Thread: .22lr how short to chop

I’ve recently acquired an old bolt action .22, with the idea to make it stumpy. It is already very light, so Wright isn’t an issue, but debating how much to prune the rather long barrel.

What have you chopped yours to and how do you find it? I’m toying with around 14”...

you only need 8-10" to get a 22lr to full velocity, but if the OAL is under 30" expect Mr plod to start asking questions

I have a 12" and an 18" barrel for a 10/22 And interesting that over a chrono it's faster with the shorter barrel

Originally Posted by gonetropo

, but if the OAL is under 30" expect Mr plod to start asking questions

I worked out my mod 2 would end up at 829mm long (32.7") if I lopped the barrel to 14", so could chop to as short as 12" and still be legal

As short as legal

I think my Savage is 12”


https://youtu.be/TJDZXClJIJ0

I've heard that a long .22lr barrel can reduce MV slightly, as the powder has given up pushing the bullet long before it leaves the muzzle, so it's just worthless friction. I ran a 12.5" barrel on my 10/22 for years, I haven't attempted to quantify the above theory though.

PM mudgripts ( ? Spelling ) he’s to go to guy on this stuff. @mudgripz

My .22lr AR has a 14.5" barrel.

OAL is 766mm with the carbine stock retracted to the muzzle/rifling.

I trimmed a .22 Toz barrel back an inch at a time once and found max velocity to be at 16".

Originally Posted by outlander

I trimmed a .22 Toz barrel back an inch at a time once and found max velocity to be at 16".

I was always under the impression form years ago that a 16" barrel was optimum length and anymore slowed them down and only good for a longer sight radius for open sights for back in the day.
I would imagine 14" wouldn't hurt it too much as long as legal length.

My 10/22 has been cut done to just over legal length and threaded, still groups the same as the full length

Legal would be around 10” on this. Think I’ll stick to 12, should still be pretty handy.

Originally Posted by 7x64

Legal would be around 10” on this. Think I’ll stick to 12, should still be pretty handy.

Could be a bit loud that short, still quiet compared to big magnums but it does increase

If your shooting sub's then 12-14" is ideal for max velocity, I've got a little springfield 1903 cut to minimum lenght. Great for possum control though the odd sub makes supersonic at times.

Got my CZ452 cut to 15inches and rethreaded. DPT did a good job

I'm tempted to get an over-barrel suppressor, but seems a bit OTT when what I have works so well.