Bull Barrels

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Nailgunslinger

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For those of you that have them are they worth it on a .22? I do mainly grouse hunting and plinking with my .22, so I couldn't really care less about 100 yard moa accuracy , but 50 yards is nice for squirrels and grouse. Any opinions on perfomance for those who have hunted or shot with both kinds of barrels and can tell me of any improvements in accuracy is appreciated.
 
I found that accuracy of your gun is crucial for any small game hunting. Bull barrel gives you about 3/4 inch groups at 50 yard from about any 22 rifle as opposite to 1.5 - infinity inch groups from sporters. Many will argue about extra weight one have to carry - that is silliest argument, if you can't carry heavy barreled 22 rifle you must be half dead 100 years old. Get someone to carry your rifle for you in that case. Back to small game hunting - actual body of squirrel or grouse is much smaller than outlines because of fur/feathers, so little extra accuracy will save your day.
 
lol yea well im not worried about the weight of the gun I was just wondering about personal experience with the bull barrels vs the sporter style for accuracy especially around the 25 yard to 50 yard mark. Both of the last posts are helpful though.
 
I wouldn't waste your time. Solid marksmanship skills and quality ammo will more than compensate for any "gain" from a heavy barrel on your rimfire. We're talking about plinking and small game hunting, not bullseye competitions.

TDC
 
TDC said:
I wouldn't waste your time. Solid marksmanship skills and quality ammo will more than compensate for any "gain" from a heavy barrel on your rimfire. We're talking about plinking and small game hunting, not bullseye competitions.

TDC
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Small game hunting is way more demanding than any bulleye competition. You will want to have skills, right ammo and any extra gain in accuracy you can get. Grouse vitals are about 2" across, most sporter 22's will shoot 2" groups at 50 yards from bench rest.
 
I don't know what bullseye competitions you've seen. The USBR target (here's a practice version) is shot at 50 yards, and I believe it has a 10 ring that is 0.01" in diameter, and I think the 9 ring is 0.3" in diameter. 0.55" for the 8 ring, 0.85" for the 7 ring, 1.2" for the 6 ring, 1.6" for the 5 ring, 2.05" for the 4 ring, the last. That target is shot best-edge, and if you completely cover that 10 ring it is a 10-X shot. The ARA 50 yard target is laid out a bit differently, but is shot worst-edge, and may even be tougher than the USBR target because of that. The shot must stay completely within the 0.565" 100 ring in order to score 100 for that shot. If it breaks that line it is then only worth 50 points. The 50 point ring is then 0.775", so any shot that breaks that 100 point ring but stays within the 50 point ring gets that 50 points. If it breaks that 50 point line, it's then only worth 25 points. The outside of the 25 point ring is 1.075", and any shot that breaks it is downgraded to 10 points. The inside of that 25 point ring is 0.94", and if the bullet is completely outside that inner section of the ring it is then worth 0 points.

Now, the actual practice of hunting may be more demanding, since your targets can move, but I would say that if you're talking strictly about target size that these two targets are definitely more demanding than a 2" target zone of grouse vitals.
22lr said:
Small game hunting is way more demanding than any bulleye competition. You will want to have skills, right ammo and any extra gain in accuracy you can get. Grouse vitals are about 2" across, most sporter 22's will shoot 2" groups at 50 yards from bench rest.
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Shorty... I don't know what bullseye competitions YOU have seen. Bench rests?! USBR targets - are you trying to impress someone here? I guess you didn't know BR competitions were originally meant for weak, old or disabled people who cannot shoot three-position matches being pinned to wheelchair. Those USBR targets meant for rifles you will not find on a shelf in most gun stores.

Real-world targets have about 1" 10 ( I never measured it) and that is honest estimation of how entry-level target rifle can shoot at 50 yards.
 
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Hi

Even the barrel on an "economy" rifle should get you to 0.5" for five shot groups at 50 yards. The rest of the rifle may or may not be up to that level, but the barrel should. A good bull barrel aught to be good enough for 1/2 to 1/4 of that. The rifle that the bull barrel goes on is more likely to be up to that level as well.

A little careless work with a segmented metal cleaning rod can take out the crown on either one pretty fast. Once that happens, forget about accuracy.

Bob
 
I think the chamber on your rimfire will have the biggest impact on performance, even more so if your rifle is a semi-auto.

Many guy will get an aftermarket barrel because it would cost about the same to have their existing barrel re-chambered (at lest for the 10/22)

The heavy barrel are suppose to heat up slower then a sporter barrel... but I haven't seen too many people heating up 22lr barrel while hunting :50cal:

My 2cents worth...
 
To answer the original post, no, I don't think a bull barrel is neccessery for hunting and plinking - 1/4" increace or so in group size at 50 yards probably won't make too much difference, especially for standing but if you find the bull barrel is better balanced for you then you may want to go that route.

22lr said:
I guess you didn't know BR competitions were originally meant for weak, old or disabled people who cannot shoot three-position matches being pinned to wheelchair. Those USBR targets meant for rifles you will not find on a shelf in most gun stores.
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22lr, benchrest is not just intended for the week, old or disabled. Although some of these people might cater towards benchrest becuase they are physically unable to compete in three position type matches, there are many people, my self included that enjoy benchrest and are perfectly able to do 3p as well. I enjoy benchrest because of the exactness and precision - and don' want false statements to be made. The USBR is for all guns, which is also why they make classes in it such as semi-auto, and factory sporter for those guns that come right off the shelf such as CZ's and savages :D

Now back to the original topic ;)
 
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cz452shooter said:
To answer the original post, no, I don't think a bull barrel is neccessery for hunting and plinking - 1/4" increace or so in group size at 50 yards probably won't make too much difference, especially for standing but if you find the bull barrel is better balanced for you then you may want to go that route.


Yea I think the weight is better for me in a bull, but 1/4 is a big difference on a grouse head which is only about 1" across , especially when it is moving. I just think its ghey that I don't see any S/S bull barrel .22's , Ive looked and all I can find are the 17hmr and 22 mag in bull barrel s/s.
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Hi

The question becomes: are you good to 1/4" at an estimated range on a moving target? A lot more than just the barrel comes into that. Both skill and equipment (stock, trigger, sights, ammo) come into it.

If I was going for "ultimate" accuracy at 50 yards in a rimfire, I'd go for the 17 HMR ...

Bob
 
I think Bob "hit the nail on head" about the 1/4" improvement thing. It would really narrow down to your skills, the condition, how long you have to take the shot, etc. A 2 or 3 mph wind is going to move the bullet that much anyway, and not very often is is that you are hunting when it is deadcalm. And temperature and humidity is going to change your POI a bit, maybe an 1/8-1/4" at 50 yards as well. And then you have to think about how often you will be able to rest the gun anyway to get the shot away. I suppose if you saw it a fair ways off you could take a bit of time to find a stable shooting position but often you probably won't have time for this and will be taking a standing shot or similar anyways and there are not many people out there that can really show the difference between a that shoots 1/2" groups at 50 yards and guns that 3/4" groups at 50 yards standing.

And what about grouse fever :eek: :D

I think savage makes a model with a bull barrel stainless, and ruger 10/22T. I have a brno with a bull barrel stainless but it is a gaillard barrel so that probably wouldn't be an option for you.
 
Well Im a pretty damn good shot and can head shot a grouse with my cooey .22 at 50 yards but I've missed too. Where I hunt its only slight wind thats a problem, I mean grouse are surrounded by trees most of the time. A gun thats off by 1/4 whe it just moved slightly mean i just missed blowing the back of its head off, whereas it seems from the responses of owners and users that i would have some extra leway and less missed shots. I saw the Savage in 22lr but in a thumbhole laminated stock which I do not like at all. I also have shot the ruger and dont like it. I personally don't like rugers at all, except for the grip. I wish CZ made a S/S 22lr bull barrel I would buy it today.
 
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