Hello! I’m just looking for buy one tikka t1x in 22lr but I have seen the barrel , it has 16”. Is it enough to take advantage the speed and precision?
Thanks!
As others have pointed out, 16" is enough for muzzle velocity. As
@CraigC mentioned, there are other reasons to consider longer barrels, depending upon how you'll use the gun and what's most important to you.
This thread triggered to thinking more on the general topic of choosing a rifle, whether choosing what barrel length to buy, or just choosing a rifle out of the safe to take to the range....
I have about 20 or so .22 Rimfire rifles, with barrels ranging from 16" to 28". Generally speaking, the guns with the longer and heavier profile barrels will out-shoot the shorter and/or thinner profile barrels. If both guns have the same profile barrel, the longer ones (in my assortment) will just slightly out shoot the shorter ones if both are shooting their favorite ammo that I've identified to date. The differences are most noticeable when shooting from a good bench-type setup (because you can minimize other factors that may be hindering accuracy), and less noticeable in certain other situations. In some cases the shorter, lighter profile barrel might out-shoot the heavier gun, but IME this tends to be due to the lighter weight and related advantages under the shooting circumstances, such as off-hand, out-of-position, or otherwise when the heavier gun is just not the best choice.
Some of the reasons one may shoot better with the longer, usually heavier, guns are that they tend to ride the bags (the shooting rests) better, and they are more likely to maintain their set-up and positioning shot-after-shot. Also, the extra weight makes them less susceptible to shake from my heartbeat, breathing, etc. They just settle in a bit better and tend to be slightly more consistent.
Another big factor for me is that I like the reduced muzzle blast and dB from the longer barrels. This is especially the case with a 26-28" barrel, which is safe to fire with SV ammo without hearing protection, making the shooting experience about 2x more enjoyable for me (I usually shoot by myself, not at public ranges with somebody blasting away next to me). A 24" barrel is not very loud, but by the time you get to 26+, it's almost like shooting with a suppressor (my guns and SV ammo are this way, I assume others are as well).
There's also the sighting radius thing if shooting iron sights, but I don't shoot irons for accuracy, so it's not much of a factor for me.
Here are some examples. Except for the Winchester Model 52, these are all CZ/Brno guns. That means that the bolts, receivers, triggers, and all are the same. The only real differences are in barrel length and profile, the stock configurations and resulting weight. IMO, that makes the barrel comparisons more valid than if we were comparing, for example, a Ruger, a Bergara, a CZ, a Tikka, and a Savage.
Some examples:
CZ 452 Scout with 16.25" Barrel: This gun is the same quality as the full-size CZs, same receiver, bolt, trigger, etc., just in a very compact stock with a short, thin-profile barrel. It is one of my most accurate .22 LR rifles. If the guns were all shot from a vise of some sort, I expect it'd be near the top of the group. But in real-world, hands-on shooting, given its 33" overall length and about 5 pounds weight, it is much harder to shoot groups that are as tight as some of the larger guns.
452 American with 22.5" standard weight barrel: This is a great all-around gun, weighs about 6.1 pounds without a scope. I've shot a lot of .5" groups at 50 yards with ammo such as SK Standard Plus and Pistol Match. I think the accuracy potential of this gun is about the same as the Scout above, but this one is easier to shoot the good groups with due to the larger size and weight.
453 Varmint with 20.9" Heavy barrel: This gun is heavier than the American above, and the stock is slightly wider, both of which helps it ride the bags a little better. It will out-shoot the American, and it's easier to shoot the better groups.
BRNO Model 4 with 27.5" Heavy barrel: The BRNO guns were the precursors to the CZ 452s, and are very similar with many/most parts interchangeable. This is a relatively easy gun to shoot good groups with from a bench or other good rest. I've shot a lot of .3" groups with it at 50 yards, some better. It is 45" long and weighs a little over 10 pounds with the scope.
Winchester Model 52B with 28" standard barrel and stock (a little lighter than the more common Heavy Target Model 52): This is a pretty similar gun to the Model 4 above, same length, the stock is slightly "trimmer" in build, and about the same weight for the gun and scope. It is at least as accurate, probably a little more so. (I've never had the two side-by-side in the same range setting, both with ammo that they favor, so I'm not 100% sure which is more accurate.)
So, it all depends upon the trade-offs you're inclined to make, and what's important to you. For me, given my ideal situation of some alone time at the range with a good bench or similar set-up, I don't think I have any gun that I enjoy shooting more than the Model 52 above. However, if I'm heading off on a 5 mile walk, I'd much rather carry the Scout. For other tasks, I'd choose other guns still, possibly not any of the above. If I had to have only one all-around gun, it'd be hard to decide. I'd probably think about what
most of my shooting would entail, how much of it from the bench and how much of it walking around/plinking, etc., and choose accordingly.
By the way, I have similar situation with my Centerfire rifles, and again, my guns with the longer heavier barrels slightly out shoot my shorter, thinner barrels.
