What's With the Super Short 10/22 Barrels?

Hoytcanon, that all makes sense, but if that were completely true, you'd expect to see 14" barrels on ALL 50 to 100yd benchrest rifles? Longer range rifles (300-1000yds) would need the extra barrel length to wring all the velocity potential out of the cartridge and still remain as flat shooting as possible.
In reality, the PPC's that are winning the 100yd contest all seem to have longer, normal barrels. Even the benchrest 22lr winners (most Anchutz's from what I can tell in the photos) seem to have regular length barrels and not super short ones. If accuracy was the issue and the super short barrels are inherently more accurate, you'd expect to nothing but super short barrels in the winners column.

Except that there are many more factors at work in the accuracy department... not the least of which are stability and harmonics... IME longer barrels are far more "stable" and a case can certainly be made for the extended harmonics waves making it easier to tune a barrel for accuracy... this is far from a simple discussion... some factors contributing to accuracy are maximized in shorter barrels and other factors are maximized in longer barrels... it is largely a question of which factors are most predominant with a given set-up, in a given context with a given shooter... it's a bit of a crap shoot...

I will say that I have personally experienced no loss in accuracy to 100 meters with barrels as short as 10" as compared to my longer barrel rigs of 24-28"... so if handling (hunting/field use) is a factor, my question would be; "why not use an SBR?"
 
You dont think the longer rifleing would spin and help stablize the bullet more?
I dont see to many sbr sniper rifles. Please factor out noise and flash.
Hey I like sbr myself if you take out he noise factor. Im jist saying there os a balance between length and group size. However I totally agree that there are many factors that effert group size.
 
Here is a reference for barrel length vs velocity. I don't see an "optimum"; just progressively less velocity.
http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html

That is one test... there have been hundreds of tests... there is no "optimum" for a specific barrel... most test show fluctuating velocities when barrels are cut down in one inch increments... but "in general" most tests show maximum velocities around the 14" length, give or take... suggesting that powder burn is complete in the first 14" of barrel length, after which friction becomes a more dominant force... and these discussions must apply general principles, because there will always be data that can be referenced which seems to draw an opposite conclusion.
 
You dont think the longer rifleing would spin and help stablize the bullet more?

Every test that I have read on the subject shows that the length of time (barrel length) that a projectile is engraved in the rifling has no bearing on the "amount" of spin.
 
Most people I know with 10/22's shoot them between 50 and 100 yards so there's no need for a long barrel. SBR's are fun, plain and simple. They look badass, are a hoot to plink with and they're easy to carry in the bush.
SBR.JPG
 
ive got 10/22's in 8", 16" and 18" and ive shot 10" and i believe 12" and i can honestly say that for where i shoot (between 5-100) i see no difference in accuracy in the barrel length.

i also dont see difference in sound, but then i wear muffs when at the range and i wear plugs when shooting gophers.

if im benching shooting i like my longer barrel but if im gonna be out walking a field then i want my short one, much easier to carry and maneuver.
 
The longer the barrel generally speaking the longer the sight radius...the longer the sight radius the easier it is to stabilize the firearm with the sights on target.
Same thing as shooting a pistol vs a rifle in the same calibre, the longer barrel is inherently easier to point accurately, the added mass and length dampens the movement during aiming, the barrel jumps less when fired.

It looks from the charts like the velocity distribution is insignificant at anything longer than 8 inches.
 
that sounds about right.
i know when i compare targets between my 8" and my 18.5" there is no difference out to like 100.
havnt used the 8" out past 100 as it dosnt have the glass for it.
 
The longer the barrel generally speaking the longer the sight radius...the longer the sight radius the easier it is to stabilize the firearm with the sights on target.
Same thing as shooting a pistol vs a rifle in the same calibre, the longer barrel is inherently easier to point accurately, the added mass and length dampens the movement during aiming, the barrel jumps less when fired.

It looks from the charts like the velocity distribution is insignificant at anything longer than 8 inches.

Wrong... A rifle is easier to shoot over a handgun due to the multiple points of contact with the body, it has near zero to do with sight radius. Here's a quiz question for you. If sight radius is important, why are firearms, specifically rifles with reddots more accurate and faster to shoot than irons? I thought "sight radius" was important for accuracy and stability?? :rolleyes:

TDC
 
that sounds about right.
i know when i compare targets between my 8" and my 18.5" there is no difference out to like 100.
havnt used the 8" out past 100 as it dosnt have the glass for it.

And there shouldn't be any difference beyond either. If the velocity difference is negligible at the muzzle and out to 100, then it will remain so indefinitely.

TDC
 
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