You are using an out of date browser. It may not display this or other websites correctly.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
You should upgrade or use an alternative browser.
"Ideal" barrel length for a .22-250
- Thread starter marchboom
- Start date
P
paul75167
Guest
bbl length
To me, 24" is about right. Gives good velocity and short enough not to drag in the dirt when you carry the rifle by the pistol grip.
The Old Guy
To me, 24" is about right. Gives good velocity and short enough not to drag in the dirt when you carry the rifle by the pistol grip.
The Old Guy
J
J. Pendergraft
Guest
Most gun makers use a 26" barrel length for their .22-250, some use 24". But what is the ideal barrel length? Has anyone done any experimentation to see if a 28" or 30" barrel would be a better choice to obtain higher bullet velocity?
Thanks,
John
John,
There would not be a ideal length for all .22-250 rifle barrels. For example if you are setting up to shoot light bullets and have a slow twist barrel then this leads to using faster burning powders than if you are setting up to shoot heavy bullets in a fast twist barrel. Slower powders require longer barrels to get the most velocity from the powder burn. Also if the gun will be used in the field then most people do not want an extra long barrel for handling reasons.
E
ewspears
Guest
I agree with what has already been posted and will add a data point for you.
My 40X 27.25" barrel will shoot the same full throttle 52gr bullet load 100FPS faster than my buddies M700 Varmint with 26" bbl. This is with a relatively slow powder (N150)
I'd say if it's to be a carry rifle make it 24" and if a bench rifle 27-28"
My 40X 27.25" barrel will shoot the same full throttle 52gr bullet load 100FPS faster than my buddies M700 Varmint with 26" bbl. This is with a relatively slow powder (N150)
I'd say if it's to be a carry rifle make it 24" and if a bench rifle 27-28"
Lots of people. I believe somebody even tested a .308 Winchester & found velocity would keep increasing all the way up to a 40 inch long barrel. Put it this way, as long as the gas pressure behind the bullet is higher than the drag caused by bore friction (which isn't much), velocity will keep increasing -- though not by much.But what is the ideal barrel length? Has anyone done any experimentation to see if a 28" or 30" barrel would be a better choice to obtain higher bullet velocity?
But everything is a compromise. If your notion of "ideal" includes any sort of balance in the rifle, that too will be a factor. As will barrel droop & some shot dispersion when you get too long & heat builds up (as happened to Bill Shehane with a 40+ inch barrel & real big .338 chambering). Less heat with a .22/250, though . . .
1,000 yard competitors routinely use 30 inch barrels, occasionally 32, and Charles Bailey used at least a 36-inch barrel supported inside a 3" schedule 40 pipe. Just what the increase per inch is can be hard to predict, but typically you get around 25 fps per inch as you hit the 30-inch long mark. Less with the small ones like a 6mmBR, more with the ones that burn 70+ grains of powder.
Now about that balance issue . . .