? Length of 22 Lr Barrel ?

[DShortt]

I have personal experience with 2 centerfire barrels that were .002" larger and .0015" larger at the muzzle than the chamber. Both were button rifled factory barrels with a 'sporter' contour. Both became more and more 'loose' following the barrel contour. Both would serve the vast majority of shooters in hunting applications. Neither were even close to sub-MOA.
I've not found a similar situation in a .22lr barrel, but I've not looked for it, either. I concluded at the time that a barrel has to be pretty bad to shoot very much over 1 1/2" at 100 yards, which is just about what level of accuracy those 2 barrels could maintain.

My understanding is that this is an even more detrimental situation in a 22lr chambering. I can not confirm nor deny that.

 

[TRSR8]

I’m not a smith but can you elaborate on this please?

Slug it, meaning run a slug down the barrel, then cut it at the tightest spot, I.e literally the tightest spot?

Does that typically result in better or better expected accuracy?

Pretty much.

 

[Lefty2506]

Did you read the OP?
Approximately zero BR match shooters use 20” barrels, most are 24”-26” and it’s got zero to do with velocity and everything to do with max accuracy.

I've never shot BR and have no dog in this fight, but I would expect shorter barrels to be the preference in a RF platform just due to how much time the projectile spends in the barrel. I can see where that's less of an issue in a well supported BR rifle, but for most others, I would have thought something in the 16"-20" range to be preferred. Wouldn't be the first time I was wrong today though.

 

[Darkside]

Howdy
I appreciate the continued support.
Some say keep it short for max velocity.
Some say make it long for accuracy.
I agree with both, so I will talk to my buddy- gunsmith. And we may decide to make it like 22" maybe best of both.
The Houston Warehouse Experiment came up with 22" being the best for Most all rifles!!??..*

 

[Rob01]

No idea what this Houston warehouse experiment is but 22” is a good length.

16” doesn’t give you anymore usable velocity than longer. With the same ammo my 24” is only about 10fps different than the 16” and it has better ES/SD.

 

[Darkside]

Houston Warehouse Experiment
Year's ago a guy was looking for a place for shooting and testing.
I don't remember the guys name and he deserve better, so forgive me.
He ended up leasing a warehouse, little over 100yds long. Him and his buddy did extensive research and testing.
Found that anything over 22" did not improve much of anything for precision accuracy.
Get a chance look it up, it's very interesting.

 

[Rob01]

Houston Warehouse Experiment
Year's ago a guy was looking for a place for shooting and testing.
I don't remember the guys name and he deserve better, so forgive me.
He ended up leasing a warehouse, little over 100yds long. Him and his buddy did extensive research and testing.
Found that anything over 22" did not improve much of anything for precision accuracy.
Get a chance look it up, it's very interesting.

Thanks but will pass. Years ago sometimes doesn’t translate well to now with better ammo and barrels. 100 yards is short range anyways.

 

[snert]

Wow...
This discussion sure went grumpy and off topic in a hot second. Kinda like someone wanted to pee in the Wheaties...

The Warehouse was oriented around centerfire (CF) and dealt with CF bench rifles. It is a storied affair and though it happened "a long time ago", it is informative. It is enlightening. It is also well known among long time accuracy oriented shooters. A google search will bring up the whole thing.

Rimfire (RF) is the topic covered in the OP question. Specifically 22 RF. So the question is best answered with several of the points mentioned in several posts...

The application matters, so questions like balance, velocity, weight (for BR type events where weight limits are imposed and PRS where "steadiness" matters) are factors that matter, in varied degree.

As far as a tight spot for the crown...it is thought that a bit of "choke" as the lead (heeled) bullet leaves the barrel is a good thing for accuracy, whereas a "loose" spot is not so good. Hence the suggestion to slug it to find a tight spot. Calfee (a rimfire guy who many loved or not) wrote on this topic to great detail. One can avail oneself to these articles by searching the Precision Shooting library that is available online ...a nice gent has scanned many of the years of good writing into a database. A search here will help you find it.

 

[Darkside]

Wow...
This discussion sure went grumpy and off topic in a hot second. Kinda like someone wanted to pee in the Wheaties...

The Warehouse was oriented around centerfire (CF) and dealt with CF bench rifles. It is a storied affair and though it happened "a long time ago", it is informative. It is enlightening. It is also well known among long time accuracy oriented shooters. A google search will bring up the whole thing.

Rimfire (RF) is the topic covered in the OP question. Specifically 22 RF. So the question is best answered with several of the points mentioned in several posts...

The application matters, so questions like balance, velocity, weight (for BR type events where weight limits are imposed and PRS where "steadiness" matters) are factors that matter, in varied degree.

As far as a tight spot for the crown...it is thought that a bit of "choke" as the lead (heeled) bullet leaves the barrel is a good thing for accuracy, whereas a "loose" spot is not so good. Hence the suggestion to slug it to find a tight spot. Calfee (a rimfire guy who many loved or not) wrote on this topic to great detail. One can avail oneself to these articles by searching the Precision Shooting library that is available online ...a nice gent has scanned many of the years of good writing into a database. A search here will help you find it.

Thank you very much.
David