Optium Barrel length for a 22 lr
- Thread starter Thud
- Start date
I went with, a 20" Green Mtn Sporter barrel, on my semi-Custom, 10-22 Ruger, Hunting Rifle.
Shoots sub, 1/2 MOA at, 50 Yards with, most, Mid Priced, SK / Wolf, Ammo.
Sage Rats to, 85-90 Yards are gonner's IF, the Wind is, Favorable !
NOT fond of, 16" bbls Despite what, the Experts "say" !
My choice would be, 18" to 20" Min. to get, complete Powder "Burn" and at least, One full turn of Bullet, in Barrel.
But I'm NOT, a Long Distance, Match Shooter.
Shoots sub, 1/2 MOA at, 50 Yards with, most, Mid Priced, SK / Wolf, Ammo.
Sage Rats to, 85-90 Yards are gonner's IF, the Wind is, Favorable !
NOT fond of, 16" bbls Despite what, the Experts "say" !
My choice would be, 18" to 20" Min. to get, complete Powder "Burn" and at least, One full turn of Bullet, in Barrel.
But I'm NOT, a Long Distance, Match Shooter.
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NZ_Fclass
Silver $$ Contributor
There was an article somewhere in the past that suggested 17 1/4 inches to be all that was ever necessary. i e no further advantage. I suppose that is determined by the powder/projectile combo in the round. The longer barrels were certainly, in target guns, to hold the front sight up and balance, rather than ballistic performance. Someone, somewhere must have done a cut down test on 22's?
@ NZ F class,..
I believe it was whoever makes, the Vudoo Bolt Actions, Barrels, that did the Testing and IT was, on YouTube.
A year or so back,.. IIRC
I believe it was whoever makes, the Vudoo Bolt Actions, Barrels, that did the Testing and IT was, on YouTube.
A year or so back,.. IIRC
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In the testing I have seen no real gain going over 16". My own personal testing has show 16" to be the most accurate.
Optimum really depends on what you are doing. For small critter hunting you might want high velocity and energy on target. For highest accuracy a lot of match target loads are just barely subsonic (just below supersonic) and use a blunt nosed bullet.
For velocity info, a web site called Ballistics By The Inch has some interesting results:
A longer barrel could improve your accuracy if you are shooting iron sights.
If you want to be subsonic, then a shorter barrel could be better depending on the ammo you select.
For velocity info, a web site called Ballistics By The Inch has some interesting results:
A longer barrel could improve your accuracy if you are shooting iron sights.
If you want to be subsonic, then a shorter barrel could be better depending on the ammo you select.
shoot4fun
Gold $$ Contributor
FIrst, quality match 22LR ammo is just as difficult (maybe more so) than components for CF ammo.
The price has shot up as well. While some are drilling targets at 500 yards I have not gone past 300 with my Vudoo. It's fun and can be quite the challenge with a little wisp of a breeze.
Barrel length, as said already, is too subjective. Look at all the old model 52 and 40X rimfire that sported 26" barrels. My first (and still) Vudoo is 20" while the second (now belongs to a friend) was 22". I was somewhat surprised to see the 20" make farther hits with less dial up than the 22".
Optimal depends on what game the shooter is shooting. Target with iron sights the longer the spread between front and rear sight the more accurate so older target rifles had longer barrels. However, with a scope there is little if any advantage to a longer barrel. For highest velocity, 17 to 21 depending on which brand of ammo. Going through heavy under growth in a wooded area, the shorter the better. On an all day hike, the lighter the better. All lengths and weights of barrel have their uses, so without knowing what you plan to do with it, there is no real answer.
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Normally the gunsmith when he slugs the barrel will know what length you will end up with. there are lengths you can try for when ordering a blank, but always let the slugging determine what the length will be.
Lee
Optimum barrel length is determined by the ammo you shoot.
Each ammo mfg know the optimum barrel length for a given load.
I remember reading about it in I believe “The Rimfire Ammo” book or something close to that.
It is a great reference for 22 ammo, I’ve just seemed to have misplaced my copy.
Best I remember, standard velocity in most brands got 100% burn in 18-20” and HV was 22-24” “ I think “
As everyone here should know, once you get 100% burn, the bullet starts slowing down while still in the barrel.
This is one of the reason they make Pistol and rifle specific 22 match ammo.
The most accurate barrel I’ve ever owned was a 14” 14 twist Bullberry on a Contender.
I think the shorter length and faster twist was a perfect combination with the old Tenex ammo.
I have a Benchmark 3 groove on a 40x now that’s crazy accurate, but the Bullberry still will out shoot it with just about every ammo I’ve tried.
Each ammo mfg know the optimum barrel length for a given load.
I remember reading about it in I believe “The Rimfire Ammo” book or something close to that.
It is a great reference for 22 ammo, I’ve just seemed to have misplaced my copy.
Best I remember, standard velocity in most brands got 100% burn in 18-20” and HV was 22-24” “ I think “
As everyone here should know, once you get 100% burn, the bullet starts slowing down while still in the barrel.
This is one of the reason they make Pistol and rifle specific 22 match ammo.
The most accurate barrel I’ve ever owned was a 14” 14 twist Bullberry on a Contender.
I think the shorter length and faster twist was a perfect combination with the old Tenex ammo.
I have a Benchmark 3 groove on a 40x now that’s crazy accurate, but the Bullberry still will out shoot it with just about every ammo I’ve tried.
Hi-NV Shooter
Gold $$ Contributor
Optimum barrel length is determined by the ammo you shoot.
Each ammo mfg know the optimum barrel length for a given load.
I wish it was that simple!
Lee
I've finished most of the barrels that I've done for my own bolt repeaters at 22", but then, I don't give a fiddler's damn about a few more FPS in velocity that I MIGHT get by going with a shorter bbl. I'm after accuracy & balance primarily, and appearance secondly, and a short 16" bbl on a full-size action like a 40X, V-22, Rim-X, or Stiller 2500XR just looks stupid to me. One of the first things I noticed & appreciated about shooting PRS-type 22RF matches is the low report of std vel ammo out of barrels of 20"+, so the guys shooting unsuppressed rifles with 16" are the ones who annoy me the most.
I've read a several opinions from experienced 22RF BR shooters who favor bbl lengths from 24"-26", and have had excellent results with a Shilen select match ratchet rifled R5 blank on my V-22S that I finished at 25". To each his own, but I favor longer (22"-28") barrels on my RF rifles.
I've read a several opinions from experienced 22RF BR shooters who favor bbl lengths from 24"-26", and have had excellent results with a Shilen select match ratchet rifled R5 blank on my V-22S that I finished at 25". To each his own, but I favor longer (22"-28") barrels on my RF rifles.
This is what I go by also. My latest .22 is a 2500X with a bartlein barrel. I asked the smith to slug the barrel and cut it at the tightest point because I don't care what the finished length is. It ended up being 22.75" and shoots extremely well.
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