Sporter barrel vs Heavy Barrel on a bolt action .22LR

CanuckShooter

CanuckShooter

CGN frequent flyer
Rating - 100%
61   0   0
Is a heavy barreled .22LR as necessary as most think or are we just buying into hype or 'cool factor'. I'm asking because I honestly don't know.

Is there really enough heat production and barrel whip on a (on a bolt action, not semi) .22 to justify heavy barrels? Is the .920 necessary?

The reason I ask is due to the fact that it seems in the CZ line, the american and varmint are pretty much equals, even with the new 453 varmint matching the dual action screws like the 452 american has had form the start.

What are your opinions? Any readings you would suggest?

Thanks
 
One thing I noticed when shooting the postal matches was that a heavy barrel sits in the bags better and recoils less. It was easier to shoot and more consistant because of this.
 
Along with what Slash said, the extra wieght can help to balance the gun, making for a more stable shot.
They also look really sweet.

Are you thinking of getting the CZ?

Adam
 
Some lightweight 22 barrels shoot incredibly well. Heating isn't really an issue. As stated, it has more to do with ballance and how the rifle sits in target situations.
 
Adam, I had a CZ American, but sold it as I really had my heart set on a heavy barrel Varmint or Savage Mark IIBV. Partly for the reason you mentioned, being that it is a bit heavier with the HB, and my hands shake more than the average person. This and the looks would be my reasons, but wanted to look into if it actually benefited the rifle having a HB.

I've been looking at the Savagae Mark IIBV moreso than the CZ Varmint lately since unlike the Varmint, it has the 2 action screw setup and doesnt have the barrel lug which I don't care for. I know people say it doesn't make much difference, but I don't want to take it out, and I also don't want to worry about hwether it's too tight/too lose/not staying set etc...

The idea of a barrel lug doesn't sit well with me for some reason, I like things simple.
 
Assuming all variables are kept the same (gun, chamber, crown, shooter, ect), except one gun has a heavey barrel and one gun has a bull barrel, generally, the bull barrel shoots better due to barrel harmonics. Even really really heavey barrels vibrate when shot, but the thinner barrels vibrate a lot more then the bull barrels when shot. The less vibrations possible, usually the better. THere are exceptions though. Both the CZ Varmint and American are good shooters. I don't know which one I would choose if I wanter that real great accuracy.


Jordan
 
Never saw a 22 that shot poorly , no matter the barrel. Target shooting would be better from a heavy barrel no question for the stable factor. But nothing wrong with a 6 lb hunting weight rifle when after bunnies, or grouse. A heavy would be great in the little piggie patch. :D :cool:
 
I've owned several of each, and at present own only one heavy barrelled 22. The difference in the way they actually shoot is insignificant, and I have shot some incredible 22 sporters. [Remington 541's, Winchester 52's, Sako Finnfire, etc] The comment about being easier to hold a heavy has some merit, but the design of the firearm and the ability of the shooter comes into play as well. The heavy is great off the bags, but for packing, they are certainly second to the sporter guns. Regards, Eagleye
 
22 barrels

I agree totally w. Eagleye and Levi.
I had an Anschutz Match 54 rifle of which I had the barrel turned down into a sporter weight configuration. The length was left untouched. Reason being to acquire a good rifle to compete in the Sporter weight class at the time. It shot as well after as before it was turned. In fact, my old Annie still shoots as well as my newerm heavier MS model. Of course, I had a top notch 'smith friend do the work.
 
45Auto said:
I agree totally w. Eagleye and Levi.
I had an Anschutz Match 54 rifle of which I had the barrel turned down into a sporter weight configuration. The length was left untouched. Reason being to acquire a good rifle to compete in the Sporter weight class at the time. It shot as well after as before it was turned. In fact, my old Annie still shoots as well as my newerm heavier MS model. Of course, I had a top notch 'smith friend do the work.
Click to expand...

I was thinking that the heavy barrel would be more accurate since that had been my experience with the rifles that I had shot. The problem is, is that I had never shot the same configuration with only the barrel diameter being different. Pretty hard to argue with the above though. Thanks for the info.
 
I am also trying to decide on a new CZ 452...

I'm not sure which would shoot better... the longer (1.5" longer) but lighter contoured barrel of the American, or the shorter, heavier barrel of the Varmint? Also, what is this barrel lug you were speaking of?

Thoughts from the crowd?
 
CanuckShooter said:
Is there really enough heat production and barrel whip on a (on a bolt action, not semi) .22 to justify heavy barrels? Is the .920 necessary?

Thanks
Click to expand...


I am thinking bull barrel now as I shoot better then my both 22 rifles I currently own. I was thinking about barrel whip and why there is no problem with it on, say, 223 and the reason I think is 22 are so much slower that weight and recoil becomes a factor, how you hold your rifle and barrel vibration. I think all those things are coming to play as barrel points somewhere else by the time bullet clears the crown. Old timers probably know better, but that is what I think now. And bull barrel supposed to take care of most of those things I described, or at least reduce the effect. Or, alternatively to bull barrel one can probably glass bed the barrel ( I am going to try it) or at least wedge it to reduce whip. I do not like that later mod as you will have to re-sight your rifle every time you are out in a bush plus rapid fire will tend to bend your barrel one way or another because of thermal expansion. It is funny and I have seen it happen with wedged barrel seing you POI moving down so that your target looks like one vertical line with holes touching each other.

These are my observations and may well be wrong, will appreciate some arguments.
 
There is no question that a heavier gun is easier to shoot off the bags.
For the postal matches, I don't think I shot the same gun in two different sittings. The heavy barrel guns were easier to shoot well.

The usual thinking with heavy barrels is that while they may not be more accurate than a sporter weight barrel, they are less affected by changes in harmonics.
A heavy barrel will shoot more kinds and types of ammo well with less difference between manufacturing lots. This also may mean less flyers.

A light barrel has more whip and vibration. The muzzle moves through X thousands of an inch. The correct ammo for the gun exits the barrel at the same point in the vibration waves moving down the barrel for each shot and shoots well. Poor shooting ammo leaves the barrel at different points in the vibration wave and shoots all over the place.

The muzzle of the heavy barreled gun moves less for the same forces introduced into the barrel. A bullet leaving the barrel at the "wrong" time in the vibration wave is less affected.

The harmonic tuners that the benchrest crowd use allow these vibration waves to be changed. This tunes the gun for different ammo and manufacturing lots.

I've got a couple of sporter Walthers and a sporter Sako that shoot amazing groups.

However, there is a reason that target guns have heavy barrels. You don't see any bench rest guns with skinny barrels. Even the offhand people have gone to stiff, short barrels with bloop tubes to extend the sight radius.
 
continuing on original question - I just bought HB Savage bolt action package deal yesterday. Of course there is also accutriggah, but I think HB is a factor. My kid was picking tree branches today shootin off hand or kneelin - there were no takers to shoot in prone in the snow. I think there is more to it than just stiff heavy barrel, its new feel of heavier front end, very stable shooting off hand.
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom