.22LR Barrel Length

[Gwyn R]

I've shot a 12.5" barrel for quite a few years now (Lothar Walther blank the same as KID use) that's fitted with an SGC compensator and there is no difference at 50m between it and the KID 14" or 16" ones. I use SK standard or SK Rifle Match and I'm quite happy with the performance it delivers :-)

[Mattnall]

Considering the firing gasses in a general 22lr subsonic round;
They have fully expanded (in the sense that it still has enough energy to accelerate the bullet against friction of the bore) after approximately 14-15"* a barrel any longer will only drag at the bullet slowing it down.
Anything shorter than this length will allow some expanding gas to slip past the bullet as it exits the barrel thereby not fully accelerating that bullet, thus making it slower.

After taking these points into consideration you will then decide upon to increase or decrease the length depending upon other factors such as sight radius, balance, overall weight, etc.

*this length was determined from an experiment done by (IIRC) Guns and Ammo where a barrel was shortened in stages from 20" and the velocity peaked at about 14" and then dropped off.

[Sandgroper]

As previously posted - http://www.ballisticsbytheinch.com/22.html

[JS569]

Further to the 10/22 spring comments. I run a completely standard 10/22 (I've had from new and it's well used), I solely use winchester sub sonics and never have a problem with it cycling the round. Any jams are usually caused by failure to feed from the 25rd mag

[Dougan]

There is--it is to increase the sight radius and also because potential customers, like you, belive that a longer barrel is better.
Fred

I'm not a potential customer - I've had my 54 for 30 years, and have no intention of replacing it...

...also 'sight radius' is irrelevant to me as I'm using a 'scope for long range .22...

...I think Halodin had a point about barrel weight and harmonics - most are talking about optimum velocity, but does that equal accuracy...?

I challenge anyone to come to a long range .22 shoot with a 14" barrel and see how it compares to a 20" to 24" at 200/300 yards...