conflicting info regarding barrel length

tunabreath · January 25th, 2006, 01:37

Sorry, I wasn't entirely sure where to put this thread. Upgrades didn't seem right as I'm mostly inquiring about stock guns, Guns seems inappropriate since I'm talking about a component rather a specific model.

In any event, this is probably a pretty noobish question. I'm only asking because I haven't gotten any field experience yet as to verify the facts myself. Each article and review I read generally point to the conclusion that long barrel = outdoor/woodland, short barrel = CQC/indoor but differ on the specifics. While I understand the practical size limitations in the context of CQC, the performance aspect is what concerns me.
Typically, what I have read tells me either a longer barrel makes a gun more accurate, a longer barrel makes a gun shoot harder (fps), or both. Many sources afirm one and deny the other, while others apply oppositely.
On top of this, I find that it is generally accepted that all stock TM AEGs perform more or less identically, regardless of model (and consequently, barrel length). In discussion however, long guns are still regarded as superior in range and accuracy. Is this only in reference to upgraded capability?
Lastly, the upcoming MP7 seems interesting. I only browsed TM's site (can't read japanese after all) but more observant people on Arnies stated that it fires at 90 m/s, so ~295 fps. Now, if this is with .20g and not .12g BBs, that exceeds the stated stock performance of many of TMs previous long arm AEGs, in a miniscule package no less.

Exactly how much effect does barrel length have, especially in a stock gun?

Greylocks · January 25th, 2006, 07:34

If you can put larger batteries and have more upgrades choices in a gun, the 'larger' guns have an advantage.

In general, the longer the barrel, the better IF all is matched properly. You can take a smaller gun and put a longer barrel inside, but that requires changes in the mechbox or in the power source.

Longer guns require less effort to upgrade in my opinion; batteries are already more than powerful enough, barrel is already long AND matched to the rest of the components. If you do it with a smaller gun, designed for Mini batteries, you will have to find a way to install a larger or more powerful one. That is not always easy.

A longer barrel uses the available air from the non-ported piston to it's maximum, and keeps the BB stable that much longer.

An analogy; if you take a Honda, put in a turbo and cold-air intake, but retain the stock muffler... it will choke. If you only put a loud muffler, but the engine does not give out enough pressure to use it, it will cause you problems. Get the idea?

Overall, you guessed right.

Go to a game and see what folks use.

tunabreath · January 25th, 2006, 17:08

Thanks for the response.

So essentially, just for upgrades.

Greylocks · January 25th, 2006, 18:35

I'm not sure you got what I meant; if you buy a smaller gun with a shorter barrel, expect that it will only ever get so much range unless you pour lots of cash into it.

All else being the same; a full sized M16 will have more range than the M4 version. It's that simple.
If you want the M4 to have the same range as the M16, you will wind up paying a lot more cash and it will take time and effort.
You'd need to change the barrel, buy a suppressor to hide the barrel extension, adjust most of the mechbox internals, and find a way to put a more powerful battery someplace. That's a good $500 in parts, upgrades, and cost for the work to be done if you do everything.
If you start with a big gun, you may manage quite well with far less expensive options. Example; change the barrel, maybe the spring and bushings. That's less than $200.

I never minded longer guns or found them that cumbersome. I learned with things the size of the Garand, AK, Mauser, Lee Enfield, M14. Handling those in smaller areas is just a matter of training.

hoppersan · January 25th, 2006, 19:17

GREYLOCK HAS THE RIGHT IDEA BUT JUST FOR YOUR INFO LONGER BARREL WILL ADD FPS AND RANGE. ITS THAT SIMPLE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SILENCER ,BARREL AND IF YOU WANT IT TO HAVE OPTIMAL RANGE IT SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A SPRING AND BUSHING UP GRADE , AND A EXTERNAL PACK FOR THE BATTERY WITCH YOU WILL NEED TO RUN THE HIGHER SPRING,IF PLAYING OUT DOORS I HIGHLY RECOMEND DOING THIS AND MAKE SURE ITS A TIGHTBORE BARREL SHOULD BE ABLE DEPENDING ON BRANDS ECT. FOR 200.00 US GOOD LUCK

WhatTheWho · January 25th, 2006, 19:30

Quote:

Originally Posted by hoppersan

GREYLOCK HAS THE RIGHT IDEA BUT JUST FOR YOUR INFO LONGER BARREL WILL ADD FPS AND RANGE. ITS THAT SIMPLE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SILENCER ,BARREL AND IF YOU WANT IT TO HAVE OPTIMAL RANGE IT SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A SPRING AND BUSHING UP GRADE , AND A EXTERNAL PACK FOR THE BATTERY WITCH YOU WILL NEED TO RUN THE HIGHER SPRING,IF PLAYING OUT DOORS I HIGHLY RECOMEND DOING THIS AND MAKE SURE ITS A TIGHTBORE BARREL SHOULD BE ABLE DEPENDING ON BRANDS ECT. FOR 200.00 US GOOD LUCK

attack-beaver · January 25th, 2006, 19:51

well i use a REALLY big gun for both in and outdoor games its the TM G3-SG1 it was the largest AEG that was out there until the M14 came out, but has greylocks said big gun would just mean that u would have to train yourself over time to now how to use it indoors and use it well.

Greylocks · January 25th, 2006, 21:51

Hoppersan, did you really need to basically repeat what I said in CAPS?

attack-beacer; please use some form of english? You were a really big gun?

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January 25th, 2006, 01:37	#1
tunabreath Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Edmonton, AB	conflicting info regarding barrel length Sorry, I wasn't entirely sure where to put this thread. Upgrades didn't seem right as I'm mostly inquiring about stock guns, Guns seems inappropriate since I'm talking about a component rather a specific model. In any event, this is probably a pretty noobish question. I'm only asking because I haven't gotten any field experience yet as to verify the facts myself. Each article and review I read generally point to the conclusion that long barrel = outdoor/woodland, short barrel = CQC/indoor but differ on the specifics. While I understand the practical size limitations in the context of CQC, the performance aspect is what concerns me. Typically, what I have read tells me either a longer barrel makes a gun more accurate, a longer barrel makes a gun shoot harder (fps), or both. Many sources afirm one and deny the other, while others apply oppositely. On top of this, I find that it is generally accepted that all stock TM AEGs perform more or less identically, regardless of model (and consequently, barrel length). In discussion however, long guns are still regarded as superior in range and accuracy. Is this only in reference to upgraded capability? Lastly, the upcoming MP7 seems interesting. I only browsed TM's site (can't read japanese after all) but more observant people on Arnies stated that it fires at 90 m/s, so ~295 fps. Now, if this is with .20g and not .12g BBs, that exceeds the stated stock performance of many of TMs previous long arm AEGs, in a miniscule package no less. Exactly how much effect does barrel length have, especially in a stock gun?

January 25th, 2006, 07:34	#2
Greylocks Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Gatineau, Quebec (Near Ottawa)	If you can put larger batteries and have more upgrades choices in a gun, the 'larger' guns have an advantage. In general, the longer the barrel, the better IF all is matched properly. You can take a smaller gun and put a longer barrel inside, but that requires changes in the mechbox or in the power source. Longer guns require less effort to upgrade in my opinion; batteries are already more than powerful enough, barrel is already long AND matched to the rest of the components. If you do it with a smaller gun, designed for Mini batteries, you will have to find a way to install a larger or more powerful one. That is not always easy. A longer barrel uses the available air from the non-ported piston to it's maximum, and keeps the BB stable that much longer. An analogy; if you take a Honda, put in a turbo and cold-air intake, but retain the stock muffler... it will choke. If you only put a loud muffler, but the engine does not give out enough pressure to use it, it will cause you problems. Get the idea? Overall, you guessed right. Go to a game and see what folks use.

January 25th, 2006, 17:08	#3
tunabreath Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2005 Location: Edmonton, AB	Thanks for the response. So essentially, just for upgrades.

January 25th, 2006, 18:35	#4
Greylocks Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Gatineau, Quebec (Near Ottawa)	I'm not sure you got what I meant; if you buy a smaller gun with a shorter barrel, expect that it will only ever get so much range unless you pour lots of cash into it. All else being the same; a full sized M16 will have more range than the M4 version. It's that simple. If you want the M4 to have the same range as the M16, you will wind up paying a lot more cash and it will take time and effort. You'd need to change the barrel, buy a suppressor to hide the barrel extension, adjust most of the mechbox internals, and find a way to put a more powerful battery someplace. That's a good $500 in parts, upgrades, and cost for the work to be done if you do everything. If you start with a big gun, you may manage quite well with far less expensive options. Example; change the barrel, maybe the spring and bushings. That's less than $200. I never minded longer guns or found them that cumbersome. I learned with things the size of the Garand, AK, Mauser, Lee Enfield, M14. Handling those in smaller areas is just a matter of training.

January 25th, 2006, 19:17	#5
hoppersan Trader rating Join Date: Oct 2005 Location: santa cruz ca	GREYLOCK HAS THE RIGHT IDEA BUT JUST FOR YOUR INFO LONGER BARREL WILL ADD FPS AND RANGE. ITS THAT SIMPLE YOU WILL HAVE TO PAY FOR A SILENCER ,BARREL AND IF YOU WANT IT TO HAVE OPTIMAL RANGE IT SHOULD AT LEAST HAVE A SPRING AND BUSHING UP GRADE , AND A EXTERNAL PACK FOR THE BATTERY WITCH YOU WILL NEED TO RUN THE HIGHER SPRING,IF PLAYING OUT DOORS I HIGHLY RECOMEND DOING THIS AND MAKE SURE ITS A TIGHTBORE BARREL SHOULD BE ABLE DEPENDING ON BRANDS ECT. FOR 200.00 US GOOD LUCK

January 25th, 2006, 19:51	#7
attack-beaver Trader rating Join Date: May 2005 Location: calgary	well i use a REALLY big gun for both in and outdoor games its the TM G3-SG1 it was the largest AEG that was out there until the M14 came out, but has greylocks said big gun would just mean that u would have to train yourself over time to now how to use it indoors and use it well.

January 25th, 2006, 21:51	#8
Greylocks Trader rating Join Date: Dec 2001 Location: Gatineau, Quebec (Near Ottawa)	Hoppersan, did you really need to basically repeat what I said in CAPS? attack-beacer; please use some form of english? You were a really big gun?

conflicting info regarding barrel length

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