Would The Length Of The Barrel Of A Cannon

[sandyRoe]

...or a gun affect the distance a projectile could travel?

I was thinking a long barrel would utilise more of the energy when the weapon was discharged.

[douglas9401]

Maybe more for accuracy but I'll answer more fully, with bullet points, later on.

[woodchopper]

The speed of a bullet is at its maximum the monent it leaves the barrel.

[New Judge]

One of the critical factors in gun design when seeking to maximise its range is calculating the optimum length of the barrel. 

The projectile is accelerated by the expanding gases provided by the exploding charge. The longer the barrel, the more time the projectile has to take advantage  of the gas pressure behind it. 

However, as the projectile moves away from the exploding charge there is more space in the barrel for the gases to expand and the pressure behind the projectile diminishes. There will come a point where the effect of air resistance in front of the projectile and the friction from the barrel on it will be greater than the pressure behind it and the projectile will no longer be accelerating. 

The gun designers’ art is to calculate the best barrel length to take full advantage of the exploding charge before it is no longer strong enough to accelerate the projectile any further.

[mushroom25]

a question you could possibly address to Sheffield Forgematers, or Matrix-Churchill.......

[Deskdiary]

Slightly off topic, but the record for a sniper kill is 2.36 miles. I find that astonishing and difficult to comprehend. As the crow flies, and if you know your London geography, that's about the distance from Liverpool Street Station the Charing Cross Station.

[Bazile]

^^^ How do you see your target 3+ miles away ?

[Bazile]

Or even 2+

[douglas9401]

I wonder if weapons manufacturers will adopt London stations as an industry standard.

Charing Crosshairs springs to mind.

[Togo]

Kings Crosshairs is faily accurate but Cannon Street has a higher calibre of clients.