16" Barrel for a 22lr a bad idea?

[tacks]

I am looking at a T1x 22 and thinking of a 16" barrel. I do not plan to shot more than 100 yds and mostly 30-50 yds. Plan to buy a suppressor for it, the next up would be a 20" barrel. Bad idea?

 

[thinhorn_AK]

Not a bad idea at all. 2 of my 3 22s have 16" barrels and the one with a 20"" barrel is getting sent out to be cut.

 

[Chris in TN]

What would be bad about it? Barrel length has an almost negligible impact on velocity/trajectory with .22lr, especially with subsonics. The expansion ratio is so much smaller than bottlenecked centerfires that it's just not an issue.

Shorter makes suppression easier without being clumsy in the squirrel woods.

ETA: my squirrel guns are 16" and 17".

 

[Q_Sertorius]

Not a bad idea at all. A .22 LR gets almost full velocity out of a 16-18” barrel, on average. It’s especially nice with a suppressor on it.

 

[WyldGoose]

My 10/22 takedown has a Tacsol barrel that’s designed for suppressor use. The last 5 or 6 inches of “barrel” are just a shroud that the supressor sits inside so it’s technically a 16.5” barrel(not SBR). It’s just a way to use a can without adding the extra length to a 16” barrel. So really it’s like an 11” barrel or something. Shoots awesome.

 

[Billy Goat]

20" with a can is kinda PIA.

I'm mostly shooting 100-225ish, using 16", 970ish fps ammo.

I'd say the 20" is the bad idea.

 

[douglasfir]

I don't see a reason for a 22 barrel over 16". I wish it was the standard.

 

[khuber84]

A 22lr doesn't gain any speed past 16-18", so yes it's bout right.

 

[Chris in TN]

I don't see a reason for a 22 barrel over 16". I wish it was the standard.

I can think of two basic exceptions:

1) Open or peep-sighted rifles. I have an old 513T that I shoot for fun that has a really long sight radius. I also have an old 341-P that once in a blue moon goes squirrel hunting with me. I bought it because I had good memories of shooting an identical rifle that my grandpa owned when I was a kid, and I enjoy it immensely.

2) I have read, but can't confirm, that some people see more consistent results with .22lr at extremely long ranges, with longer barrels. I've seen different explanations offered for that. I've never tested them. I do have a 24" barreled CZ 457 that the kids and I shoot ELR with for fun as much as anything, from time to time, but I've never done any sort of testing with an eye towards confirming on demonstrating that. We just shoot it for fun. Suppressed subsonic .22lr form a 24" barrel is about as quiet as it gets. I sometimes wonder if my neighbors ever hear the faint ringing of steel with no associated gunfire and wonder what I'm doing.

But for my normal everyday .22s that I'd grab to go hunting (if I actually want to kill stuff) or to shoot a varmint in the chicken yard, I absolutely agree that shorter is better.

 

[glock24]

The only reason to get a 16" is because you can't get a 15"

 

[DoubleDown]

I am looking at a T1x 22 and thinking of a 16" barrel. I do not plan to shot more than 100 yds and mostly 30-50 yds. Plan to buy a suppressor for it, the next up would be a 20" barrel. Bad idea?

Get a 10/22 action with a TacSol SBX barrel it stays a legal 16” setup, with or without a suppressor, or you can use an integrally suppressed barrel.
If you want a bolt action, choose a TacSol Owyhee SBX or the TSS with an integral suppressor.

 

[tacks]

Thanks for the input. Just ordered a 16" Tikka.

 

[TradLife406]

This summer I was shooting rocks at 2-300 with my 16" 22.

 

[Caseknife]

The only benefit of a longer 22LR barrel is if shooting iron sights, it gives a longer sight radius.

 

[waspocrew]

16" is perfect in a 22 LR. My Bergara is 18" and is pretty handy, 16" would be even better.

 

[Shortschaf]

BBTI - Ballistics by the Inch :: .22 Results

(statement of intent)

ballisticsbytheinch.com

22lr achieves full velocity potential around 10"

A 6 inch barrel has 90% of the speed of an 18 inch

I will say shorter = louder though if unsuppressed

 

[huntsman22]

And I will say that shorter IS quieter if suppressed. Most barrels shorter than 4" are quieter since even most HV ammo is subsonic thru them.....

 

[Clinton]

And I will say that shorter IS quieter if suppressed. Most barrels shorter than 4" are quieter since even most HV ammo is subsonic thru them.....

I have some doubts about this. If the ammo is to be subsonic in either barrel, all the data I've seen thus far indicates the longer barrel will be quieter. The short barrels just have an advantage with the high velocity ammo, but a subsonic in a longer barrel will be the quietest configuration. Personal experience is a sample size of 3, but a 4.5" barrel is definitely louder than 16" (both suppressed).

 

[Shortschaf]

I have some doubts about this. If the ammo is to be subsonic in either barrel, all the data I've seen thus far indicates the longer barrel will be quieter. The short barrels just have an advantage with the high velocity ammo, but a subsonic in a longer barrel will be the quietest configuration. Personal experience is a sample size of 3, but a 4.5" barrel is definitely louder than 16" (both suppressed).

I guess when I shot subs from a suppressed 4" pistol I found it to be equally as inaudible as subs from a 16" suppressed rifle.

Hollywood mouse farts etc. you cant throw a baseball quieter.

Supers on the other hand, I have to imagine the longer the barrel the quieter it will be simply due to distance from the ear

 

[Coopsdaddy]

Wouldn’t have one any longer after having a 16.