I'm planning to buy a ruger 10/22 in the next week or two. I'm very new to guns but I'd like to get someting that will be fun and cheap to shoot and that will last me a long time.

I've looked around and I can either get a stainless steel 10/22 with a 22" barrel for about $215 or the stainless 18" barel for $195. I'm leaning towards the 22" barrel. Is it worth it? Will it make any difference?


I just want a good looking gun that will be fun to shoot.

Thanks for your help guys!

P.S.

The 22" gun is at Walmart and the 18" is at a local gun shop. I'd rather support the local store and make sure they stick around....

Hi,

The 18" barrel makes for a very light handy gun. But it will be more difficult to shoot off-hand.

I would just buy whichever one 'feels' best in your hands as I doubt there will be any practical difference in velocity or accuracy.

Good luck.

I think you already answered your question..."the 18 inch is at the local gun shop". Personally, I'd buy from a gun shop not a discount store.

Most authorities and gun manufacturers agree that the 18" bbl is all that is needed for a .22 LR rifle. That longer bbls begin to reduce the velocity.

The longer barrel, as Kdub mentioned, can actually reduce velocity in a 22LR. Aside from the performance aspects, which would not be measurable on game one way or the other, the shorter barrel will make for a handier rifle. The fact that you'd be getting the rifle from a gun shop is also very signifigant.

The longer barrel, as Kdub mentioned, can actually reduce velocity in a 22LR. Aside from the performance aspects, which would not be measurable on game one way or the other, the shorter barrel will make for a handier rifle. The fact that you'd be getting the rifle from a gun shop is also very signifigant.


This is absolutely correct. The right length of a .22 LR is 18 inches. At 16 inches the gas expansion is 37 times cartridge volume. The previous writer is correct in that a longer barrel will result in reduce velocity. However, if you are using iron sights....he longer sight radius will enhance your potential accuracy. This effect may be further improved by using an apeture sight like the Willams or Lyman. On a scoped rifle, go for the shorter barrel.

I own both. Bought the 22 inch at Wally world and am exceptionally please with it. I don't know why one would pay more at a gun store for a ruger gun than at a discount store. Ruger makes the same gun for everybody.

Anyway like I say I own both and the 22 incher from Wally world actually shoots better the my 18 inch.

Now let me throw in another for consideration. Take a look at the CZ 452 scout. They are under $200 from Whittaker's (www.wittakerguns.com)

I own a Lux and it shoot 1.5 inchs with $9.00 a brick winchester cheepy ammo from (that dreaded discount store).

These rifles are sold world wide and they are really nice. Built like a brick, have nice lines and can use a 10 shot, 5 shot or single shot adapter (in case you have a youngster to start shooting) and use less ammo than my ruger blasters do. Makes you concentrate on the shooting a little more.

anyway that's my 2 cents

Well I ended up buying the 22 inch barrel (This was last fall) because I figured it would be more safe. The longer the barrel, the less you can swing it arround.

I'm pretty satisfied with it but I've made sure since then to buy from the local gun shops. The last thing I would want is for them to dissapear.

Anyway, I've got nothing to compare it against but it shoots fine for me.

Maybe I'll just have to reload my .22's and add a little more gunpowder to compensate for the longer barrel!

J/K

Travis

I'm planning to buy a ruger 10/22 in the next week or two. I'm very new to guns but I'd like to get someting that will be fun and cheap to shoot and that will last me a long time.

I've looked around and I can either get a stainless steel 10/22 with a 22" barrel for about $215 or the stainless 18" barel for $195. I'm leaning towards the 22" barrel. Is it worth it? Will it make any difference?


I just want a good looking gun that will be fun to shoot.

Thanks for your help guys!

P.S.

The 22" gun is at Walmart and the 18" is at a local gun shop. I'd rather support the local store and make sure they stick around....


as it turns out..the Muzzle velocity will be greater from the shorter barrel....this is true of the .22....stainless is better too...although sometimes needs to be smoothed..

having asked several gunsmiths about this very subject, and anslo reading an excellent article in the may 05 issue of shhoting illustrated, the best bbl lenght is actually 16 inches accuracy is not inhance dwith a longer bbl. and speed maxes out at 16 to 18inches depending on the velocity, of the round. i just finsihed a project myself were i cut a mod 75 down to 16 inches , then tricked out the whole thing black paint black truck bed spray paint , harris bipod, target crown. etc. it shoots eleys and aguilas easy inside an inch at 50 yds.

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