10/22 barrel tweak for accuracy?

[LocoGringo]

I'm getting a 10/22 ready for a suppressor and I'm facing a decision. I have a 22" stainless steel barrel (no barrel band) and want a 16.5" threaded barrel that is factory contoured. My current barrel shoots best with older Remington ammo at roughly a 1" group at 50 yards. Winchester and Federal are second place with 1.5" at 50 yards and CCI MiniMags are a distant third. Given that my current barrel is 22", do you think chopping and threading the current barrel for $100 might make it more accurate since I'll be chopping almost 6" off, or should I roll the dice and buy a Feddersen barrel for $200 out the door and be more likely to improve accuracy?

I'm not trying to make a match rifle...just trying to maximize accuracy while minimizing investment. I'm not interested in a .920 barrel because I want to keep this light and don't want to either A) inlet the factory stock or B) buy another stock (further investment). I actually like the factory stock, so I wanna keep it.

Basically, the question is...would chopping a longish barrel for a 10/22 from 22" to 16.5" likely result in a change in accuracy (good or bad)?

 

[JohnKSa]

So it will cost you $100 to have your barrel cut, crowned & threaded.

You could sell your current barrel as is for $X.

It will cost you $200 to buy a barrel already set up the way you want it.

• If $200-$X is significantly less than $100 then buy the new barrel.
• If $200-$X is significantly greater than $100 then have your old one modified.
• If $200-$X is pretty close to the same as $100 then go with the new barrel. It's a known quantity with a guarantee.

 

[LocoGringo]

^^^

Thanks for the economics portion, but what is a used 22" stainless steel 10/22 factory barrel worth? I have no idea what "X" is.

Also, will shortening the barrel possibly/likely change accuracy in a .22 lr?

 

[JohnKSa]

I have no idea what "X" is.

I don't know either, that's why I used $X. You can look around online to see what they are selling for used but the 22" barrels aren't that common.

Also, will shortening the barrel possibly/likely change accuracy in a .22 lr?

The answer is that it will almost certainly change the accuracy. The odds that it will stay exactly the same are vanishingly small.

Will it change it a lot? No way to tell. It's not even possible to say for sure if the result will be better or poorer accuracy. Assuming the person who does the work (especially the crowning) does a good job, the odds are that it won't be a significant change. The odds might even shade a bit towards an accuracy improvement since a shorter barrel (all else being equal--and we know how rarely that happens) tends to be more accurate than a longer barrel.

That's why I suggested that if the dollar difference is pretty close you should go for the new barrel. If it doesn't perform, you can rely on the manufacturer's guarantee.

 

[rcmodel]

Shortening the barrel will make it stiffer.
Which is good.

A really good crown job will help accuracy.
Which is good

Threading it and adding a big can hanging on the end will likely degrade accuracy.
Which is bad.

I would cut it, thread it, and dance with the one who brung ya.

If she turns out bad and doesn't want to dance with you?
Well, at least you gave her a chance too.

And it was a cheaper date!

rc