw]

6" model 28-2 ca 1970


Kobsw

[gemihur]

knight,
The explanation of thunder after lightening is better explained by recalling the sound a spark makes as it arcs between the gap of a sparkplug.
Electricity requires a vacuum to travel and immediately upon it's absence the air rushes back and claps together.
Multiply this scenario by about a million and you have lightening and thunder.
Got it from Bill Nye the science guy.

[Daycrawler]

My bear gun is a S&W 500 with an 8 3/8 barrel. I have a shoulder rig when I take it for a walk in the woods. Its a great gun, but after a couple of cylinders, its time to put it down.

[CleanDean]

14" ---Thompson Contender 223 Super 14

Ditto. 1 in .223 ... 3 more for the TC/Contender , 7mm TC/U , 35 Rem. & 375 JDJ ( all 14 inchers)

[JoshIronshaft]

I have a stainless Ruger MkII with the 10" bull barrel. Very fun to shoot.