When I was young my dad had some nice semi-auto .22 rifles that had a very very heavy and thick barrel. He told me that it was so heavy to make it more accurate. I really liked the look of it but I have no idea what to search for to find one for my collection. Are they called anything special that might help my search? any recommendations on which are best? Are they really more accurate?
Looking for a .22 with a thick barrel
- Thread starter gribbly
- Start date
That is a pretty broad spectrum to choose from... basically you just want a .920" bull barrel semi auto .22... the barrel might improve accuracy, or it might not... there are many other factors involved in achieving accuracy, and they all interact and can be relative to your expectations. Semi auto actions can be very accurate, but if extreme accuracy is your goal, you would be better off looking at bolt action platforms.
It sounds like you are not interested in doing a build yourself, but want to buy a complete rifle? What is your budget?
Try the Dlask Arms website and look through their DAR22 offerings... Joe will make one up to your specifications using their products... tell him what your goal is and he can help you achieve it.
Just a note; For extreme accuracy, you will need a precise (tight) chamber, in a semi auto this comes with "side effects." Namely, more problems with feeding, extracaction etc... this type of target chamber requires more attention and cleaning.
Here are a few bull barrel builds... even though they are all .920 barrels, they can look very different and perform different functions;
It sounds like you are not interested in doing a build yourself, but want to buy a complete rifle? What is your budget?
Try the Dlask Arms website and look through their DAR22 offerings... Joe will make one up to your specifications using their products... tell him what your goal is and he can help you achieve it.
Just a note; For extreme accuracy, you will need a precise (tight) chamber, in a semi auto this comes with "side effects." Namely, more problems with feeding, extracaction etc... this type of target chamber requires more attention and cleaning.
Here are a few bull barrel builds... even though they are all .920 barrels, they can look very different and perform different functions;
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Are you trying to find the exact model, or simply add a heavy-barreled semi-auto 22 to your collection? If you're trying to find the same one.. I think we'd need a little more info to help narrow that down. If it's a modern(ish) factory gun you want...there are a few I could recommend, but knowing your budget would be key there.
As for what they're called~heavy-barreled 22s are sometimes called "HB"...."Target"...."Varmint" models, depending on the manufacturers. Some manufactures just kind of use chunky barrels (ie. Marlin 795) but don't give them any special designation/name. In fact, a "heavier" barreled version of the 795 was even made for a while called the Marlin 7000. A gun I'm on the lookout for simply because I like the look of it. My 795s (x2) are both very accurate guns for what they are.
I like this! Are those the currently unavailable Nodak Spud sights?
Thanks for the replies, Bull Barrel was the term I am pretty sure he used. I knew I would recognize it when I saw it, haha. As for having the exact one he had, I've thought about it, and I did really like the look of it, but some of these posted images look way cooler 
I think I am just looking to add a heavy barrel .22 to my collection, I sure didn't know there was such a variety! Now I am not sure what I want, haha.
I think I am just looking to add a heavy barrel .22 to my collection, I sure didn't know there was such a variety! Now I am not sure what I want, haha.I've been looking around the EE and saw a 10/22. In the description it mentioned all the parts in the build. Is there a good explaination or guide for newbies for choosing what to put in? it seems complicated, and I am leaning toward getting a fully assembled model for this reason, but I want to understand the custom side before I make any purchasing decisions. Is one generally cheaper than the other? At this point I don't even know where to start.
- Location
- Richmond, BC
.920 seems to be a pretty standard barrel size?
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22lrguy is correct... Back in the day, before this bull barrel and custom barrel craze, everyone and anyone knew that Marlin made the thickest and heaviest barrels. Even today, if you purchased an average production base .22 model (in the $150 to $400 price range) Marlins hands down have the thickest barrels.
Your father is correct, that thicker barrels equal better accuracy for a bunch of reasons (from barrel harmonics, to stability, to recoil, etc.). If I were to guess, I would say that your father was referencing the Marlin model 60. The model 60 begain production in 1960, 4 years before the Ruger 10/22. It had a thick barrel, micro groove rifling and a tubular magazine that held 18+1 and still to this day is the number 1 selling .22 rifle in the world. The new verson comes with only a 14+1 round tubular magazine but is essentially the same rifle. The model with the synthetic stock retail for around $219 and the stainless steel birch wood version for $260. IMO, in terms of fit and finish in that price point, it is still one of the best values around and perhaps only to be beaten out by it's magazine feed cousin, the Marlin 795.
