.22 Barrel Question

Morning All -

Had a long discussion w/ another .22 shooter re barrels and looking for your opinions. Basically, the question is this - heavy barrel or light and long or short? Confused yet? A heavier barrel takes longer to heat up and a lighter barrel cools more quickly and with a shorter barrel you lose less projectile velocity coming outta the the end. I'm planning on buying a CZ 452 in the near future and your input on the above will weigh heavily in my decision as to which model I get. In the for what it's worth category, I'm leaning toward the shorter, heavier barrel.

As always, thanks for the input - you folks are a great resource -

I was studying the accuracy of my little Browning 22 Auto and stumbled across this article where they used a custom barrel with a Winchester 52D (D is different than A-C) chamber and got best group of .42 for 10 shots at 50 yards. I think the chamber matters more than how much steel is around it. YMMV

http://www.gundigest.com/gunsmithing-articles/research_ruger10-22

Thanks Phillip - I'll take a look at that article when I settle in tonight. Appreciate the response -

I would go with the heavier barrel. I believe it would be stiffer and heat up more slowly.

Thanks JP - I'm leaning that way - toward the shorter, heavier barrel - but seeking input from the MSGO brain trust -

Merry Christmas

The powder is burned after about 16-17 inches. After 18 inches you are not building pressure but slowing the bullet. I think Chamber has more impact than length. For me a short medium to heavy barrel is easier to control.

If it is to be carried a lot a heavy barrel gets old quick!

I certainly do not know what the "Correct" answer is; but, here are a couple thinks to add to the confusion. I have a Rem 40X, HR 12, and Win 52D all with longer barrels than the Kimber 82Gs -- Why would the Kimber have a shorter barrel? Many folk on here will tell you that the Kimber shoots VERY well .... also got a Rem 40X with a standard barrel. To me, it seems to shoot as well (sometimes) better than the heavy barrel Win 52D and HR 12 -- go figure????

I beliee that is something to be said (as stated by PhillipM) that the chamber may have much more to do with it .... ?????

The 52d chamber reamer is supposed to be a tight chamber and very accurate. I personally don't think length or diameter makes any difference; just need a good quality barrel (Kreiger) mounted to the action as straight and true as possible with a good tight chamber. Check out pacific tool gauges 22 rimfire reamers. There are a bunch of different ones. Me and bedazl are probably ordering the eley 5 reamer to chamber and rechamber a few barrels. Headspace is also a huge factore in rimfire accuracy. Our new barrels will have the minumun .040 are what ever the depth of the recess in bolt is.
1- barrel quality
2- straightness of barrel installation
3- perfectly centered chamber and throat lead
4- absolute minuium headspace
5- as tight of chamber as possibe (to hold shell in center)
6- perfect crown since this is the last thing that touches the bullet before it enters the world
7- action neeeds to be stress free (good bedding) and barrel free floated
Then of course quality ammo and the guy driving needs to know how to read the wind and this comes with trigger time pratice -pratice -pratice in the conditions the match is usually shot in (wind) just my 2 cents

mstrophyhunter -- some goooooood info there .....

+1000. ^^^^^^^^^^^

I like the heavy barrel because as mentioned before it seems to be more rigid and also for shooting off of a bench for either target shooting or sighting in purposes it gives the gun a little more weight to stop it from shifting as much with recoil which I know isn't that big of a deal with a 22 but the way I see it every little bit helps.

Great stuff - thanks for all the info and opinions