18" or 20" barrel?

[TimberDoodle]

I'm looking at picking up a rossi r95 for open sight hunting. It looks like they have two barrel lengths available. There is a stainless version (preferred) with an 18" barrel, or a blued steel version with a 20" barrel. Would there be much practical difference in accuracy & performance inside of 200 yards between the two?

 

[HuntHarder]

Potaytoe, pohtahto. Personal preference only..

 

[Matt5266]

Nope pick which one you want more

 

[ProRoad]

I'd go 18" for open sights. I have been studying this quite a bit. This was informative:

 

[MuleyFever]

In theory the 20" could be more accurate with the longer sight alignment, no?

 

[ProRoad]

sure, and a little faster. ahh choices..

 

[shmtastic]

I have several 18" barrels, my most recent order was for a 20". Velocity loss at 18 is real, but you don't go short barrel and expect 24" velocity. I think the balance is a bit better with a 20", I don't shoot suppressed with these rifles, so a little further away from my head is always an added bonus. The concussion on shorter barrels adds up as well for range practice.

 

[eric1115]

I'm looking at picking up a rossi r95 for open sight hunting. It looks like they have two barrel lengths available. There is a stainless version (preferred) with an 18" barrel, or a blued steel version with a 20" barrel. Would there be much practical difference in accuracy & performance inside of 200 yards between the two?

If suppressed 18" for sure, if bare muzzle 20" (by a small margin).

 

[nm.otter]

Not-so-intuitively, reducing barrel length has no real impact on precision.

It does give you increased MV, a longer sight radius (for irons) and (if unsuppressed) reductions to both noise and muzzle blast for the shooter.

 

[JimIsland]

FWIW...I have a R95 with 20" barrel and it's very accurate. I shot 8 different 30-30 factory offerings and the Federal Hammerdown 150 gr shoots lights out. I'm glad I went 20".

 

[TradLife406]

I think it really depends on caliber. I can make a hard argument for a 16" in some calibers.

 

[TimberDoodle]

I think it really depends on caliber. I can make a hard argument for a 16" in some calibers.

I want be able to hunt elk & deer, so was looking at a 444 marlin.

 

[Mtndawger]

Would you rather have a stainless barrel or a blued barrel? That’s the choice in my eyes.

 

[blackhawk219]

I would echo what others have said. Unsuppressed I would go 20". Suppressed I would definitely go 18". And at those ranges, I would think the 30-30 would be a better choice. Lower recoil and cheaper ammo (more practice), and it will do the job as long as the bullet selection and placement are correct. The 30-30 is flatter shooting, but at 200 the difference is negligible

 

[TimberDoodle]

Would you rather have a stainless barrel or a blued barrel? That’s the choice in my eyes.

I prefer the laminated/stainless, but am open to the blued & wood if there is notable difference in performance.

 

[TimberDoodle]

I would echo what others have said. Unsuppressed I would go 20". Suppressed I would definitely go 18". And at those ranges, I would think the 30-30 would be a better choice. Lower recoil and cheaper ammo (more practice), and it will do the job as long as the bullet selection and placement are correct. The 30-30 is flatter shooting, but at 200 the difference is negligible

The cartridge needs to be straight walled. I didnt think 30/30 is... Would 30/30 be enough gun for elk at 100+ yards? I was considering a 45/70 before I started digging into the trajectory & energy a bit more, leading me to the 444.

 

[blackhawk219]

The cartridge needs to be straight walled. I didnt think 30/30 is... Would 30/30 be enough gun for elk at 100+ yards? I was considering a 45/70 before I started digging into the trajectory & energy a bit more, leading me to the 444.

Ah okay I didn't know about the straight walled cartridge requirement. the 30-30 would not work for you then.

I would consider the 360 buckhammer. I don't have any personal experience with it, but a quick google shows me the ammo can be had for around $1-$1.3/round online (ammoseek) and it has the same advantages of the 30-30 over the 444 marlin (lower recoil and cheaper ammo, and it will do the job as long as the bullet selection and placement are correct).

 

[Mtndawger]

I prefer the laminated/stainless, but am open to the blued & wood if there is notable difference in performance.

You probably wouldn’t be able to shoot the difference between the two barrel lengths for typical woods hunting up to 200 yards, regardless of caliber

 

[blackhawk219]

You probably wouldn’t be able to shoot the difference between the two barrel lengths for typical woods hunting up to 200 yards, regardless of caliber

I wouldn't be concerned with the loss in ballistics at those ranges as you mentioned, but I would be with sound/blast profile without a suppressor. The shorter you get, the louder and more blast you get. Maybe I'm just a baby now that I'm used to shooting with suppressors, but I would prefer to mitigate the sound/blast as much as possible

 

[Steve300xcw]

18" vs 20" on a gun like that isnt going to matter. Biggest limitations will be your eyes and those sights IMO

I would consider the 360 buckhammer.

I dont think I could own a rifle chambered in something with a name like that.