Longer barrels for the 22

[Matt_3479]

I like the idea of a 26” barrel for the 22’s for balance being the big reason, and aesthetics another. I’m curious what you guys have noticed with running longer barrels on the 22’s. I know it was popular on the 40x’s and stuff a while back but now it’s all 16-22” and very seldom it’s longer. What’s the reasoning?

 

[StuNY]

Depends on your goals with your gun I suppose. In the competitive benchrest shooting that I participate in our rimfire barrels are between 24 and 26" long. I suspect the reason for the longer barrels is a combination of evening out the irregularities of ignition through a longer more complete burn time, and achieving better harmonics with the tuners that we use.

 

[Tim Slater]

26in+ barrels can still be found on Olympic/ISSF position rifles, where aperture sights are mandatory. Today most factory rifles have a short bloop tube to compensate for a short bolt action, but short barrels are not common. Your 40X has a long barrel because Remington designed and built it for prone/position matches.

Shorter barrels are largely a result of telescopic sights totally eclipsing irons, except in position matches*, so a shorter barrel doesn't impair usable accuracy.

 

[js2013]

Most my target 22’s have 26+ inch barrels, but lately I’m leaning to shorter barrels with longer bloop tubes for better balance (I like my balance point shifted rearward lately).

 

[grauhanen]

Some shooters prefer a shorter barrel because they tend to give a little higher muzzle velocities, which they may like for longer distance shooting. The thinking is that higher MVs translate to less bullet drop at longer distances. There's a trade off, however, as faster .22LR bullets will drift more with the wind than slower bullets.

While accuracy need not be affected by shorter rifle barrel lengths, BR shooters often prefer barrels that are in the 24 - 26 inch range because they respond well to tuners. Shorter barrels, especially heavier ones, tend not to be as tuner-friendly. Additionally, where weight is not an issuee the extra weight of a longer barrel adds to stability because of inertia.

 

[Matt_3479]

Thanks everyone!

 

[Geno C]

A longer barrel will give more consistent speeds all other things being equal in my experience

 

[centershot]

If velocity is your criteria, the small bit of testing that I did found that the bullets actually start to slow down if the barrel is longer than 16 inches.

 

[Emmett Dibble]

For offhand shooting, longer barrel will have a longer dwell time of movement than a shorter barrel and will balance out better. NRA silhouette hunter rifle is 26” limit because people would go longer if possible.

 

[GerryinPa]

This is a great subject and one I have been looking into recently also. Here is a YouTube link for a video I watched this week that helped me out hopefully you guys might like it.
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[Matt_3479]

If velocity is your criteria, the small bit of testing that I did found that the bullets actually start to slow down if the barrel is longer than 16 inches.

Yah I’m not worried about velocity. More so consistency at long range, balance and looks in the bigger chassis