Barrel Length for 22 Creed?

[Gargoyle]

Is there any benefit of going over 24" on the 22 Creed? I know for .223/5.56 anything over 20" isn't a real benefit. Like 308 and 22". This would be a varmint rig. Yotes mainly, and hogs.

I ha a 22-250 as a youngster back in the day. Want to shoot the heavier .224 bullets. 77gr and up.

 

[LCazador]

Depends on bullet weight. Heavy bullets will require slow burning powder that does best in 26 or longer barrels. Lighter weight pills will work with a 22 or 24. Why go with 22 Creed? The Creedmoor case is off the 250 Savage case. A 22/250 AI same. If you're shooting heavy bullets, go with 22/6mm 40 degree. Been there done this 30 years ago. You can't get enough of the slow burning powders in that small case!! Pure silliness, it has come to, with these Creedmoor cartridges. Sorry my two cents.

 

[Ned Ludd]

All my .223 Rem and .308 Win F-TR competition barrels are 30" in length. They wouldn't be that length if there wasn't a noticeable benefit. A longer barrel typically means higher velocity and/or achieving the same velocity as with a shorter barrel, but at lower pressure. The caveat is that one must reload in order to take advantage the benefits of the longer barrel; commercial ammunition will typically peak in velocity at a barrel length of 26" or so.

Barrel length should fit the intended use and be determined in part by the intended the powder/bullet combination. With that information in hand, it is not difficult to utilize reloading programs such as QuickLoad or GRT to estimate what additional barrel length would be required to hit the next higher node at safe operating pressures. If the [predicted] additional barrel length required is more than desired for reasons of ergonomics and gun handling, or the velocity gain from a longer barrel is insignificant, one can always just stick with the velocity/pressure they know they can obtain with a shorter barrel.

One concern that might need to be considered with a cartridge such as the .22 Creedmoor is that barrel life probably won't be all that great. A longer barrel generally costs more. A longer barrel may also contribute to bullet jacket failures in high-velocity loads with heavy-for-caliber bullets (85gr+). Regardless of the barrel length you decide on, I would suggest using a 0.219"/0.224" barrel, which should help alleviate any potential jacket issues with heavies, and allow for slightly lower pressures at almost any bullet/velocity combination.

 

[Gargoyle]

All my .223 Rem and .308 Win F-TR competition barrels are 30" in length. They wouldn't be that length if there wasn't a noticeable benefit. A longer barrel typically means higher velocity and/or achieving the same velocity as with a shorter barrel, but at lower pressure. The caveat is that one must reload in order to take advantage the benefits of the longer barrel; commercial ammunition will typically peak in velocity at a barrel length of 26" or so.

Barrel length should fit the intended use and be determined in part by the intended the powder/bullet combination. With that information in hand, it is not difficult to utilize reloading programs such as QuickLoad or GRT to estimate what additional barrel length would be required to hit the next higher node at safe operating pressures. If the [predicted] additional barrel length required is more than desired for reasons of ergonomics and gun handling, or the velocity gain from a longer barrel is insignificant, one can always just stick with the velocity/pressure they know they can obtain with a shorter barrel.

One concern that might need to be considered with a cartridge such as the .22 Creedmoor is that barrel life probably won't be all that great. A longer barrel generally costs more. A longer barrel may also contribute to bullet jacket failures in high-velocity loads with heavy-for-caliber bullets (85gr+). Regardless of the barrel length you decide on, I would suggest using a 0.219"/0.224" barrel, which should help alleviate any potential jacket issues with heavies, and allow for slightly lower pressures at almost any bullet/velocity combination.

Thank you @Ned Ludd I added some additional info in the original post as to use of the rig.

 

[Ned Ludd]

Thank you @Ned Ludd I added some additional info in the original post as to use of the rig.

If you have access to QuickLoad or GRT, it is not too difficult to make some predictions about what additional barrel length will buy you, if anything. There are always caveats associated with predictions, but I have found that QuickLoad predictions are usually pretty good, and should be of benefit in making a decision about barrel length. It's pretty easy to tell right away whether increasing barrel length by a certain amount will [probably] allow one to hit the next higher node. If not, the extra barrel length probably isn't necessary unless the current barrel length requires one to run fairly high pressure to hit a given velocity. If the extra barrel length probably won't allow one to hit the next higher node, it may still be of benefit in terms of lowering the pressure necessary to hit the lower node, meaning better brass life.

 

[wedgy]

A .22 cal is coming...

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