Best barrel length for .22 rifle?
I know that a .22 LR rifle bullet gains speed relative to the length of the barrel up to the point where maximum velocity is obtained. After that, more barrel length would slow the bullet due to friction. What would be the best barrel length for a high speed .22 LR in order to acheive the highest velocity?
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
"Let him step to the music he hears, however measured or far away." Thoreau
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it depends on the burning rate of the powder in the rounds used. 22 to 26" is about right. 0 -
Hello It has been found That with most standard 22 lr 18-19 inches give top Vel.after that the friction of the barrel does more to slow bullet down then the for the most part fully burned powder does to increase the vel. This said I don't think many test have been done on the specialty 22 Cartridges 60Gr. subsonic ETC. 0 -
Studies back up Perry's figures pretty closely and anything over 20 inches is strictly for looks and balance because the bullet is loosing velocity at that point due to friction inside the barrel.
"Nothing can ever be made 'idiot proof' because idiots are simply too clever"!
Mark T. Christian0 -
I read an article where the guy had started with a 30" barrel and cut it down by one inch increments to see where the velocity was highest. For him it was 16" , but I cannot remember the ammo he as using. 0 -
Yes 30 inches is the longest, for whatever reasons, that I have heard is the longest ever used in 22LR. I have one myself. It never occureed to me to chronograph it. I think I will the next time I go to chrono some loads, and compare it to other shorter barrels I have. 0 -
Winchester made a lot of .22 rimfires with a 24-inch barrel, but their Target rifles were made with 28-inch barrels (Model 52 and Model 75). The Model 1885 and Model 87 Winder Muskets were all manufactured with 28-inch barrels as well. The velocity loss due to the longer length is minimal, and it has no adverse effect on the accuracy. I have an original Winchester Model 1885 with a 30-inch No. 3 octagon barrel that is extremely accurate[^].
Bert H.
Real Men use a SINGLE-SHOT!0 -
I think it's an impossible question to answer.
First off not all 22 bores are the same size.
The lands and groves are all different.
And of course the ammo.
So when you find a round that burns and fills a 24" barrel with gas will it be the same if the bore is .001 larger or a micro groove?
Great question. Is there an answer?
NRA life member, instructor and coach.<BR>0 -
I think we are all guessing on the optimum barrel length for the 22LR.
A number of high velocity 22LR rounds came out since that old test.
It's time for someone to sacrifice a barrel and come up with new data.0 -
Most of the older target guns had long barrels so they would have longer sight Radius with Iron sights . but if you look at some newer Target rifles they counter bore the barrel and the rifleing only goes about 19 inches 0 -
quote:Originally posted by yekimak
I read an article where the guy had started with a 30" barrel and cut it down by one inch increments to see where the velocity was highest. For him it was 16" , but I cannot remember the ammo he as using.
Yep. I just read the article last week. It was either in "Gun Test" or "Precision Shooting", I can't remember which. 16" was the point where maximum velocity was generally achieved. Any shorter or longer and velocity would drop off. IIRC, he actually tried a few brands, and also experimented with .22 shorts and longs, which tended to achieve max velocity in slightly shorter barrels (around 12"-14"), although that would be illegally short in a rifle.0
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