22 match chamber vs 22lr

[jeff223]

i have always heard the match chamber is better for accuracy for the  22lr.i have never had a rifle or a pistol with the match chamber and i just wondered about this.

HOW MUCH BETTER IS THE MATCH CHAMBER compairing it to a standard long rifle chamber?

[dboutdoors]

I have a 21in SS contender 22 match that shoots 1 inch groups at 50yds. I have 1022s without match chambers that do much better. From what I understand match chambers are shorter. I suppose they prefer certain target ammo. I haven't tried anything special in it. If anyone has a good round please let me know.

[flyfisher]

There are several additional posts pertaining to that same question in the archives.  If you do a search, you should come up with some answers.  I asked that question myself several months ago.  Here's what I came up with:  

1)  the standard .22 LR barrel is just fine, but there seems to be a number of standard barrels that just will not shoot.  
2)  I have heard no one complain about the .22 LR with the Match chamber, they seem to all shoot very well with the proper ammunition (each barrel ceratinly likes different loads).  
3)  It may take several different loads/brands of .22 ammo to come up with ideal performance.

I have personally never shot a standard chamber .22 LR in a Contender.  I recently purchased a NIB 14" .22LR with the Match chamber.  Got a good deal on one, and decided not to take any chances with the standard chamber (based upon what I've been told).  Again, there is probably nothing wrong with a standard .22 barrel.  I do know this much-my brand new barrel (with El Cheapo Red Dot) will shoot an entire box of shells in a 2" by 2" square from 50yards and a solid rest.  That's more than MOS for me (minute of squirrel).

[Bullseye]

Many plain ole 22 lr shoot plenty good.  I have a 10" with a match chamber and bought a 14" with a standard chamber this summer.  My intent was to keep the one that shot the best since I do not really like the match chamber because the gun closes so hard and leaves brass shavings in the breech.

This was not a super thorough test because I only used Mini-Mags which shoot good in my 10" barrel.  The standard chamber shot almost as good as the match chamber.  The standard chamber did shoot a little bigger group, but not enough to matter for squirel hunting.  I sold the standard chamber, not because of accuracy but because that 14" barrel with a 22 cal hole in it was too heavy for my tastes.

This is just one test, but I hope it helps.  Like the other poster, I think the accuracy odds my be in your favor with a match chamber, but I would not bet on it.

[gdoerr]

Match chambers are slightly smaller in diameter than standard chambers and require match ammo to function well. standard ammo will be very tight and chamber with some difficulty. Match chambers are much more expensive to shoot as there are no cheep or even moderate priced ammos made this way.

[KYODE]

my 14" 22lr match contender chambers "cheap" ammo just fine........and shoots em great!
the closest i've come to "match ammo" is wolf match target. it is cheap priced in comparison to all out "match ammo"..........and shoot like a house afire :wink: