22 mag rifle barrel length?

[handi270]

My son gave me an old Western Field model M822, 22 mag. Bolt action, 5 shot clip. It is a good shooter.

The gun has a 24 inch barrel and is about 441/2 inches overall.

The older I get the less I like carrying long guns.

My question is, would it appreciably change velocity or accuracy to take 4 to 6 inches off the barrel of a 22 mag?

[Totenkopf]

Noise will increase quite a bit. Velocity loss will be within 20 fps slower or faster than what it is doing now . My 14" is about 60 fps slower than 23". Just for reference a 22lr's optimal length for high velocity( not hyper like stinger etc) is 16-17" after that velocity comes back down because of resistance.
 On the 22 mag it maxes out at about 18-19" in velocity(not maxi mag etc). I will try to dig up bullberry data in the 17 hmr which can give you a reference. Anyways the shorter lengths you are considering will be very similar to what you have now in velocity, just a tad higher.
 On accuracy if you have it recrowned it will be just as good or better. That model has a bad trigger. If adjusted you may see improvement as well in accuracy.
Personally I like a longer barrel to keep the noise down a bit.

[Keith L]

To stay on the proper side of Federal law you need at least 16 inches to make a legal rifle barrel.  Shorter than that you have a "short barreled rifle" that can get you in lots of trouble.  14 inch is pistol country.

[Totenkopf]

  Sorry used to posting on rimfire central. 10, 12 and 14 are always contender pistol. 23 is always CZ. 

[Keith L]

I figured you were talking about a Contender pistol, I have one in .22 mag as well.   I didn't want Handi270 winding up in the crowbar hotel.

[handi270]

Thanks for the comments, if I cut 6 inches off a 24 inch barrel, it will still be 18 inches.

I guess if it shoots good out of the shorter contender barrels, it would be fine at 18 inches.

noel

[mag-check]

T think 20" is best.

[torpedoman]

you have a mossberg 640 k made for wards very accurate but the trigger is horrible you would be better off selling or trading it to a mossberg collector and getting a gun with a more user friendly trigger. if you do cut it down pm me for a trigger fix you can do.

[handi270]

Thanks for the replies. I'll let you know what I decide.

noel

[mag-check]

Ive chronoed 22 magnums from 18- 1/2 to 24" barrels and don't see any velocity loss! And for your info CCI use a 18" test barrel and Winchester use a 24" test barrel so there you go. It might be a little more accurate for you.

[handi270]

Thanks mag-check.
I have 3 boxes of CCI and a box of pmc, will compare them.
Haven't done anything to the barrel yet, so I will shoot some in 24 inch and if i decide to shorten it, then shoot to compare.
noel

[toysoldier]

American Rifleman ran velocity tests on .22 barrel length, and found that .22 LR high-velocity rounds maxed out at 16" to 18", with longer barels showing lower velocity. The exception was some hyper-velocity rounds, with CCI Stingers showing a slight increase out to 24". I would expect the higher-capacity .22 magnum to benefit from a barrel longer than 18", but haven't seen any articles about it. If you decide to shorten yours, get chronograph readings before and after, and let us know the results.

[Totenkopf]

Found that link to bullberry.
 http://www.bullberry.com/HMRdata.html

[mag-check]

Ive chronoed winchester, remington, rugers, marlins all different barrels from 18-1/2 to my ruger vmbz with 24" barrel and they all shoot about the same. The +vs out of the 24" ruger and my 20" ruger shoot them at 2,300fps shot them out of my sons marlin same velocitys I think it depends on the rifle you might see 50fps.differences but nothing that really matters. Always shoot at 10ft. from screens one thing I did notice is temp makes a big difference and elevation.