Military rifle barrel length

[spike1]

I just posted this on another thread ?
I'll stick it here also ?

I can’t recall exactly what publication had it? ??? American Gunsmith or Gun Test Magazine possibly ???? As I remember it the discussion was with the 17 HMR when it was 1st released. The discussion centered around the best barrel length. Seems they cut one and re-crowned it. They tested it for speed and accuracy then they started cutting it down shorter and shorter. Seems like the answer was surprising like the speed increased as they cut down to 17 inches and the accuracy didn’t change. After 16(?) inches the speed started to slowly drop off. I remember I had to read it one word at a time to make sure I understood what I was reading. The data confused the author also and they repeated it on another caliber 308? 30-06? or 270 ??? don’t remember,,, but got similar results. Seems like 18 to 20 inches would be all the longer you would want to be.
Many factors effect accuracy. It has been my amateur opinion and observation that shorter barrels seem to be more tolerant to varying loads and types of ammunition just as heavy barrels seem to be. Shorter or stiffer barrels have less harmonic whip,,, I guess. That just my opinion and I don’t know jack,,,, or jill.