22 LR barrel

[358jdj]

I am thinking about buying a Super 14 barrel for my Contender in .22 Long Rifle.  What are the pros and cons to either the regular barrel or the match barrel?  Is the "match" barrel more accurate?

[tlyne]

The Contender 22 LR barrel have been discontinued, Only 22 LR Match is made now. The Match barrels Chambers are sized to Match Spec.. Sometimes cheap ammo may be hard to chamber in a match barrel. If you want an 22LR you will have to find an used 22LR barrel. I think that a Match barrel is more accurate.

[Keith L]

I have one of each, and can't really tell the difference.  Both are better in my son's hands than in mine and both work well.

[mcwoodduck]

Match is a Madison Ave term.  It really doesn't mean anything.  There is not a Spec for match shooting X ammo so tight over the standard.  It is not as if they chamber barrels and shoot them taking the top 10 to 20% and call them match.  Other wise there would be an ammo selection with it.  Such as these barrels are going to shoot 1/4 minute or less from X rest with X brand of ammo with X grain and design of bullet.  If they were true match barrels there would also be options for barrel twist depending on bullet weight, design, and speed.   
The chamber for .22LR is the chamber for .22LR.  There is not a .22 Match chamber. 
Usually the match, like Target in the 50's - 80's,  refers to an upgrade in the sights or a heavy bull barrel.  But it's an upgrade from the standard.  The Match can still be crap but the standard are crappier.  Believe it or not I have a match AK and it is not any better than a standard one other than it has a 23" barrel rather than the standard 18. 
Everything T/C makes is good to great so if you want one get one.  You will just have to play with ammo to find the one it likes the best.

[Keith L]

"The chamber for .22LR is the chamber for .22LR.  There is not a .22 Match chamber. "

I can't agree with that.  My match barrel engraves the nose of the bullet when I close the chamber.  The regular barrel does not.  My guess is that with match ammo and in the right hands a difference would be noticeable.  When I plink with them or hunt with them i can't.

Depending on what you do with them, and how good a shot you are, I don't think you will regret either choice.

[SD Handgunner]

In actuality there are 4 different and distinct .22 LR Chambers:

#1 being the STANDARD SAAMI Spec .22 LR Chamber
#2 being a TRUE .22 LR MATCH Chamber that is held to tighter tolerances than the Standard Chamber
#3 being the BENTZ Match Chamber that was designed to be dimensionally between the STANDARD SAAMI Spec Chamber and a Match Chamber to be used in Semi Auto Rifles and Handguns.
#4 is the Winchester 52 Match Chamber that has the tightest tolerances and dimensions of the 4.

 .22LR Chamber Dimensions         


Chamber Type
Sporting (Standard) Chamber   .7751"Length .2307"Diameter .2270"Throat Diameter
Bentz Semi Auto Match Chamber   .6900"Length .2270"Diameter .2255"Throat Diameter
Match Chamber                   .6876"Length .2267"Diameter .2248"Throat Diameter
Win. 52-D Match Chamber   .5800"Length .2278"Diameter .2248"Throat Diameter

The BENTZ Chamber is a Match Chamber for Semi Auto's.
The MATCH Chamber is for Bolt Actions
The Win. 52-D Chamber is Winchester exclusive design for their 52 Match Rifles

I'd have to do a little digging to find it (found it), but I do have the actual dimensions for these 4 chambers somewhere, and yes there is indeed differences in all of them in regards to dimensions (and not just the rifling throat dimensions either.

I have had 3 different 14" .22 LR Match T/C Contender Barrels over the years, and they too were not all created equal. The first was a Blued Barrel that that chamber was so TIGHT that I literally had to use a knife blade at times to remove certain fired cases once the extractor lifted them out of the chamber. The second was a Stainless-Steel Version, while not quite as accurate as the Blued one, I never had to use a knife blade to remove a fired case. The one I currently have is also stainless-Steel. The chamber on this one seems to be dimensionally between the first two I had, and in regards to accuracy also.

I have also had a 14" On Target Technology .22 LR Match Barrel. The Chamber on that barrel seems to be about the same size as the Stainless-Steel Factory Match Barrel I currently have.

Larry

[irold]

I'm certainly no expert , all I know is my 14" 22LR barrel with American Eagle ammo will cut one hole at 25 yards.....50 it opens to half inch groups....at 100 yards, theyre scattered about 1.5 to 2 inch....I'm happy with that.

[Javelina]

22 Match is a Madison Avenue term?     Not hardly. . .I hate to see someone who doesn't know put out bad and/or wrong information like this.  NewB and even experienced reloaders should take note here that you really need to be sure of your sources for shooting and reloading information, there is a considerable quantity of misinformation going on out there and you need to double, triple and quadruple check your information with expert sources and published reloading information that has been carefully and scientifically developed in order to keep yourself and those around you safe.  Don't be misled by bad info, when in doubt CHECK WITH SEVERAL SOURCES to get the RIGHT information!

Reed and heed guys, SDHandgunner has it 100% right and he's laid it all out for you correctly!

Good job, SDHandgunner!

Safe and good shooting to you!

Javelina