20 inch vs 22 inch barrels

[freddyfour]

I like a 20" barrel on pretty much any type of rifle/action. Just seems to be the perfect length for a handy rifle as long as you are not a long range hunter.

 

[DGY]

If you already know the rifles you like like that Remington 243, just go with that and the difference in barrel length won’t make any differences! Having rifles that feels the same, shoulder the same and have the same trigger is always a plus.

 

[Crashman]

I would suggest you handle each rifle you are considering. Nothing worse than buying a rifle online and taking delivery to find you dont like the ergonomics or its ugly to your eye. A 20" barrel is plenty for your needs, the small velocity loss will mean nothing at your hunting ranges, just place a decent bullet in the vitals and your animal will drop. Good luck and have fun!

 

[hawk-i]

My Ruger 5.56 with an 18" barrel shoots consistently under 1/2" groups at 100.
Barrel length effects velocity, not accuracy.

Cheers

Somewhat true at 100 yards however, a slower bullet is more influenced by the environment as distance increases.

 

[northern skies]

I wouldn't care about the ballistic difference, but I think it would be more important to get both in your hands and see if the balance is right for you. Trust your gut feeling after holding them. A more muzzle-heavy gun will tend to feel more stable while a more muzzle-light gun will point faster. Go with what's more appropriate to your environment and what kind of shots you take.

Shorter barrels also have more blast which people tend to perceive as more recoil, but I don't think these are far enough apart to make a significant difference. A 24 vs an 18 would be very noticeable.

 

[pete dobinson]

I got a browning A-bolt micro series 284win, with a 20" barrel. It's a handy hunting rifle and it's accurate enough for me out to 300yds. It's one of my favourite rifle's.

 

[Joel]

Shorter than 22" doesn't seem to hold as well offhand and becomes "blastier" than I like. Really don't care about the velocity gain or subtraction one or the other.

YMMV! Lots of people love carbines and shoot them well.

 

[Redneck Hippy]

Looking at 7-08 numbers I wonder why more people don’t use it…
I think for ~95% of hunters fit and feel are going to count more than cartridge and velocity. You won’t shoot well with a setup
That has you struggling with scope eye box or has you scared of recoil or muzzle blast. You won’t take a rifle to the field that’s too heavy to carry or one that hits all the branches on your way to the stand. If all that stuff gets dealt with it hardly matters what bullet how fast

 

[Kevin32]

Sometimes shortening a barrel can improve accuracy as the barrel whips less.

 

[Caper3006]

Thank you everyone, looks like I will consider the 20inch and try the fit of each if I. An find both models locally. Then decide which Model I want. Again, it was great getting all the feedback, as mentioned by a poster its to each’s own. Sounds like the length is not a huge factor at the distances I shoot and will do what I need it to do.
Thanks again!

 

[Simpson302]

Hunting in Ontario I have found I much prefer a shorter (20") barrel for carrying around the woods. Although I don't mind my 22" barreled guns ether.
I can ring steel at 350m with my newly built 338 Fed with a 20" barrel. Farther than I will be probably be shooting at game

 

[FatCatsDad]

Looking at 7-08 numbers I wonder why more people don’t use it…

Most people shoot factory ammo and 7-08 is not only pricey but not all stores carry it in stock.

 

[ruby76]

Get your hands on a Tikka as well to compare.

 

[savagefan]

All things being equal a shorter barrel may be stiffer than its longer counterpart. A shorter rifle is more practical for baling out of the truck when you're road hunting. My next .308 will have a 20" barrel for that reason. Popcorn anyone?

 

[dan belisle]

Difference? Decrease in muzzle velocity, more muzzle blast. Handier to use though. - dan

 

[jamesharrison]

20" barrels BARK much more noticeably than a 22" or longer barrel.

 

[blargon]

Hey everyone,
I am new to the site so this has probably been brought up before. If so, my apologies. Most of my rifles are 22 inch. I am looking for a 7mm-08, but most models I am interested in are 20 inch. I am looking at a Remington 700 sps and a browning x-bolt stalker. Anyone know what the big differences are? AI tells me not much difference in accuracy. Anyone with experience here on this?

I split the difference and went 21"

 

[remington jim]

All things being equal a shorter barrel may be stiffer than its longer counterpart. A shorter rifle is more practical for baling out of the truck when you're road hunting. My next .308 will have a 20" barrel for that reason. Popcorn anyone?

ALL short barrels are stiffer then a longer barrels if there the same contour - thickness - 20 " heavies have being the std for years in BR shooting - my LW 6.5 CM runs a 20 " and my LW 308 too

 

[ShrtRnd]

Found a Ruger American in 22 inch this evening. Now just have to figure out which way I want to go. lDefinitely like the look of the sps as I have that one in a 243” and also like the look of the x-bolt stalker. Feel free to chime in…thoughts…

The beauty of the SPS/700 platform is the multitude of aftermarket accessories avail it. It’s certainly something to be considered in your decision.

 

[struff55]

Hey everyone,
I am new to the site so this has probably been brought up before. If so, my apologies. Most of my rifles are 22 inch. I am looking for a 7mm-08, but most models I am interested in are 20 inch. I am looking at a Remington 700 sps and a browning x-bolt stalker. Anyone know what the big differences are? AI tells me not much difference in accuracy. Anyone with experience here on this?

first off accuracy is generally better with short bbl's i built a 708 with a 16" bbl and have know trouble hitting the gong at 4 yds
oh and a mule deer a 380
you have so much to learn grasshopper