Shortening A Rimfire Barrel

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Does anyone know how easy/ difficult and also how expensive it would roughly be to have a .22 rimfire barrel shortened to 16 inch and threaded?

 

Just got an old Brno but its like a barge pole by time I put my mod on it ha. And read that at the ranges you shoot with .22 rimfire the shortened barrel should not affect accuracy too much.

 

Advice more than welcome

[oxo 441]

Had mine done twice 12" and 14", cost around £60, i would think about maybe going shorter than 16" as its still quite long with the mod on and the extra length seves no purpose in a rimmie.

[riflehunter583 58]

mine was over 22 inch and gun shop cut it and threaded it to 18.5.

 

if anything its more accurate that it could ever have been before and velocity drop is maybe a few fps.

[zx10mike 137]

sometimes it improves accuracy and speed and 14" are produced by anschutz and weurauch that should say it all were are you? dave at valkyrie rifles in yorkshire will do a top job whilst you wait and watch.highly recomended

Edited August 11, 2013 by zx10mike

[bear-uk 17]

Mine cost £40 cash. Down from 22" to 16". Made it easier to handle. On a minus side my old ammo was useless so ended up trying other brands to find something to suit the shorter barrel.

[drakeshead gunner 26]

Thanks for replys lads, sounds like something ill be doing then.

[irishnut 297]

Does the rifle need reproofing when cut?

[paulus 26]

Does the rifle need reproofing when cut?

no mate not unless you want to add a hundred quid to the bill

[dadioles 68]

If you are going to use a moderator such as a SAK that screws onto the end, cut the barrel as short as possible, say 14 inches or whatever gives you an inch or so beyond the stock.

If you want an "over barrel" type moderator such as DM80 you can leave the barrel a bit longer and still achieve the same overall length.

Basically make it as short as you reasonably can, think in terms of 14 to 16 inches, no longer.

[paulus 26]

might be wrong here but the length of the barrel might be tied into the twist rate

[Deker 3,478]

might be wrong here but the length of the barrel might be tied into the twist rate

 

The vast majority of .22lr are 1-16 twist, on that basis many have suggested no less than a 16" barrel, that being one complete revolution, perhaps, but from the perspective of bullet stabilisation I have yet to see the science/physics.

 

I have a lot of respect for Anschutz, won a few competitions with their first guns into the UK many years ago, so, if they produce 14" barrels I guess they work. Just the same I have heard many comments about not less than 16".

 

There is also a lot of talk about .22lr having burnt all their powder in the first 12"-14", B******t, there are a LOT of different .22lr rounds and loads, that is way too big of a generalisation.

 

If you need a short barrel .22lr and it delivers what you want then fine, go for it, mine are around 20" and 19", they work and I'm easy, simple as.

 

Edited August 13, 2013 by Deker

[walshie 2,804]

There is no discernable difference between a 12" or a 24" barrel, so as long as the overall length of the gun is still legal, go for whatever length suits you.

[Deker 3,478]

There is no discernable difference between a 12" or a 24" barrel, so as long as the overall length of the gun is still legal, go for whatever length suits you.

 

That's somewhat like saying Ferrari, Bentley or Ford KA, there is no discernible difference in the time it takes me to get to work in the rush hour!

 

Try the Seven Bridge to London run at 03.00 in the morning and see the difference, how many target shooters do you know that use a 12" .22lr barrel?

Edited August 13, 2013 by Deker

[walshie 2,804]

 

There is no discernable difference between a 12" or a 24" barrel, so as long as the overall length of the gun is still legal, go for whatever length suits you.

 

That's somewhat like saying Ferrari, Bentley or Ford KA, there is no discernible difference in the time it takes me to get to work in the rush hour!

 

Try the Seven Bridge to London run at 03.00 in the morning and see the difference, how many target shooters do you know that use a 12" .22lr barrel?

 

 

I'm sorry. I didn't know the O.P was a target shooter. To avoid confusion, yes, 16" will be fine.

[riflehunter583 58]

Does the rifle need reproofing when cut?

 

reproofing: if you want to sell it, it does. if you want to keep it, it does not need it.

 

 

comment for the original thread maker, I would highly recommend 18.5 inchs. when the ammo is consistent (which is very rare) my 18.5 inch barrel will shoot a few out at 0.25 inch c2c at 120 yards. but its more like an inch usually. I firmly believe this is due to the rounds not the barrel on my 18.5 inch browning 52. forget the 14 inch dude its a little to short.