Give it the chop?

A question that comes up regularly - should I cut and thread my 22 RF. My answer is without exception always " if it's a rifle I use a lot and enjoy shooting, go for it".

The latest victim had been in my safe for a while, the 2nd or 3rd example I've owned over the years, and that's not counting its flasher cousin, the 541's, there have been two of them.

This one shot extremely well, better than previous examples and both the 541's. I did replace the trigger with a Timney to help it reach its potential (but don't let anyone tell you you can't shoot very small groups with a horrid trigger, it just taken more shooter concentration if the rifle is up to it i.e. the trigger was only replaced cause the rifles accuracy deserved it.)

After I sold a really smashing little CZ457 ( someone on here got it) there wasn't a really light, suppressed 22 in the cabinet - there is a Krico that shoots well but it has a caveat on it to the previous owner eh @Waynesworld haha.

So the fairly common but seldom encountered Remmy model 581 got sent off to be chopped to 18" and threaded.

And it came back today, windy and gusty at that but I couldn't wait - on with scope and straight to the 50 Y bench . . . Here are the results, which encompass a little secret of 22s - a decent one will exactly reflect the quality of the ammo you feed it, cheap ammos bottom row (Eley Club) , decent in the middle (RWS Match) and good quality on top (Eley Team and Match)

Attachment 258488

If you have an unaltered Remmy of similar 40-50 year old vintage I've just done ya a favour and made yours a tiny bit more valuable! But it's even odds who will enjoy theirs more, my nearly everyday shooter (suppressor is essential in this neighborhood) or your safe queen!

I like short barrel rifles. All of mine are chopped or factory short. Got my CZ452 .22LR taken down to 15". I'm sure the accuracy improved after the chop. Wish I'd gone shorter now.

I've tried as short as 14" but 18 just feels better or right to me.

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Originally Posted by MB

I like short barrel rifles. All of mine are chopped or factory short. Got my CZ452 .22LR taken down to 15". I'm sure the accuracy improved after the chop. Wish I'd gone shorter now.

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You still can. You just can't go longer.:)

I consider a shortened and threaded .22 rimfire a necessity for a hunting rifle.

I have thirteen .22 rifles and only four are not shortened and threaded - a BRNO Model 1 and Model 4, a Krico 330s (single-shot target rifle) and a Browning SA22 semi.

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Originally Posted by Shearer

You still can. You just can't go longer.:)

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Effort and cost for another inch! Plus, it shoots very nicely. I don't want to fix what ain't broke.

Yep, chop chop

Results. This is the Captain America Challenge from Dayattherange youtube channel. Elijah is a great guy and produces some real good fun videos

It's been very windy and I have struggled to produce scores I was real happy with using my "mainstay" rifles, lots of 75s to 79s . . . No 80s! The target took a while to get right, but the bulls on this one measure exactly 0.305.

But this morning we had a little less wind and I had been eyeing up the "sportsman" class, I have had a couple of Remington 541's and a like number of 581's . . . But this latest 581 is a hummer!

So here are the results with the Remington 581, Clearidge scope set to 9x, Eley Match ammo, improvised rest at 50 yards.

Attachment 258556

Attachment 258557

Cheers

I had a semi I got given with a pretty rusted bore down the muzzle end. I was able to chop it back and still keep it legal but and I knew this it now has cycleing problems due to barrel length. Its a good shooter but need to have a play with the springs in it to get it to run properly.

Should be have

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Originally Posted by Tentman

I've tried as short as 14" but 18 just feels better or right to me.

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I've got a 11 or 12" CZ455 (it's 5mm over legal length) it's mint with a DPT muzzle forward pretty much permanently in place. The thing I noted was pre chop CCi Subsonic HPs did 1020fps and afterwards they were going 1100fps often enough they broke the sound barrier. So getting shorter can definitely add speed. I now run the CCI suppressor 45 HPs and they are subsonic and shoot great. I often use it on magpies in the paddock out to about 150yards with great success. I don't think I'd go longer in anything that wasn't wood blued.

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Originally Posted by Stocky

I've got a 11 or 12" CZ455 (it's 5mm over legal length) it's mint with a DPT muzzle forward pretty much permanently in place. I don't think I'd go longer in anything that wasn't wood blued.

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@Stocky not sure what you are saying here.
Do you mean for a synthetic stocked .22 you would go 11 or 12 inches, however for a blued wooden stocked .22 you would go for a longer barrel?

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Originally Posted by Hermitage

@Stocky not sure what you are saying here.
Do you mean for a synthetic stocked .22 you would go 11 or 12 inches, however for a blued wooden stocked .22 you would go for a longer barrel?

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Yes anything wood blued I'd feel a bit dirty docking it that short.

Anything stainless or synthetic I veiw as only functional and don't see any good reason to have a longer barrel. As there's not much of a velocity difference and if any.

https://youtu.be/CzOJrv5cwIU?si=jXLJS2uxblKChfVW

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Originally Posted by Bushline

https://youtu.be/CzOJrv5cwIU?si=jXLJS2uxblKChfVW

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This video waited 11 years since being uploaded so you can post it here

I’d almost given up…

I must be a unicorn. I simply don’t like or want to chop anything. I sometimes get excited to see a certain .22 for sale and then open up the advert to find it has been chopped or even threaded. And that’s it for me, I flick on to the next rifle of interest. I do have threaded .22’s but these done as factory. I must confess I don’t own a synthetic stocked .22, so that may contribute to my obsession with how the manufacturer designed a rifle. I accept and appreciate others have a different view and requirement.

Why is factory threaded any different to threaded? I get the barrel chop thing from an anesthetics point but most gunsmith thread and reckons are nicer than factory.

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Originally Posted by Stocky

Why is factory threaded any different to threaded? I get the barrel chop thing from an anesthetics point but most gunsmith thread and reckons are nicer than factory.

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In some cases it looks alright. But most you see either have a front site adapted, or a bare threaded barrel left. In the factory ones i own the thread has a very neat threaded cap. And yes I have seen threaded barrels here with caps done however many are a cheap looking knurled cap which in my opinion detracts from a quality rifle.
And yes I don’t mind a good looking accurate rifle. As I said this is my perspective and I’m simply sharing that. Others have a different view and that’s well respected.

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Originally Posted by Southcity

I must be a unicorn. I simply don’t like or want to chop anything. I sometimes get excited to see a certain .22 for sale and then open up the advert to find it has been chopped or even threaded. And that’s it for me, I flick on to the next rifle of interest. I do have threaded .22’s but these done as factory. I must confess I don’t own a synthetic stocked .22, so that may contribute to my obsession with how the manufacturer designed a rifle. I accept and appreciate others have a different view and requirement.

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It may be a small club but your not alone. i see why people abbreviate barrels for the truck type shooters, Jw's and the like but its not for me though I will thread a common rifle that's easy to replace