what's the longest barrel you need for .22 LR rifles ?

notsorichguy said:
For this reason there is a new trend coming out where the actual rifled portion of the barrel is 12" to 16" and then there is a "hollow tube" (actually the barrel is necked out to the point that the wall is extremely thin in the case of a heavy size barrel) affixed on the end of the barrel to obtain a long sight radius.
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It's called a bloop tube and it's usually affixed, not part of the original barrel.
 
While maximum velocity is reached around 16" or so of barrel, the accuracy is a product of individual barrels. That being said, if one is shooting open or better, yet, aperture sights, a longer barrel is an advantage due to the longer sight radius. If the rifle is scoped, the longer barrel is a not required for accuracy. Shorter barrels tend to be slightly stiffer, so an accurate short barrel might have an edge on an accurate longer barrel. Only a lot of testing will determine the difference, if it exists. My most accurate rimfires have longer barrels [24"+], but I'm quite sure they could be clipped to 16 or 17" and be equally accurate, particularly if there was a slightly "tight" spot at the point of the cut. Regards, Eagleye.
 
I was out this past week doing a lot of gopher shooting. On average 700-750 per day between the 2 of us. I took several .22s of different makes, configurations and barrel lengths. I tried them all and my son did also. Of the 3 barrel lengths we shot, the 24" out performed the others. the 18 and 20 inch barrels were fairly accurate to 75-100 yards but fell short on longer distances which the longer barrels took with ease.. All the same ammo was used and bipods were used on all guns for steady aiming. The bolts did better than the semis in all respects.And scopes were mounted on them all.

Just on an information note...the guns with the 24" barrels were 1940s Marlin Model 81s. Also used were 1947 Mossberg 151, 1960 Lakefield Mark II and a 3 year old Stevens 300. The Stevens was retired to its case when the Marlin 81 was fired. All in all a pretty good test. Headed out this weekend again so the Marlin will be the companion of choice.
 
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One of the main reasons manufacturers don't make rimfire rifles with less than 16" barrels is that they would be illegal in the US without a Class 2 permit. Less than 16" barrel is considered a SBR (short barrelled rifle) and is regulated by the BTAF and there is a $200 transfer fee.
 
Jahred.F said:
in theory shorter barrels are more accurate, because they are stiffer.

16" is about ideal depending on your ammo.

overall accuracy will be more dependant on the total setup rather than just the barrel.
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The short barrel being stiffer and more accurate is starting to be looked at by some in the precision shooting disciplines. If I do a build based on a .223 cartridge, the barrel will probably not be longer than 20".
 
22lr said:
As to accuracy - that same pistol deliver rifle-like accuracy when benched, and I have a feeling that given the same sight radius it will be just as accurate as target rifle.

Longer barrels may still give better percieved accuracy because of weight of the barrel distributed far out and thus dumping adverse movements induced by the shooter.
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It's impossible for a pistol to have the same or even similar sight radius as a rifle due to the big difference in their barrel lengths and the distance between the front and rear sights.

Definition of Sight Radius:

The distance between the visible part of the front sight and the visible part of the back sight:

for pistol, this will be the distance between the highest part of the front sight and the rear of the back sight
for rifle, this will be the distance between the rear of the front sight insert and the rear surface of the back sight aperture
sight radius is not really applicable to Running Target or Shotgun
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My target 10/22 has a 20" GM bull barrel and it seems to shoot quite well.
 
I believe Sako thinks that barrell legth of 22 inches and a bit is the optimum useful length for there 22 rimfire rifles, I read this in an artical that they interviewed the technition from Sako Labortories.I believe both my sako rifle barrells are just under 23" overall barrell length and are mighty accurate, please exuse my grammer, regards Dale in T-Bay:wave:
 
What most of the posts here are confusing is the accuracy potential of the barrel compared to the accuracy potential of the shooter.

The longer the barrel, the greater potential accuracy for the SHOOTER. As noted above, this has to do with sight radius, and the benefit of less person/body induced "wobble" when aiming and pulling the trigger.

That is why manufacturers tend to use longer barrels, it is not to make the GUN more accurate, it is to make the SHOOTER more accurate.
 
I'll believe a 16 inch barrel .22 rifle can be as accurate as a 22, 24, or 26 inch barrel rifle when I see it. When I shot prone small bore, I never saw anyone use anything under a 26. Longer barrels, especially when shooting prone, tend to be more stable, just due to their sheer weight and length. Perhaps a benched 16 would give nothing up to a longer barrel, but once again, somebody prove it to me.

My BRNO # 4 with 26 inch barrel. It is very accurate and gave nothing up to the Anchutz I used when I shot prone 22lr. I took the peeps off and it now has a 5-15 Bushnell 3200...it's now my 200 yard rig (I've since got the proper bi-pod for it - and yes that is a level resting on top of the elevation knob):D
BRNOandT97test006.jpg

6 inch frying pan at 200 yards...I know I can get better groups out of it. This pic was my first time out with it and I'm still trying to learn the mysteries of the wind.:)
BRNOandT97test009.jpg
 
A 22 target cartridge is going to reach max. velocity with about a 16" barrel. With the relatively slow bullet, amy extra millisecond of bullet in the barrel could effect the point of impact if the follow through is less than perfect. Doubt it makes much difference, but I doubt 16" bull barrels would be that popular, and there is other disadvantages.

Ask Kimber. they make a SVT 22 with a short barrel.
 
Clobbersauras,

I like your 200 yard frying pan gong. Just the ticket for .22 long range shooting. I bet you could hear every hit:D

Just make sure every shooter knows that this frying pan is YOUR target and does not belong to public domain. Otherwise, holes will appear, instead of dents.

As an aside, last week at the POCO (BC) range, some rude individuals with ARs took shots at a couple of animal silhouette swingers designed for 22. LR. Totally ruined the swingers. They shot diagonally cross range, as well. Unsafe shooters clueless about range etiquette.
 
So what happens if we remove the human aspect of a longer barrel being easier to shoot? Has anyone ever tried to put a 16 or 24 inch barreled 22LR in one of those fancy sighting-in jigs (Lead sled) and seen how they grouped?
 
What about judging for atmospheric conditions and mirage, returning rifle to same hold on target(recoil will move the rifle even in a lead sled). You still need the nut behind the bolt!
 
I read a old gun article awhile ago and a fellow cut half an inch off a .22 till he found the peak velocity. for that rifle it was 13.5 inches of barrel. tighter or looser tolerances along with rougher or smoother rifling cuts will change that i imagine. i always wanted to try it myself but hesitated to massacre even an old cooey.
 
easyrider604 said:
Clobbersauras,

I like your 200 yard frying pan gong. Just the ticket for .22 long range shooting. I bet you could hear every hit:D
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Yup, and every now and then you could see the bullet travel in it's arc to get there too:D

I ended up leaving the frying pan there that day and when I came back it was shot full of holes;)

No worries, you can pick up a good used gong...er pan...for a dollar or two at a yard sale.
 
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