When long guns or carronades decided a frigate fight

Did long-range fire usually matter more than carronades in frigate actions?

It depended on the action: long guns were often decisive in frigate duels, while close convoy and privateer fights could make carronades critical.

A frigate-on-frigate duel rewarded the reach of long guns because a captain could damage an opponent before closing. Convoy defense and fighting privateers more often compressed the range, allowing carronades to deliver their much heavier short-range broadside. The distinction explains why captains valued different armament mixes for different missions.