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Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 2:30 pm
by mbogo
I know that a shot fired from a short barrel will sound louder to the shooter than one fired from a long barrel. Will the report sound louder to something downrange as well?

Synopsis: I want to set up a bolt-action .22LR for suppressed shooting (with subsonic ammunition). The current barrel on one candidate (CZ 452) is 22.5" long; if I get the barrel cut, threaded, and crowned at 19", will it change the loudness of the downrange report versus a 20", 21", or 22" barrel?

There are many discussions about "optimal barrel length" with regard to velocity and accuracy, but none about report.

mbogo

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 4:17 pm
by John A.
I'll be entirely honest, I have two Savage Mk2 bolt action 22's.

The FVSR has a 16" barrel. The old MK2 has a 20 inch barrel.

I cannot tell that either is more or less quiet than the other.

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Mon Jan 08, 2018 6:12 pm
by doubloon
Same ammo, same suppressor, same host but a barrel difference of 3" what he said. You probably won't be able to hear the difference until you get the barrel under 12"

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 10:35 am
by mbogo
I am inquiring about the report heard at the target, not the shooter.

mbogo

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 12:14 pm
by John A.
Theoretically, the long barrel would likely be a little more quiet.

Whether it is enough for the db meter to tell a meaningful difference 50 yards or more away... :?:

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 12:29 pm
by fishman
19" vs 22" will be a very small difference. 22 vs 5, will be a big difference

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 12:36 pm
by mbogo
I thank you all for your input.

mbogo

Re: Barrel length's effect on muzzle report

Posted: Tue Jan 09, 2018 5:00 pm
by doubloon
mbogo wrote:I am inquiring about the report heard at the target, not the shooter.

mbogo
Same answer. If you start with a louder sound it will stay louder but if you can't really tell the difference at 1 meter you won't really be able to tell the difference at 100 or 1000 meters.

The intensity of the report will decrease over distance.

Go to this link.

http://www.sengpielaudio.com/calculator-distance.htm

Scroll down and enter the data then press calculate.

Let's say there is a 3dB difference between the rifle and the pistol, here is an example of the change between two different blast intensities at 100 meters vs 1 meter.

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