I have a 20" a 24" and a 28" The 28" is a 1931 competition Olympic style Winchester model 52. The kicker is it was the mac daddy back in the day and and it looks BRAND NEW I would really like to put a modern scope on it. However, I am reading that 22 runs out of steam on a 20" barrel. I have a couple modern day competition rifles but this MINT 1931 Winchester is amazing and I want it to work. Is the barrel length that bad.
Any Experts On 22LR Bench Rest Shooting?Competition?
- Thread starter AC Man
- Start date
Register to hide this ad
There are MANY opinions on this topic. I have a benchrest .22 built by Kenny at Desert Precision and it wears a 28 inch barrel. One theory is that it only requires about 18 inches (or less) to get full burn from a 22lr cartridge. However, the additional length of many BR barrels allows additional stability, hence greater accuracy.
My specimen is extraordinarily accurate, far more than my skill can fully utilize, with Lapua ammo.
Your rifles are extremely well respected classics and I would not touch them other than to perhaps restore/maintain them. I would recommend you shoot them at every opportunity. It may be necessary to experiment with which brand of ammo your rifle prefers. Many top echelon shooters actually chase specific lot numbers or send rifle to the lot testing centers of Lapua and Eley.
My specimen is extraordinarily accurate, far more than my skill can fully utilize, with Lapua ammo.
Your rifles are extremely well respected classics and I would not touch them other than to perhaps restore/maintain them. I would recommend you shoot them at every opportunity. It may be necessary to experiment with which brand of ammo your rifle prefers. Many top echelon shooters actually chase specific lot numbers or send rifle to the lot testing centers of Lapua and Eley.
Ivan the Butcher
Member
The only Match rifle I have left is a very low end Anshutz 2000 (from the 60's when Savage was the importer) and it has a 22" barrel. shoots great at 50 yards.
When I had a 54 Action Prone rifle from 1972 it had a 24" barrel, as did my Kimber Clackamas Government model.
The Kimber of Oregon varmint model is just as good as the Target rifles has a 20.
Most guns when built got for as long of barrel as possible, but the barrel profile/diameter is adjusted to make a total specific weight class (including scope weight). All current Anshutz Target barrels are 24", the made a series of 20" with same diameters in the late 90's but that was a short-lived project. Just remember, Anshutz only make target rifles (many are of Olympic quality) but they don't use Bench Rest specifications, so they look at barrels differently, and make them with a 3" choke (that's the larger outside diameter at the muzzle). They bore, then rifle, then turn the outside profile to get the choke. The constriction is about .0004"
Rugar makes hammer forged barrels; they have a bore that is tapered by .0005" tighter at the muzzle (usually 20") when the hammer forge operator does it correctly (most of the time).
BTW, How do you plan on scoping an early Model 52? Drilling and tapping the action is a difficult endeavor with the original flat for the rear sight. Many feel that tapping mounts like the old Redfield blocks messes with the barrel harmonics. It is a real risk on those pre-war guns! The Remington 37's and 700's used a different steel to avoid that problem.
Ivan
When I had a 54 Action Prone rifle from 1972 it had a 24" barrel, as did my Kimber Clackamas Government model.
The Kimber of Oregon varmint model is just as good as the Target rifles has a 20.
Most guns when built got for as long of barrel as possible, but the barrel profile/diameter is adjusted to make a total specific weight class (including scope weight). All current Anshutz Target barrels are 24", the made a series of 20" with same diameters in the late 90's but that was a short-lived project. Just remember, Anshutz only make target rifles (many are of Olympic quality) but they don't use Bench Rest specifications, so they look at barrels differently, and make them with a 3" choke (that's the larger outside diameter at the muzzle). They bore, then rifle, then turn the outside profile to get the choke. The constriction is about .0004"
Rugar makes hammer forged barrels; they have a bore that is tapered by .0005" tighter at the muzzle (usually 20") when the hammer forge operator does it correctly (most of the time).
BTW, How do you plan on scoping an early Model 52? Drilling and tapping the action is a difficult endeavor with the original flat for the rear sight. Many feel that tapping mounts like the old Redfield blocks messes with the barrel harmonics. It is a real risk on those pre-war guns! The Remington 37's and 700's used a different steel to avoid that problem.
Ivan
There is a lot of information on 22 bench rest and other long range shooting with 22s on YouTube a lot of the experts are using 22 and 24-in barrels.
It can be scary how much money is put into these open class rifles. I shoot what is basically a factory class, where the CZ 457 varmiter is a very competitive setup.
Another good source of information is rimfirecentral.com
It can be scary how much money is put into these open class rifles. I shoot what is basically a factory class, where the CZ 457 varmiter is a very competitive setup.
Another good source of information is rimfirecentral.com
Yes I have one of those and I love it. 20" barrel. Some reason I want to make my 28" Winchester 1931 work.
So does anyone shoot a 28 " barrel in competion? Thanks!
I'm not an expert, but have been flamed on several forum by supposed experts 
I always liked a shorter barrel due to stiffness, but that's with centerfire guns where you can adjust your loading for accuracy. We don't get that ability with rimfire. I don't think your 28" is bad by any means. You read internet experts favoring all sorts of barrel lengths, but it seems some longer 28"ish barrels are being used by some top rimfire benchrest shooters. The average seems to be 24" to 26" depending upon who you talk to or what your read. You do lose velocity with the longer barrels, but higher velocity doesn't necessarily equate to better accuracy.
I always liked a shorter barrel due to stiffness, but that's with centerfire guns where you can adjust your loading for accuracy. We don't get that ability with rimfire. I don't think your 28" is bad by any means. You read internet experts favoring all sorts of barrel lengths, but it seems some longer 28"ish barrels are being used by some top rimfire benchrest shooters. The average seems to be 24" to 26" depending upon who you talk to or what your read. You do lose velocity with the longer barrels, but higher velocity doesn't necessarily equate to better accuracy.
Last edited:
The long barrels were for iron sight ( Target receiver and target Front) use as the long sight radius gave better precision. With a good scope there is nothing to be gained by a barrel longer than 24" I like 22 inches for a .22 Long Rifle.
- Joined
- Dec 22, 2002
- Messages
- 706
- Reaction score
- 1,222
I'm no expert, but I shoot my Kimber 82 Government at our Club's Bench Rest Rimfire Rifle matches. It has a 24" barrel.
You may want to ask these folks here:
Rimfire Benchrest Shooting | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum
You may want to ask these folks here:
Rimfire Benchrest Shooting | Rimfire Central Firearm Forum
Crookedcreek
Member
Wouldn't mess with that classic, you'll only lower it's value. Get a different gun, one that will likely be more competitive anyway in today's benchrest world. Hang out over on the Rimfire Central Forum, lots of really good learning to be had from the many experienced folks there.
I've thought about that too
gwpercle
Member
No ...
Louisiana Swamp People say ...
CHOOT It A/C Man ... CHOOT It !
If you believe in it and you want it to work ...
it is capable of bringing home the gold ...Make sure you have a nice sweet trigger pull ... You and the Winchester can do it !
Gary
Well, it has original Weaver scope. I would just update the scope. Nothing I couldn't go back to. Would not do anymore drilling that would hurt the value. Thanks for all the reply's.
Last edited:
Yendor357
Member
I have read the reason for the long barrel was because they wanted the bullet to be decelerating when it exited the muzzle. It was/is supposedly more stable in flight that way. Whether that’s true, or not, I don’t know. But it’s an interesting theory.
I go thru my spells when I shoot 22 LR a lot. I like to shoot, but I get tired of reloading. Take a break from the recoil and the noise. I’ve given Volquartzen and Kidd some business. 22 are still great fun.
I go thru my spells when I shoot 22 LR a lot. I like to shoot, but I get tired of reloading. Take a break from the recoil and the noise. I’ve given Volquartzen and Kidd some business. 22 are still great fun.
We have 22 Rimfire once a month in Gainesville Ga. The targets are the same targets used in IHMSA Field Pistol Matches at the same range on a different Saturday. 10 chickens @ 89 yards. Followed by 10 Pigs. Then 10 Turkeys. Ending with 10 Rams @ 208 yards. Match totals 40 targets. Called EXTREME RIMFIRE MATCH, its open to any Rimfire action and caliber. The match is shot from benches under a covered firing line. The range is owned by Cherokee Gun Club on 1600 Candler Road. l personally shoot a CZ457 in 22LR, 20'' barrel with a 10X Leupold. Matches are held the third Saturday.
Last edited:
Similar threads
Latest posts
-
-
High Standard Supermatic Citation
- Latest: cowboy94916
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
-
432 32 HR UC or Bodyguard mod 2.0 for carry??
- Latest: SGT ROCK 11B
-
-
