need advice on gun barrel

[Zep 0]

I have an old .22lr semi automatic with a 23.5inch barel that I want to shorten by 6 inches
I typically use RWS subs and a suppressor. I normally shoot at around 40-50 yards, sometimes out to 80-100yards

By reducing the length will I lose much accuracy/stopping power?

Gone fishing

[SkyChimp 0]

shorter barrel means less velocity and accuracy.

Does anyone else find it funny that we made a SPORT out of an EMERGENCY PROCEDURE?!?!

[Zep 0]

That I know, I was more wondering if anyone had experience of using a shortened barrel. (not actually the cutting of the barrel,
that I'll do in a lathe along with crowning and re threading for the suppressor)
My thoughts were more along the lines of I'll lose around a quarter of the twist and how will that play on
the accuracy/velocity also as it's a semi auto will it have problems recycling as that I use subs.

Gone fishing

[JohnRich 4]

If you ruin the accuracy and functionality of this rifle, are you going to cry over it's loss?
If so, don't do it.
If it's a rifle you don't care that much about, then go forth and experiment.

Why is a six-inch shorter barrel that important to you?

Also, that would make the barrel 17.5", and I think the BATF requires a minimum of 18" to be legal. Do you want to spend 10 years in prison over a .22 rifle? Or have your wife shot to death by ATF agents, like they did with Randy Weaver?

[AggieDave 6]

John, if he already has a can for it, I'm sure he's clear on how to properly SBR it with the ATF.

(At least I hope!)

--"When I die, may I be surrounded by scattered chrome and burning gasoline."

[ryoder 1,590]

Quote

Also, that would make the barrel 17.5", and I think the BATF requires a minimum of 18" to be legal. Do you want to spend 10 years in prison over a .22 rifle? Or have your wife shot to death by ATF agents, like they did with Randy Weaver?

I realize the BATFE is on a power trip, but I don't think they are trying to control what happens in Spain, (yet).

"There are only three things of value: younger women, faster airplanes, and bigger crocodiles" - Arthur Jones.

[Belgian_Draft 0]

Quote

I have an old .22lr semi automatic with a 23.5inch barel that I want to shorten by 6 inches
I typically use RWS subs and a suppressor. I normally shoot at around 40-50 yards, sometimes out to 80-100yards

By reducing the length will I lose much accuracy/stopping power?

I found out many moons ago that 16 inches is pretty close to the best length for velocity. Depending on the particular cartridge you may gain just a tad (not much, though) by going longer than 16, but in many cases velocity actually dropped off slightly. This is because there is so little powder to burn that it all is consumed very quickly, in the first few inches, and the gases just don't have enough energy to overcome the friction and continue to accelerate the bullet much past 16 inches of bore.
Contrary to "common knowledge", in a .22 a shorter barrel can be much more accurate. This is because most .22 barrels are pretty flimsy to begin with so shortening them really reduces the effects of vibration.
I say go ahead and cut it if it is legal and that is what you want. You will be pleased with the results. Just make sure to get a very good and precise crown. That will make or break the accuracy of the finished product.

HAMMER:
Originally employed as a weapon of war, the hammer nowadays is used as a
kind of divining rod to locate the most expensive parts adjacent the
object we are trying to hit.

[Zep 0]

John, Here 17.5" barrel is perfectly legal, Suppressors are legal. I would be a little upsett
if buy shortening the barrel ruined the gun, it's my favourite gun for shooting Mink and ferrets
being that it is so quiet I can knock down a mink and another before they realise that anything is amiss.

The total length of the rifle is 48" 8" of that being the suppressor, it's to long and badly balanced
for using in brush. I think that losing 6" off the barrel would lose the front heavyness and make it much eaiser to
hold steady whilst aiming. I know that in a perfect world I would have time to use a tripod and the little critters would stay still
to be shot at, but we don't live in a perfect world


Belgian_Draft. what you say does seem to make sence, I think what I'll do is wait till Spring
and the local gun fair, buy an old CZ or similar (50€) and experiment with that.

I concur with what you say a well crowned barrel makes all the difference,
I use a brass round headed screw in a drill with a little lapping paste.

Gone fishing

[DrewEckhardt 0]

Quote

Also, that would make the barrel 17.5", and I think the BATF requires a minimum of 18" to be legal. Do you want to spend 10 years in prison over a .22 rifle? Or have your wife shot to death by ATF agents, like they did with Randy Weaver?

It's 16" and an over-all length of at least 26".

[mnealtx 0]

Quote

Quote

Also, that would make the barrel 17.5", and I think the BATF requires a minimum of 18" to be legal. Do you want to spend 10 years in prison over a .22 rifle? Or have your wife shot to death by ATF agents, like they did with Randy Weaver?

It's 16" and an over-all length of at least 26".

Correct - for shotguns, it's 18" for the barrel and 26" overall.

Mike
I love you, Shannon and Jim.
POPS 9708 , SCR 14706

[LouDiamond 1]

What kind of gun is it that you want to do this to? A good example of a short barreled 22 that is still very accurate is the Ruger 10 22 Charger. Technically it's a pistol but you can get regular and charger 10 22 barrels that are already threaded for suppressors for a couple hundred bucks. Suppressed 22s are like shooting a pellet gun and a blast for plinking. Here is a purpose suppressed one.

"It's just skydiving..additional drama is not required"
Some people dream about flying, I live my dream
SKYMONKEY PUBLISHING

[Zep 0]

Its a French "Unique X51 bis" Unique armes did make a 17.5" barrel version of the X51 but they went out of
buisness years ago, and I've given up trying to find one on the second hand market.

The rifle has a neat little feature where you can turn a knurled screw and it will hold the breech open
after firing. not seen that on other semi autos

Gone fishing

[Ron 10]

You should not lose much if any accuracy at the range. I have a 10.5" AR that I can still hit out to 100y with.

Now.... Personally if this is a fun gun and you like it... I'd just buy another that is setup like you want. If the company is out of business, you might have a gun that could be collectible someday.

"No free man shall ever be debarred the use of arms." -- Thomas Jefferson, Thomas Jefferson Papers, 334

[1969912 0]

Could you post a pic of the suppressor on the barrel? Thanks.

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG

[Zep 0]

No problem

Gone fishing

[1969912 0]

Thanks. It's smaller in diameter that I'd have guessed, but I don't know much about them. Made one once out of an empty brake fluid can and glass wool

"Once we got to the point where twenty/something's needed a place on the corner that changed the oil in their cars we were doomed . . ."
-NickDG