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best barrel length for a 22lr

#2
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

Best in what sense?

Accuracy? Slug it and cut at the tight spot.

Quietest? Long.

Handiest? Short.

Highest velocity? Probably 14-16". The conventional wisdom is that you get a complete burn in about that length.

Most accurate? Lots of opinions. I think BR guys use longer barrels; velocity is lost but consistency is gained.

With an optic, accuracy is largely independent of length, but shootability could vary. For standing, a longer heavier barrel "hangs" better for many shooters. The barrel making god Harry Pope reckoned a muzzle heavy gun held steadier (in the scheutzen era).
 
#3
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

I think 18" gets you max velocity. I have a 22LR that was built for position shooting. It has a 30" barrel primarily to get sight radius... but it is so heavy, I don't know how a position shooter could ever use it. I can't see how having such a muzzle heavy gun adds stability... it is a struggle to hold it up for off-hand shooting.

As mentioned above, it is very quiet. And very accurate. If I were building from scratch, I would go shorter. But it shoots, so I am not chopping it any time soon.
 
#4
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Carter Mayfield</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I think 18" gets you max velocity. I have a 22LR that was built for position shooting. It has a 30" barrel primarily to get sight radius... but it is so heavy, I don't know how a position shooter could ever use it. I can't see how having such a muzzle heavy gun adds stability... it is a struggle to hold it up for off-hand shooting.

As mentioned above, it is very quiet. And very accurate. If I were building from scratch, I would go shorter. But it shoots, so I am not chopping it any time soon. </div></div>

Have a 18" barrel with a 12" Aluminum alloy bloop-tube.
 
#9
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

Whatever makes you grin.

Mine is 16.5" heavy fluted. I like the way it gives some weight, but keeps the balance in the middle.

CopyofP7160009.jpg
 
#10
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Imurhuckleberry</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Go to Rimfire Central.com they may help you their </div></div>

ive tried but i have a hotmail email account and they wont let me.

basically i want to use the gun to pratice wind reading at 200ish yds. i use my 22 mag at 200 now but 22lr ammo is cheaper.

i will be running optics
 
#11
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

You gain nothing after 16 inches. For me, best barrel length depended solely on balance of the rifle. Other factors may include carry weight, compactness ect.
 
#12
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

i've heard alot about adding weight or a barrel tuner to the barrel, finding the sweet spot (as far as where the best groups are appearing) and then trimming it there. although i never did it myself, it sounds like the best way to determine the best length for YOUR rifle. as rifling and the quality of the barrel differs from manufacturer to manufacturer, determining the length of the individual rifle seems to be the best idea. sort of like the .22 ammo performance principle in individual rifles.

most likely the use of standard velocity and high velocity rounds will have an effect on length and will differ between the two. but then again, the shorter the barrel, the less velocity you'll get from the HV unless you can get that sweet spot where the powder is all burnt up and will equal the SV velocity.

another theory is that the shorter barrel reduces barrel whip / harmonics, which increases accuraccy.

however, others preach longer barrel for sight radius (open sights) and that a longer barrel stabilizes better.

can't semm to find a definitive answer other than the discussion being a pissing match and going off topic.

i would search some benchrest sites, as those guys have the whole mechanicals of rifles down, and do some pretty extreme things to their equipment. maybe there is a consensus on a general length.

obviously grouping shots or consistant performance is the ultimate goal, but as far as the goal of reading wind, i'm thinking you'll be GTG by just using what your set up is now.

couple of links to the subject, but generally it becomes a pissing match rather than hard evidence:
http://www.thehighroad.org/archive/index.php/t-872.html
http://findarticles.com/p/articles/mi_m0BQY/is_12_50/ai_n6275764/?tag=content;col1
http://www.chuckhawks.com/rifle_barrel.htm
this mentions it: http://www.shootingtimes.com/ammunition/stmach2_032706/index.html
http://www.loadammo.com/Topics/October05.htm
http://www.perfectunion.com/vb/showthread.php?t=47655
http://www.rimfirecentral.com/forums/sho...th+vs.+velocity
http://rimfirecentral.com/forums/showthread.php?t=206894

seems like 16" to 18" is the general idea, but still have not found the "hard facts" that would make me want to start chopping my barrel.

if you REALLY want to figure it out, i guess you can buy a beat up POS .22 and start taking off inch by inch and compare results on paper and crony using both SV and HV ammo. then apply the length to the "good" rifle.

that's probably going to be the only real test, and a true answer. i'm sure someone somewhere has done it, i just can't seem to find it.
 
#13
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: MontanaMarine</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Whatever makes you grin.

Mine is 16.5" heavy fluted. I like the way it gives some weight, but keeps the balance in the middle.

CopyofP7160009.jpg
</div></div>

MM,

A very nice looking set up, what rifle/stock are you using?

Regards,

Peter
 
#14
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

Best, assuming velocity, is somewhere in the 16"-18" range, depending on the particular ammo's loading characteristics. Accuracy is not usually a product of barrel length, but I prefer a shorter, heavier barrel. With .22's, I believe barrel weight/profile is less critical. I also believe tuners can make length even less important, but have found (with centerfires) that tuners are not a permanent answer; mine needed readjustment when weather changed significantly. Longer barrels permit a longer sight radius for iron sights.
 
#16
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Pete E</div><div class="ubbcode-body">
A very nice looking set up, what rifle/stock are you using?

Regards,

Peter </div></div>

Peter, it's a Ruger 10/22, in a McMillan Anschutz Silhouette stock. Barrel is 16.5" Green Mtn. Volquartsen buffer and magazine release. Scope is Bushnell 3200 10X mil/mil. TPS base, Burris Signature rings with the eccentric inserts set up to give some forward slope. Have 17 mils useable from zero, plus the five mils in the reticle.
 
#17
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Darkstar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most of the Camp Perry regulars I shoot with that have custom rigs have settled in on 20". </div></div>

are they opensight shooters? the longer barrel may be for sight length.
 
#18
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: frog5215</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Best in what sense?

Accuracy? Slug it and cut at the tight spot.

Quietest? Long.

Handiest? Short.

Highest velocity? Probably 14-16". The conventional wisdom is that you get a complete burn in about that length.

Most accurate? Lots of opinions. I think BR guys use longer barrels; velocity is lost but consistency is gained.

With an optic, accuracy is largely independent of length, but shootability could vary. For standing, a longer heavier barrel "hangs" better for many shooters. The barrel making god Harry Pope reckoned a muzzle heavy gun held steadier (in the scheutzen era). </div></div>

Now here is a man that has played with the .22LR.
 
#19
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: 42769vette</div><div class="ubbcode-body"><div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Darkstar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most of the Camp Perry regulars I shoot with that have custom rigs have settled in on 20". </div></div>

are they opensight shooters? the longer barrel may be for sight length. </div></div>

not sight length only. accuracy, balance, overall weight also play a part in the decision.

I shoot 28's on my win 52's in 3 position and bench (yuck, hate the bench..) and would not consider changing them. Many would say its way excessive length but I have am comfortable with them.
 
#20
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

12" barrel is the best for me. Subsonic 38 & 40 grn. is all I ever shoot. but I bet that it applies to High-Vel. .22 use also.
I been finding out the last couple years. There is no difference in performance of accuracy or distance shot when using 12" over a 16" . Plus with a 12" barrel some of the standard Vel. .22 ammo will drop subsonic Vel. using it.
.
 
#22
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Darkstar</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Most of the Camp Perry regulars I shoot with that have custom rigs have settled in on 20". </div></div>

That's getting to be the norm with high end target rifles. Anschutz, Feinwerkbau and Walther have all gone to shorter barrels with bloop tubes to increase sight radius. Depending on the temperature and bore condition, most match grade ammo starts to slow down in the bore at around 18"-19". The longer barrels add weight and sight radius at the expense of velocity. Shorter fluted or reverse tapered barrels are less susceptible to harmonic variances which kill the accuracy of smallbore rifles.

If you're not looking for ultimate accuracy, shoot what you already have and have a lot of fun doing it.
 
#23
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

Vette,

I feel a lot of the consistency gained in the longer barrels is due to the fact the powder's run out of poop at about or less than 18". When you're edging the transonic zone you can get major group dispersion, make it long enough for friction to help slow that cannonball down and around the speed of sound, you get results. so you could build an M24 copy and be gtg.

However, the .22 lr is as scenario applicable as any other cartridge. When the Norwegian national Biathalon team came down for a cuppa to discuss various lengths and barrel profiles and other ideas about 'barrels', one major point we had to consider these dudes are carrying their rigs on skis. For quite a distance. So you have to think about the balance of what you intend the rifle to do and what you can do with the rifle.
 
#24
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

I run the factory barrel length on my 40XB. IIRC it's 28".

It's my "opinion" based on reason that the more room for the gasses to expand helps to "moderate" the pressure variation from round to round. As a side effect, SV or Match ammo is extremely quiet. I don't really see the need to thread this barrel for my suppressor.

The weight may be a problem for some. I don't find it to be that big of a deal since I am not running or skiing with my .22LR. The weight is nice because even with free-recoil the rifle barely moves when shot from a rest.
 
#27
Re: best barrel length for a 22lr

Another factor to consider is how the gun will be shot. If it is a hand held rifle as in any of the 3-position sports, then the gun is always moving, no one can hold one totally motionless except maybe superman. You learn to control the wobble and trigger break so that hopefully the cartridge fires as the sight picture crosses the X. But the rifle is still moving as the bullet goes down the bore, so the quicker you can get the bullet out of the muzzle then the less the gun will have moved off the X. Many of the serious shooters today use short 16"-18" barrels with a bloop tube to 28" to get the sight radius for iron sights.
With a scope I guess this wouldn't be necessary.
 
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