Thanks Guys for the fast reply.I thought it was 16'',but it certainly doesn't hurt to be sure.I do know that putting a rifle stock on a shorter bbl is illegal,but just making sure that the 16 wasn't.
One of the reasons I asked this was I just saw an ad in an NRA meeting flyer that I got in the mail because the meeting was in Milwaukee Wi which is near me,and Ruger has a new rifle out called a Handi-rifle.This rifle comes with a 16 1/2 bbl in several caliber and uses a long eye relieve scope( at least thats what the picture shows).The calibers are .223,243.300 win mag( I think) and maybe one more.Sounded interesting.
Thanks again for you help