Back Bored rimfire barrel

[Pyscodog]

A local pawn shop has a custom 22 rifle for sale. Other than a serial number there is no markings on the rifle. He has no idea of maker or parts used. It wears a 24 inch fluted heavy barrel in a walnut thumbhole stock. Great trigger and a straight 16 power Tasco. The strange part is the barrel is back bored 10-12 inchs. Any idea as of why?

It looks like it may have been set up for off hand shooting or silhouette shooting but why the back bored barrel? Asking price is under $400. Seems like a decent price for a nice 22 rifle but the barrel and not knowing what the manufacturer is has me hesitant.

 

[watercam]

.22 rf rifle barrels show the highest velocity at around 18". After that the bullet slows down about 50 fps or so. I imagine the back bore was their answer to maintaining velocity. An alternative would be to cut the barrel to 16"-18"and use a bloop tube long enough to allow for normal front sight placement.

 

[gme]

if the rifle was built for offhand shooting the shorter barrel makes sense to keep the "barrel time" to a minimum while keeping the length could help with the overall balance of the rifle

 

[1813benny]

A local pawn shop has a custom 22 rifle for sale. Other than a serial number there is no markings on the rifle. He has no idea of maker or parts used. It wears a 24 inch fluted heavy barrel in a walnut thumbhole stock. Great trigger and a straight 16 power Tasco. The strange part is the barrel is back bored 10-12 inchs. Any idea as of why?

It looks like it may have been set up for off hand shooting or silhouette shooting but why the back bored barrel? Asking price is under $400. Seems like a decent price for a nice 22 rifle but the barrel and not knowing what the manufacturer is has me hesitant.

Maybe post a few photos that may assist in determination of brand, etc.

 

[Tim Slater]

What's the legal minimum barrel length in the US? Back-boring a 24in barrel to 12-14in, would minimise barrel time, and changed the handling*, without running into legal issues I presume an integral, but smooth one, section still counts.

*reduced overall weight, and less weight at the front.

 

[troupe]

As crazy as this sounds, I have seen a 22 barrel bored out to shoot archery arrows with blanks. Legal for shooting targets, but very illegal for hunting. May be more for the bloop tube, or a possible attempt for a integral suppressor.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

There was a thing in the 80's to have a short barrel and a bloop tube to exit the bullet in still air - as well as to hold the front sight and increase sight radius. Didn't Anschutz start this on match rifles? The issue with back-boring is the shape and condition of the crown.

I would probably buy it anyway - sounds interesting.

 

[Pyscodog]

Well, I bought the rifle. The barrel is actually 28" long. The back bore is 11". So basically a 17" barrel. Still have no idea of the action other than its a single shot with an adjustable trigger. I can send someone a picture if they would like to post it for me or make a guess at to who made the action. I am to computer challenged to figure it out. Stupid is a better word but I hate using it.

 

[Tim Slater]

There was a thing in the 80's to have a short barrel and a bloop tube to exit the bullet in still air - as well as to hold the front sight and increase sight radius. Didn't Anschutz start this on match rifles?

Yes, I think the 2013 and 2007 50cm barrel was the first factory short barrel+ tube. That was 1990-ish. Walther and Feinwerkbau also made short barrels in the '90s.

The still air theory is sadly a myth. The propellant gasses are rather faster than the bullet, and overtake it in the confined space of the tube. Tubes are useful, just not for this.

 

[Kings X]

The back bored Barrels were the best offhand solution In the 22 Silhouette rifle game. The powder burned in 11-14” depending on velocity of ammo. So barrel time was greatly reduce. Yet the long barrel gave the front heavy balance on the ”support” hand.
in the High Power guns the reversed tapered Barrels did the same thing. Wayne Leeks from Remington had a “dog knot” on the end of his barrel.

 

[Pyscodog]

Now the hard part is figuring out what action it is? Drawing blanks right now.

 

[Topwater]

Well, I bought the rifle. The barrel is actually 28" long. The back bore is 11". So basically a 17" barrel. Still have no idea of the action other than its a single shot with an adjustable trigger. I can send someone a picture if they would like to post it for me or make a guess at to who made the action. I am to computer challenged to figure it out. Stupid is a better word but I hate using it.

Dang, Psycodog. You made me laugh right out loud. I know exactly how you feel concerning computers! Whenever I ask my wife for computer help, she does the typical forehead slap and just shakes her head…………thank you for a good chuckle.

 

[longbow]

SOOO..what do you have,bolt,falling block,auto ? Throw us a bone( pic) so we can rejoice in your good fortune.hope it shoots good! I shoot offhand Schuetzen Matches out to 200 yards. Scope and iron sights,cast bullets,we roll our own...cheap shooting really,about 4-5 shots,compared to one 6 PPC round...the back bore helped there with the slow moving slugs at around 1300 FPS.
Then we also have the 22's for offhand at 100 and 200 yds.......

 

[Pyscodog]

SOOO..what do you have,bolt,falling block,auto ? Throw us a bone( pic) so we can rejoice in your good fortune.hope it shoots good! I shoot offhand Schuetzen Matches out to 200 yards. Scope and iron sights,cast bullets,we roll our own...cheap shooting really,about 4-5 shots,compared to one 6 PPC round...the back bore helped there with the slow moving slugs at around 1300 FPS.
Then we also have the 22's for offhand at 100 and 200 yds.......

Its a bolt action single shot. Very nice little rifle but no one that has seen it can figure out what it is. They all say the same thing, someone spent a lot of money on this rifle. But scratch their heads wondering what it is.

 

[NZ_Fclass]

Its a bolt action single shot. Very nice little rifle but no one that has seen it can figure out what it is. They all say the same thing, someone spent a lot of money on this rifle. But scratch their heads wondering what it is.

We are still waiting for a picture or 6

 

[Pyscodog]

I don't know how to post pictures or I would.

 

[RandyB]

Sir, do you have a digital camera?

 

[RandyB]

If so I would be happy to post pics for you. If you are taking pics with phone I am not that guy and my grandson is not here now.

 

[Pyscodog]

Cell phone is all I have. Thank You though!!

 

[Kings X]

Take picture on phone.
login to here on your phone.
arrach file from phone pictures