Barrel Length

[Riffer]

What does barrel lenth matter? Out of:
16 1/8"
20"
18 1/2"
What would be the best just for shooting gophers (100 yds. max)?

[gumbyhead]

the longer the barrel the more accurate the shot, and longer distances more accurate

[Riffer]

So whats the point of a shorter barrel?

[gumbyhead]

good question....maybe weight? really not sure

[westOKman]

I would have to agree with the issue of weight. Also, it may have something to do with making a rifle easier to maneuver when hunting in conditions where space may be an issue, such as shooting out of a pick-up Just a thought, I may be wrong.

[358WINMAN]

westOKman is right. Shorter barrels are for ease of shouldering, pointing the rifle and aiming in a small brief motion. They also work well in heavy cover because you don't have them snagging on every branch you come near!
If you do alot of still hutning in heavy cover, shots a 125yds or less, an 18-20" bbl is great. If you like to shoot a piece of real estate that looks like a Montana prairie, 24-26" bbl's are good for 200-500 yd shots.
Also for every extra inch of barrel you add to lets say a 20"er, you get about 50-75 fps faster bullet flight.
A 20"bbl could be at 2200 fps( figureatively speaking), 21"@ 2250 fps, 23" @ 2300 fps, 24"@2350 etc... with the same bullet weight.

[Riffer]

ORIGINAL: 358WINMAN

westOKman is right. Shorter barrels are for ease of shouldering, pointing the rifle and aiming in a small brief motion. They also work well in heavy cover because you don't have them snagging on every branch you come near!
If you do alot of still hutning in heavy cover, shots a 125yds or less, an 18-20" bbl is great. If you like to shoot a piece of real estate that looks like a Montana prairie, 24-26" bbl's are good for 200-500 yd shots.
Also for every extra inch of barrel you add to lets say a 20"er, you get about 50-75 fps faster bullet flight.
A 20"bbl could be at 2200 fps( figureatively speaking), 21"@ 2250 fps, 23" @ 2300 fps, 24"@2350 etc... with the same bullet weight.

It's just a .22 that I will only be using for gophers, the max. distance would be aroung 100 yrds what length would you get?

[gumbyhead]

I think a 100y shot is a little much with a 22, depending on how big the gophers are

[Riffer]

ORIGINAL: gumbyhead

I think a 100y shot is a little much with a 22, depending on how big the gophers are

Yeah I know, proboly mostly between 30 and 60 yrds, but i want to be able to get acurate at long ranges

[westOKman]

Are you talking .22 LR, or .22 caliber in gereral? I thought you werereferring to.22 centerfire. If not centerfire, have you considered a .22 Magnum?