Down The 10/22 Rabbit Hole A Wee Bit...Barrel Recommendations

[Phydeaux642]

I wasn't going to do this, but I sold a gun last week and have a little cash to burn, so, I am thinking about a bull barrel. I have been reading a LOT about aftermarket barrels and I'm getting the feeling that if you ask ten different people their opinions you'll get eleven different answers.
I know I'm not throwing $350 at a Volquartsen. Too much money just for a fun gun. I've considered a Kidd, but I'm leaning towards a Feddersen because it is a little bit less expensive. I've read mostly good things about Feddersen, but just wanted some feedback. Is this a good route to take or is there another barrel you would recommend?

 

[troy fairweather]

See if green mountain are doing any barrels, really good for the money

 

[LoonWulf]

I believe R&S precision lists GM barrels.
https://1022racerifle.com/ruger-10-22-upgrades/ruger-10-22-22lr-barrels/?sort=priceasc&page=11

I actually buy a lot of stuff from those guys great service good prices shipping to Hawaii's cheaper than anybody else......

 

[AJC1]

My heavy profile stainless er shaw was 99 dollars at a gun show and is great. The 350 on the full kidd trigger is amazing.

 

[jmr40]

I have one with a heavy bull barrel that I bought through Cabela's a few years back. Shooters Ridge is stamped on the barrel, but I suspect it may have been made by Green Mountain. It does what it's supposed to do.

I also had another rifle that I wanted to keep light, but wanted more accuracy than factory. I bought this from Midway

E. R. Shaw Barrel Ruger 10/22 22 Long Rifle Sporter Contour 1 16 Twist (midwayusa.com)

It improved accuracy considerably while keeping weight down and allowed me to keep the factory stock which also saved money.

The lighter barrel may well be just as accurate, but I have a 4-12X scope on the heavy barreled rifle and a 1-4X on the lightweight. If I were to try a little more magnification It might well match or even beat the heavy barrel.

Don't forget the trigger. I had a gunsmith work on the rifle with the heavy barrel and swapped in a Ruger BX trigger on the other. I don't think you'll get the results you want with just a new barrel.

 

[rabid wombat]

Sorry, Kidd fanboi here….consider crack, it is cheaper long run than 10/22 up grades

 

[greyling22]

I put a kidd ultra lightweight in mine. It was about $200. It shoots as well as my cz455 now.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Happy with my current barrels, 2 Green Mountains and 1 Kidd lightweight. The GM bull barrel's tight chamber on my target setup (AMT Lightning receiver) sometimes fails to extract misfires, but it shoots tight groups.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Don't forget the trigger. I had a gunsmith work on the rifle with the heavy barrel and swapped in a Ruger BX trigger on the other. I don't think you'll get the results you want with just a new barrel.

I added a Volquartsen target hammer which made a huge difference in trigger pull.

 

[Phydeaux642]

Okay, I'm confused. I was looking at some Green Mountain barrels and the 18" bull barrel was looking pretty good. However, there is a warning that says the barrel is not intended for use with Stingers or sub-sonic ammo. I guess I get the "no Stingers", but isn't all Standard Velocity ammo sub-sonic? That doesn't make sense to me.

 

[Skylerbone]

Feddersen IMO makes barrels every bit as accurate as any of the competition while offering them in useful configurations. Highly recommend especially for the price.

 

[Dave DeLaurant]

Okay, I'm confused. I was looking at some Green Mountain barrels and the 18" bull barrel was looking pretty good. However, there is a warning that says the barrel is not intended for use with Stingers or sub-sonic ammo. I guess I get the "no Stingers", but isn't all Standard Velocity ammo sub-sonic? That doesn't make sense to me.

Good point -- never really thought about that. Many (but not all) 22 LR loads marked "standard velocity" are pretty close to the speed of sound at the muzzle, depending on barrel length.

Possibly the idea is that the loads specifically marked as subsonic are more likely to be too light to cycle a blowback action and will fail to extract. The real answer would have to come from GM themselves.

I went looking for an answer and this excerpt from Field & Stream's website mentions the cycling issue:

Subsonic Rimfire Loads Offer the Best Balance for Hunting
Speaking of which, rimfires are where subsonics really shine. A standard .22 LR load delivers around 1200 fps and 140 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. The typical subsonic .22 LR offers around 1050 and 100, respectively, a negligible difference to any rabbit. So while the energy to cleanly kill small game remains, the downrange crack vanishes. And as smallbore competitors know, subsonic .22 LRs are more accurate than supersonic .22s because they exhibit 37 percent less wind deflection due to the disproportional increase of air resistance near the sound barrier. When subsonic .22 LR ammo and a suppressor are combined, you’ve got a whisper-quiet, deadly accurate small-game firearm.

All the major ammunition manufacturers offer subsonic .22 LR loads. CCI’s Subsonic HP, for example, reduces velocity to 1050 fps and therefore lowers the decibel level to around 68, almost half the normal high-velocity .22 LR load. (Any .22 Short cartridge will accomplish the same thing, if your gun will shoot them.) However, subsonic rounds may have trouble cycling the actions of semiautomatics reliably. If you shoot a single-shot, pump, or bolt-action rifle, you’re good to go. If you shoot a semiauto, try Winchester’s new M-22 Subsonic .22 LR, which fires a 45-grain bullet at 1090 fps and is designed specifically to work with self-loaders. In any case, with subsonic ammo, your rimfire will still be hard on game but easier on the ears. ––Jeff Johnston

source: https://www.fieldandstream.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-subsonic-cartridges/

 

[LouB]

My 10/22 with a 16” Feddersen barrel, shoots 1.25” 5 shot groups at 100 yards with its favorite ammo. I’m very pleased. It will do that consistently if the full value wind is 5 mph or so. It has a Kidd 1.5# trigger group also.

Lou

 

[Demi-human]

Good point -- never really thought about that. Many (but not all) 22 LR loads marked "standard velocity" are pretty close to the speed of sound at the muzzle, depending on barrel length.

Possibly the idea is that the loads specifically marked as subsonic are more likely to be too light to cycle a blowback action and will fail to extract. The real answer would have to come from GM themselves.

I went looking for an answer and this excerpt from Field & Stream's website mentions the cycling issue:

Subsonic Rimfire Loads Offer the Best Balance for Hunting
Speaking of which, rimfires are where subsonics really shine. A standard .22 LR load delivers around 1200 fps and 140 foot-pounds of energy at the muzzle. The typical subsonic .22 LR offers around 1050 and 100, respectively, a negligible difference to any rabbit. So while the energy to cleanly kill small game remains, the downrange crack vanishes. And as smallbore competitors know, subsonic .22 LRs are more accurate than supersonic .22s because they exhibit 37 percent less wind deflection due to the disproportional increase of air resistance near the sound barrier. When subsonic .22 LR ammo and a suppressor are combined, you’ve got a whisper-quiet, deadly accurate small-game firearm.

All the major ammunition manufacturers offer subsonic .22 LR loads. CCI’s Subsonic HP, for example, reduces velocity to 1050 fps and therefore lowers the decibel level to around 68, almost half the normal high-velocity .22 LR load. (Any .22 Short cartridge will accomplish the same thing, if your gun will shoot them.) However, subsonic rounds may have trouble cycling the actions of semiautomatics reliably. If you shoot a single-shot, pump, or bolt-action rifle, you’re good to go. If you shoot a semiauto, try Winchester’s new M-22 Subsonic .22 LR, which fires a 45-grain bullet at 1090 fps and is designed specifically to work with self-loaders. In any case, with subsonic ammo, your rimfire will still be hard on game but easier on the ears. ––Jeff Johnston

source: https://www.fieldandstream.com/the-pros-and-cons-of-subsonic-cartridges/

While I do agree with everything said here, I think GreenMountain means that their twist rate won’t stabilize the sixty grain Aguila SSS, nor is it ideal for lightweight, hyper velocity loads.

I imagine a tuning with some springs could get the action reliable, but the twist is set at the barrel shop.
I think the Stingers would be more accurate with a heavier spring or bolt, keeping the breech closed longer for more consistent ignition, as well as a more consistent combustion chamber as the bullet is leaving the barrel.
In my bolt action they are nearly the same as any other, adequate, not stellar, but not inaccurate.
But the terminal effects are totally worth it!

(For just a little more you can get a Kidd…)

 

[troy fairweather]

My last gm would not shoot the sss when I first got it, things would make some cool noise. After about a brick it shot them really good.

 

[LoonWulf]

My last gm would not shoot the sss when I first got it, things would make some cool noise. After about a brick it shot them really good.

Just had to build up a slime layer to make em "tight"

Ive never had a .22 that shots those well, other wise they would have been really cool.

 

[troy fairweather]

Just had to build up a slime layer to make em "tight"

Ive never had a .22 that shots those well, other wise they would have been really cool.

Ya that's what I figured lol. My old Remington 33 loves them just about one hole at 25 yards. Think I'm up to 25-30 woodchuck with them.