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What's the optimum barrel length to achieve...

Permanently deleted user
maximum velocity for most standard .22 LR ammo? I've been looking at a 22 made by Tactical Innovations but I think they only offer it in a 16.5" barrel. Is this long enough for the .22 LR to reach is maximum potential? Thanks!
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4 comments

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  • iwannausername
    It is just after 16 inches, so the 16.5" barrel should do "it all" for you.
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  • mark christian
    Generally 15 to 16 inches. Beyond 16 inches .22LR barrel length mostly becomes an issue of balance, sight radius, over all appearance, and in some areas of the world; legality.
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  • beantownshootah
    quote:Originally posted by ECC
    maximum velocity for most standard .22 LR ammo? I've been looking at a 22 made by Tactical Innovations but I think they only offer it in a 16.5" barrel. Is this long enough for the .22 LR to reach is maximum potential? Thanks!

    "Ordinary" high velocity 40 grain .22LRs get about 1250fps from a rifle, and the velocity tops out at about 16".

    So considering that 16" is the legal minimum in most jurisdictions, 16.5" is a good way to go to get maximum velocity, minimum weight, best handling, and best accuracy (least barrel dwell time and stiffest barrel) from a RIFLE.

    Potential advantages to going longer than that are that you get a somewhat quieter shot (especially with subsonic ammo), and longer sight radius with iron sights.

    On max velocity, as far as I know the CCI "Velocitor" is the fastest .22LR using a standard 40 grain bullet, and it can yields about 1430fps from a rifle.

    Note that these sorts of specialty hypervelocity loads (including "Stingers") *WILL* do a little better from longer barrels than "ordinary" .22s.

    So if your goal is to squeeze every last drop of energy out of a .22LR that you can, you might actually want to go to a 20" bbl.
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  • tsr1965
    Hi Eric,

    Hope all is well out there with you. Its been a while.

    To answer your question, the 16 inch barrel will resolve anything the standard velocit ammo has to offer, but because of some slower burning powder's and lighter bullets in the hyper velocity ammo, a 20-24 inch barrel might be needed to get every last drop from them.

    Best
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