Carbine vs. full length barrel

[tjk]

OK, Still trying to decide on my next rifle (Beeman R1 or the HW-80). Been hitting all the sites in the "mall" shopping around and doing the usual comparisons. I've have optedfor the .20 caliber so at least that decision's been made. Now in following Red Feathers advise,.....'Get the right set-up to begin with', soooo the rifle choice is still up in the airmainly because of the stock issue (I do like the full length Beeman stocks better). Now while perusing the different sites, I've noticed that some of the Beeman's show a fewR1's with an abidextrious stock, but they don't mention it in their little write ups,......which are all pretty generic sounding. Originally I wanted eithermodel with iron sights, but one or two of the AG dealers offer the R1 regular and Carbine that appears to have an abmi stock. I'd really prefer the Lefty, but anyways,.....how does accuracy and distance compare with a full length barrel to a carbine barrel on these rifles with the .20 caliber in mind???Thanks for any and all input!!! tjk

[Mark 611]

I'd go with the carbine over a full length BBl anytime! a full lenght BBl only helps in aiding cocking the gun and gives you a longer sight radius thats all! a longer BBl slows the pellet down and makes the rifle harder to maneuver in tighter spaces and is not gonna help the accuracy any and only adds weight to the rifle these rifles are accurate enough and cock very easy to begin with JMHO

[tjk]

Thanks Mark, Sounds like some good advise. Now the question I have is are the stocks ambi or are they showing a reverse photo of the rifle(s)?!?! Guess I'll just have to call around since most of the different web sites say the same old marketting stuff!!!!! For the quality of these guns,...not to mention the price tag,...you'd thing the retaillers would go a step further with more indepth information. I will say that Straight Shooters seems to be the most informative on their products. tjk

[Mark 611]

If you buy the Beeman Double Gold model with MB no sight's it has the ambi stock, I know they made the same model with sights but not sure if they still do or not but yes that's a real ambi stock!

[tjk]

What's the difference in the regular and the Double gold series,....besides the standard advertisement? Does it shoot any better, better barrel, etc? Seems like a considerable price hike. tjk

[Mark 611]

Nope, the only difference is the cloths they wear and Beemans name on them,meaning stock's sights or no sights muzzel breaks or no mb's [etc] the R1's are nothing more than HW80's jazzed up alittle by Beeman thier all made in the same place any more thats why the older model's are so sough after like the Sants Rosa's and so on because of where thier made!

[Zzyzx]

"I'd go with the carbine over a full length BBl anytime! a full lenght BBl only helps in aiding cocking the gun and gives you a longer sight radius thats all! a longer BBl slows the pellet down and makes the rifle harder to maneuver in tighter spaces and is not gonna help the accuracy any and only adds weight to the rifle these rifles are accurate enough and cock very easy to begin with JMHO"

When did you test the same rifles with the full barrel and the shorter barrel? Let us know and where we can see the actual results if you will. Would like to see actual testing results on various rifles and barrels to verify what you say.

[Mark 611]

well brother I have them to compare to in my airgun collection so I'm only speaking from my experience and use or of these types of airguns I've only been shootin airgun for over 40years! If you have a different view please share my views are my views and if you have something to add please do so! everybody has thier own tastes and likes, I just happen to like the carbine length barrel better for hunting and all round use thier easier to handle!

[Bogey]

Short answer....go for the carbine.  For all the reasons given thus far.  I have not bought a 'carbine'  but I have reduced barrel lengths to carbine style length.  So far no regrets.  If I had a R-1 , I would not cut the barrel length down.   The advice to buy the 'right set up to begin with ' is quite sound.

[Mark 611]

I'd also like to add if you were to check the archives of some of these airgun forum's you'd find alot of these facts and these trials have already been done by people who have been around alot longer then me!

[CitySniper]

I always thought....and have seen on the military channel in the design of guns, that longer barrels equal greater accuracy and velocity.

[rbshoots]

In a powder burner or a PCP gun that is true..... not so with a springer........ It is the opinion of many that when you go past 12"-13" of barrel length you begin to  lose velocity due to the friction of the pellet engaging the rifling.... the accuracy seems to be just as good in these shorter barrels for the most part as well....For example.... my BSA Lightning is every bit as accurate as my RWS 350 or 460....all in .22 cal......I have killed pigeons out to 100yds with them..... so I guess it is a matter of preference......Is there a great difference.....not much......probably....... so again it comes down to preference...... Shorty guns are much handier and I find are a bit easier to shoot as well.......

[Gene_SC]

Personally I would go for the carbine. They are less barrel heavy, and easier to handle. I like the balance better on the carbines over the standard long guns. Out of all my springers I love the carbines the most. With only one exception is my R-9 DG. It is so dang accurate that it is hard to miss the bulls..

[michael90t]

Yea I come from a pretty heavy powderburner background and the topic came up not to long ago about barrel lengths and I asked the same questions... not beliveing what I was told here I did some searching on the web and more or less the concensus is in a springer the pellet reaches speed in the first 10 inches of barrel or so... older springers they say around 5-7 inches...... Anyways also came across a couple really good ultra slow mo video's of springers shooting and the barrel has an amazing amount of flex. SO I would also agree a shorter(stiffer and less time pellet is in the barrel) barrel is going to be a much better option... not to mention easier to carry.....

Now powderburners and gassers its a different story... but springers... they are kinda a animal of their own...

Also remember as far as accuracy goes... the ONLY thing a longer barrel is better for is a longer sight radius... if you have a scope its a moot point... think about it... ALOT of sniper/competition rifleshave a shorter FATbull barrel for the same reason I mentioned about the springer barrel.... shorter heavier barrels will have less flex....

longer barrel will increase FPS in powderburners just because you have ALOT of burning gas behind that bullet....

[tjk]

I want to thank you guys for helping me out on this one.  It's a fairly big investment and I want to be sure I make a well informed decision before I fork over several hundred bucks for a "BB Gun"!!!! LOLs But on a serious note I do appreciate everyones input, and I do take a lot of stock in what My GTA brothers have to say and ya'lls experience has helped me a lot into becoming the AG enthusiast that I am today. I owe you guys a lot. Again many thanks!!! So I guess it's gonna be the Beeman carbine for Thomas,...wooo hoooo!!!  GTA's a great place to be!!!