ok so im buying a new .22 (ruger 10/22) i am buying the heavy barrel model but cant decide between the 10/22 target or the 10/22 tactical.. when you break them both down it comes to the barrel length...which barrel length is better for varminting? 20" or 16"...most shots will be done 100-150 yards max
Ideal .22 barrel length
- Thread starter SksA1
- Start date
Just played whit my 10/22 and after many search the optimal barrel look to be 19.5 inch.
That what the number tell, it's a difference of less then 50 fps and it depend of the type of ammo so in the end it does no matter that much. Find one that you like and have fun.
I installed a 18 inch (ordered a 20 but received a 18, that why I did an extensive research to see if I was loosing FPS)
That what the number tell, it's a difference of less then 50 fps and it depend of the type of ammo so in the end it does no matter that much. Find one that you like and have fun.
I installed a 18 inch (ordered a 20 but received a 18, that why I did an extensive research to see if I was loosing FPS)
easyrider604
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IMO, you should buy whichever is the more accurate rifle.
IIRC, in the test (in another forum) that showed 16 inch barrels give the highest velocity, they used only one barrel that they cut down in 1 inch increments. They started with 24 inches or something, shot/chrono'd a variety of .22 ammo, cut barrel an inch and repeated the ammo test, all the way down to 12 inches. Just trying to remember the exact test procedure so I may be wrong with the numbers. Bottom line is, test showed best velocity around 16 inches. This test procedure eliminated the possibility of variances in different bbls affecting the result of the test.
Having said that, regardless of velocity, the bullet stills needs to hit the target, hence my recommendation to buy the more accurate rifle. As well, individual rifles of even the same model will produce varying degrees of accuracy...or inaccuracy.
No disrespect to the knowledgeable gentlemen in this forum, but try looking at rimfirecentral.com, they have a lot of info on the 10/22 and you'll probably find some answers over there.
IIRC, in the test (in another forum) that showed 16 inch barrels give the highest velocity, they used only one barrel that they cut down in 1 inch increments. They started with 24 inches or something, shot/chrono'd a variety of .22 ammo, cut barrel an inch and repeated the ammo test, all the way down to 12 inches. Just trying to remember the exact test procedure so I may be wrong with the numbers. Bottom line is, test showed best velocity around 16 inches. This test procedure eliminated the possibility of variances in different bbls affecting the result of the test.
Having said that, regardless of velocity, the bullet stills needs to hit the target, hence my recommendation to buy the more accurate rifle. As well, individual rifles of even the same model will produce varying degrees of accuracy...or inaccuracy.
No disrespect to the knowledgeable gentlemen in this forum, but try looking at rimfirecentral.com, they have a lot of info on the 10/22 and you'll probably find some answers over there.
I was asking the same question myself a few weeks ago when deciding on a barrel. While I did not find the actual test in my searching on RimFire Central and other sites, I kept hearing that 16" was the sweet spot.
I really wish I could find the test results to know what types of ammo they used. In theory a subsonic rounds ideal barrel length would be less than that of a Stinger or other hyper velocity rounds. A test much like the one done by the guys at "Ballistics by the Inch" using various types of common .22 LR ammo. Which, sadly they did not include.
The longer barrels add weight, which can be a good thing when shooting from a bench. Weight adds to stability. I suspect that the reason for the 20" was due to the use of open or aperture sights where the longer sight radius made a huge difference. As it stands now, 16" is considered the optimum for velocity and a shorter stiffer barrel should help accuracy. This is one of the reasons you get a bull barrel for a .22LR. Heat isn't an issue with this round.
I like the target model for shooting at the range on nice days. The Laminate stock is very solid. The rifle is heavier and sits fairly well in a bench. Lots of fun. It does however favour the fairly expensive match ammo, such as Lapua Super club.
I have put together a version of the tactical model. Hogue stock, 16.5" threaded barrel with compensator on it. It's fun, lighter and I wouldn't worry about taking it through the bushes, on a quad etc. It seems to shoot the cheaper ammo fairly well, however I'm using a Dlask barrel not the Ruger one. There is flex with the Hogue stock but it doesn't seem to affect accuracy. At least mine didn't seem to change when going from bench to bipod. But for more bench use I'd go with the target model. If you want a fun lighter and more flexible varminter rifle then go with the Tactical.
One other suggestion. I have a Thompson R55 benchmark. It's heavy and has an 18" bull barrel. So in between the Tactical and the Target offerings by Ruger. The receiver is steel, it has a last shot hold open and the trigger is good although a bit heavy out of the box (The Ruger trigger is very marginal out of the box and needs to be worked on). This is a solid rifle. More importantly it shoots CCI standard at under 1moa for 100 yards. Plinking shotgun shells at 100 yards, or those small .22 metal targets is very easy with this rifle. The ammo is mid priced unlike the Lapua stuff.
Here's a fair review and consistent with my findings.
http://www.gunmart.net/gun_review/thompson_center_r55_benchmark_laminate/
I like all three of them for different purposes. But honestly if it was a choice of only one.... The main thing the Ruger has going for it is that rotary mag system. Otherwise the Thompson is a much nicer rifle right out of the box. The Thompson costs more but doesn't need anything done to it. Which is good because you can't get all the aftermarket stuff for it like you can with the Ruger.
Eventually you'll probably own all three, and maybe a Remington 597 as well.
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my .22 shooting consists of taking gophers in the fields... usually for 50-100 yards...judging buy what i have read the 16" is optimum, but lets be honest how many of you have 1" grouping at 100+ yards with the 10/22 target with a 20" barrel?
Years ago, I used to shoot at Bisley in England as a member of the British Sporting Rifle Club. We shot the `Running Boar` at 50 yards using Anschutz or Walther purpose built rifles. I can`t remember who came up with the optimum figure for barrel length but do remember it was 16 ". However, as we were shooting a moving target, the barrel length was not shortened as the weight of the longer barrel was needed to aid the swing when tracking the Boar. The answer was to counterbore the barrel from the muzzle to effectively give a 16" rifled barrel.
Me and a friend both had 10/22's that we put heavy barrels on. I went with a 16" GM barrel and he went with a 20" volquartsen barrel. Accuracy of both were pretty much the same but the biggest difference in my mind was how well the 16" balanced compared to the 20" which seemed very front heavy. Also, the 16" was noticably louder too if that makes any difference to you.
