As indicated in title what is your opinion on optimal 22LR barrel length and why. Primarily for competition shooting and/or ELR 22 shooting.
Opinion on optimal 22LR barrel length
- Thread starter Tree
- Start date
I've noted velocity increases of around 20fps with 18-20" barrels over the 16" (partially dependent on ammo used), but barrels longer than 20" start to drop velocity again. Based on that, I would not go for anything shorter than the 18-20", and would probably shy away from anything longer than 22". You might do alright with a 16" if you stick with pistol specific ammo, but to me that unacceptably limits available ammo selection.
I've noticed velocity increases like that too and have and have documentation that supports that.
I'd say that the choice really depends on how one is going to use a particular gun as well as the ammo and the expectations for the ammo. With match barrels, there's a tendency to them to produce much higher MV"s than what's listed on the box given the a barrel length of say 18". So, if one feels a need to keep MV's subsonic or at the lower more optimum velocity, then going with a shorter barrel . . . OR, a longer barrel would help in getting the intended velocities with certain ammo. Choosing a shorter barrel over a longer barrel to achieve this would be a better choice as the shorter barrel would stiffer, which seems to me would provide more precision shooting. This is why I voted for the 16.5" barrel length.
I'm no expert, but that's how I see it.
Over in Europe Anschutz sells a .22lr 14" threaded barrel bolt action for use with a sound moderator, intended for the squirrel hunter crowd.
I use several 16.5" barrels now, but have a few 18, 20, 23 and 26" as well. I now only use the longer barrels for bench rest, they are just too cumbersome compared to the shorter barreled rifles. In my testing I've not experienced any accuracy advantage using a longer barrel. I've got 16.5, 18 and 20" barrels I swap out on my KIDD supergrades, the only reason I'll run the 20" is for class rules requiring a tapered barrel and the only tapered SG barrel KIDD makes is 20". I'll take a shorter barrel now every time if I have the option, for weight savings and ease of maneuverability.
theory is that powder burn and propellant gas push are pretty much done at around 13-15" of barrel for most .22LR. I don't really see any significant chrono differences between 16.5-18", but do see velocity drop off in the 20+" barrels compared to the 16/18", especially in the 23 and 26" barrels (the longer barrels are also quieter). I chrono every shot I take in benchrest/testing sessions and use standard velocity 22 ammo for the most part. This is somewhat explained with testing here, so you can draw your own conclusions : http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
I use several 16.5" barrels now, but have a few 18, 20, 23 and 26" as well. I now only use the longer barrels for bench rest, they are just too cumbersome compared to the shorter barreled rifles. In my testing I've not experienced any accuracy advantage using a longer barrel. I've got 16.5, 18 and 20" barrels I swap out on my KIDD supergrades, the only reason I'll run the 20" is for class rules requiring a tapered barrel and the only tapered SG barrel KIDD makes is 20". I'll take a shorter barrel now every time if I have the option, for weight savings and ease of maneuverability.
theory is that powder burn and propellant gas push are pretty much done at around 13-15" of barrel for most .22LR. I don't really see any significant chrono differences between 16.5-18", but do see velocity drop off in the 20+" barrels compared to the 16/18", especially in the 23 and 26" barrels (the longer barrels are also quieter). I chrono every shot I take in benchrest/testing sessions and use standard velocity 22 ammo for the most part. This is somewhat explained with testing here, so you can draw your own conclusions : http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
If your goal is pure accuracy your gunsmith will slug the barrel blank and crown the barrel at its tightest location which will determine the barrels length.
This method is for world class accuracy like you would get from Calfee or Gorhman.
You can go to the Anschutz,Feinwerkbau,Grunig&Elmer or Bleiker websites and see what they are using to win international and Olympic matches.
This method is for world class accuracy like you would get from Calfee or Gorhman.
You can go to the Anschutz,Feinwerkbau,Grunig&Elmer or Bleiker websites and see what they are using to win international and Olympic matches.
Last edited:
There was a study done that was pretty extensive. The optimum barrel length, that provided the least amount of velocity spread was 18 inches. He took the same barrels with the same crowns and started off at 24 inches. He fired lots of rounds and documented it. From there he used the same barrel and cut it down. His information provides that 18 inches produced the least SD.
What I have found is there is no Optimum length. There is an optimum round though. You just have to find it.
What I have found is there is no Optimum length. There is an optimum round though. You just have to find it.
Everything I’ve read and all the graphs of velocity vs length show that over 20 you start losing velocity. The only reason to go longer than that is if you want to quiet it up without a silencer. If you want to go on the short side for a compact truck gun or takedown 16 appears to be the magic # as you don’t loose much peak velocity.
velocity wise, iirc its 20" for subsonic and 18" for HV. if 16.5" actually provided the best accuracy, then all the benchrest people wouldn't be using 24" barrels. as you go longer than 18-20" the bullet speed drops but so does SD. idk where the 16.5" factoid even comes from because most velocity tests with 22lr have the speeds the highest at 18-20".
most of the rounds testing on ballisticsbytheinch increase in velocity from 16" to 18". there was another thread on accuratereloading that went up to ~25" and the highest velocities are around 19"+/-. of course, MV doesn't equate to accuracy, but a higher MV usually is one of the factors. the idea is that you want the highest muzzle velocity while either staying completely subsonic or supersonic throughout the bullets entire path, you dont want the bullet's velocity decrease from above the speed of sound to below the speed of sound anywhere along its flight path because the transition has drastic effects on the aerodynamics of the round and decreases accuracy. that being said, MV is only one of the factors, and usually pales in comparison to proper ranging, wind adjustment, and other stuff like that. same with the distribution of MV.
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8711043/m/9871088921
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8711043/m/4871072832
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
https://sites.google.com/site/thelongrangerimfireclub/home/longrange-rimfire-ballistics
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/06/09/how-much-does-it-matter-overall-summary/
these 22lr MV sources arent as well designed as id like, but theyll have to do because its all i can find. either way, IMO 16.5" isnt the optimal barrel length for 22lr for accuracy. id go 18-20".
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8711043/m/9871088921
http://forums.accuratereloading.com/eve/forums/a/tpc/f/8711043/m/4871072832
http://ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html
https://sites.google.com/site/thelongrangerimfireclub/home/longrange-rimfire-ballistics
https://precisionrifleblog.com/2015/06/09/how-much-does-it-matter-overall-summary/
these 22lr MV sources arent as well designed as id like, but theyll have to do because its all i can find. either way, IMO 16.5" isnt the optimal barrel length for 22lr for accuracy. id go 18-20".
Last edited:
above the speed of sound to below the speed of sound anywhere along its flight path
because the transition has drastic effects on the aerodynamics of the round and decreases accuracy.
Interesting...I'm not seeing those drastic effects on 22lr at 200 yards.
I've been sending 50 shots at 200 yards for a while now and that was my biggest surprise.
Where the heck was this supposed loss of accuracy caused by the supersonic transition?
Additional research links all the claims for the supposed loss of accuracy to a study done on a SMK BTHP.
A long, slender, needle-nosed, tail heavy projectile....not a short stubby round nose bullet.
Results on target and across a chronograph show minimal loss of accuracy due to the transition.
Most problems are a result of downrange turbulence, cartridge defects and wind drift.
If anyone can provide a link to a study done on the 22lr and the transition, I'd like to read it.
As it is, all the referenced links go back to the SMK BTHP.
because the transition has drastic effects on the aerodynamics of the round and decreases accuracy.
Interesting...I'm not seeing those drastic effects on 22lr at 200 yards.
I've been sending 50 shots at 200 yards for a while now and that was my biggest surprise.
Where the heck was this supposed loss of accuracy caused by the supersonic transition?
Additional research links all the claims for the supposed loss of accuracy to a study done on a SMK BTHP.
A long, slender, needle-nosed, tail heavy projectile....not a short stubby round nose bullet.
Results on target and across a chronograph show minimal loss of accuracy due to the transition.
Most problems are a result of downrange turbulence, cartridge defects and wind drift.
If anyone can provide a link to a study done on the 22lr and the transition, I'd like to read it.
As it is, all the referenced links go back to the SMK BTHP.
Last edited:
We shoot 10 shot groups at 200 yards for 50 shots
Most of the better groups are around 3 inches and nobody uses any ammo over 1090 FPS.
These are not nrl22 matches.
None of the guns I see on the line have short barrels.
I am going to checkout my first nrl22 match in about a month to see what equipment they are using
Most of the better groups are around 3 inches and nobody uses any ammo over 1090 FPS.
These are not nrl22 matches.
None of the guns I see on the line have short barrels.
I am going to checkout my first nrl22 match in about a month to see what equipment they are using
I too would like to see a detailed technical report with regards to this issue over 22 LR stability.
I'd guess the issues are the same when comparing any flat base bullets with boat tail bullets. Flat base bullets aren't used in long range shooting as they just don't stay stable the further out they go. So, it seems to me that whether one is looking at a little 40 gr bullet or a 180 gr bullet, they both subject to the same laws of aerodynamics . . .???
Interestingly to me along this line, I was shooting some CCI Select yesterday for the first time to see how they'd do in my RPRR with a Shaw SS match barrel. The published MV is 1200 fps and I averaged 1265 fps with a high of 1295 fps. ES's were not good being at 51 and 87 and the SD was at 23. But . . . I was really surprised by what I was seeing on paper as I was getting 10 ground groups at 3/4" at 50 yds. I really didn't think they'd do all that well as GreenTag hasn't done well for me. Usually, when I get numbers like that, the groups follow suit and are not all that great. Next time I go out, I'm going to have to shoot a few more groups from this box of ammo and if weather conditions are good, I'll try to see what happens ad 100 yds.
The only study I've found with the 22lr trajectories comparing subsonic to supersonic
came to a conclusion that the hi-v 22lr was suceptible to increased wind drift.
No documentation of transition caused instability.
That's a far different thing than what the SMK results showed.
No documentation of loss of accuracy with the 22lr.
My 50 shot groups show similar spread when the ES match,
as long as the ammo quality is similar.
I don't expect canted bullets or asymmetric bullets
to produce consistent trajectories.
came to a conclusion that the hi-v 22lr was suceptible to increased wind drift.
No documentation of transition caused instability.
That's a far different thing than what the SMK results showed.
No documentation of loss of accuracy with the 22lr.
My 50 shot groups show similar spread when the ES match,
as long as the ammo quality is similar.
I don't expect canted bullets or asymmetric bullets
to produce consistent trajectories.
Neither do I. Though I think it just might depend on the particular firearm.
A couple years back I was curious about this, so I went through a box of Federal Auto Match and segregated the cartridges into 3 groups (bullets that were "tight", "loose" and "very loose"). The very loose ones would easily cant and I expected them to be the worst of the lot. I fired them through my basic 10/22, chronoing them and measuring the groups. In this particular case, I found no identifiable differences between those groups of cartridges. I'm guessing that any cant the "very loose" ones had were being aligned when seated in the chamber . . ." I was getting numbers and groups with all of it like I normally get with the Federal Auto Match ammo. Go figure! ???
Similar threads
