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Old May 28, 2014, 08:21 PM   #1
Lt. Skrumpledonk Ret
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Evolution of length of long arms

I'm reading up on black powder long arms. It seems the Jäger rifle was shorter than previous models, at around 45". It blurred the lines between a sporting rifle and military in the late 18th century (no bayonet mount, yet used by skirmishers). .58 cal around 1810

Then we get the Pennsylvania/Kentucky rifles which are much longer. Longer in Europe at the time, too. Perhaps slightly smaller caliber (?)

Then we get to the Hawken, another shorter rifle.

Then by WWI rifles are typically back out to 50"

Why is this back and forth taking place? Are we due for another 50 incher soon?
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Old May 28, 2014, 08:47 PM   #2
4thPoint
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Black powder gained more velocity in longer barrels, plus without optics the longer the sight radius the more accurate the rifle in general.

If you could develop 3200fps in a 10-inch barrel then why would you need a 14.5 inch M4 barrel? (A different gas system, yes, but that's another matter.)
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Old May 28, 2014, 09:15 PM   #3
Lt. Skrumpledonk Ret
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Yes, two good points. But it doesn't explain how they went back to shorter rifles.
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Old May 28, 2014, 09:18 PM   #4
4V50 Gary
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Someone somewhere in one of the Germanic states (remember, it was the Holy Roman Empire until Napoleon put an end to it) figured out that 30-32" was optimal for a rifle (Wallace Gusler of Colonial Williamsburg told me this). When the rifle came here, the caliber got smaller to save lead and the barrels grew longer (probably on the theory that there was more time for the powder to combust) and carried with it the advantage of a longer sight radius. As compensation, the stocks became more graceful and thinner and this helped to reduce the weight. During the Fur Trade Era (right after Lewis & Clark), guns were shorter because trappers were often on horseback. They wanted shorter barrels that were handier and heavier stocks that weren't as frail as the long rifles'.

Now, as to military arms, that's a different evolutionary story. Muskets had long barrels because soldiers stood in ranks of four deep (and later three during the Revolution and finally two during the Napoleonic era & the Civil War). You needed a longer barrel so the guy in the front rank didn't have a muzzle right next to his eyes or ear. Additionally, the longer barrel meant your bayonet stuck out further, giving the infantryman the ability to fight off a cavalry charge like a pikeman. The early Brown Bess had 46" barrels, but was shortened to 42" during the American Revolution. Barrels were shortened from 46" down during the French & Indian War (Seven Years War in Europe) and by the time of the Napoleonic Wars, 39". Many muskets and even the rifle muskets of the Civil War had 39" or so long barrels for the same reason.

When smokeless powder was adopted, higher velocities could be obtained. Cavalry charges were falling into disfavor, especially with the advent of repeaters (not just the machine gun). Rapidity of fire meant that linear warfare with men standing shoulder to shoulder meant high casualties and that the infantry was less likely to have to repel the cavalry. There was no need for 39" barrels anymore. Hence barrels on infantry rifles were shortened from 39" to 29" or so (depending on the nation). This was the standard (except for the SMLE Mk III or the 03 Springfield) which had 24" or so barrels. By WW II, shorter 24" barrels were standard except for the Russians who clung onto the longer barrels on their Mosin Nagants.

As a sidenote, cavalry was still around at WW II. The Germans had a division and the Soviets had many of them. The Red Chinese had some (but they were served more as mobile infantry) and so did the Poles before they were crushed during the blitzkrieg. The last U.S. cavalry charge was at the outbreak of WW II and in the Philippines. A lieutenant led his troop against some Japanese infantry and scattered them.
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Old May 29, 2014, 04:15 AM   #5
Doc Hoy
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Here it comes....The inevitable joke...

I have three trapdoors that have barrels which got shorter over time.

I made them shorter by cutting them off with a hack saw.

.


.


. . ... Sorry guys.
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