Thinking about SBRing a Ruger American Rimfire

[35remington]

How big of an animal are ya really looking to tackle with a 22lr. There are plenty of people shooting small game at 100yds with subsonic bullets. Just gotta figure out the drop. I have several 22 pistols w less than a 4.5" barrel where everything stays subsonic and have no problem killing everything from rabbits to small pigs. I do agree however that the centerfire subs are a pain in the rear for anything but a "wow factor". But a 22lr sbr is no more worthless than a pistol.

Agreed. Mike, I'm surprised to hear that statement from you. My suppressed, short-barreled .22s are no less capable than regular 22LRs. They are, IMO, the very best suppressed SBR hosts. I shoot CCI SV which is super consistent and works great for me out to 100 yards. A 40r bullet moving at 930 fps is still delivering 70% of its initial FPE, which is more than enough for anything you should be pointing a 22 at.

[35remington]

Why not a Ruger charger? 10" barrel and already threaded for a can. Add just about any stock for a standard 10/22 along with the tax stamp and you are good to go. My local Atwoods has one for $260.

I thought about and researched the Ruger Charger for a good long while. If I ever made one, this is what I’d want it to look like.



After shooting a lot of suppressed 22LR, I’ve realized that the real wow-factor lies in the bolt action or lever action guns that aren’t semi-auto and therefore don’t have a bolt sliding back and forth making additional noise.

So that's why.

[csmith936]

That looks great. Who made that integrally suppressed barrel?

Keechi Creek Arms here in Nacogdoches

[Artos]

Only accurate guns are interesting...Eley Sub Sonic HP's on a GOOD bolt action are a hoot for small game.

I cut my Anschutz 54 sporter down to 16.5" & is stupid accurate...if I can't hit a nickel size target at 50yds, I have no use for it in the hunting situations I need it for.

I'm not sure I would be confident enough to find ammo to do such a tacks on such a short tube??

[91cavgt]

I thought about and researched the Ruger Charger for a good long while. If I ever made one, this is what I’d want it to look like.



After shooting a lot of suppressed 22LR, I’ve realized that the real wow-factor lies in the bolt action or lever action guns that aren’t semi-auto and therefore don’t have a bolt sliding back and forth making additional noise.

So that's why.

That's a good reason. It is crazy when the action of a semi auto is the loudest sound when you squeeze off a round.

[35remington]

I'm not sure I would be confident enough to find ammo to do such attacks on such a short tube??

I have not found barrel length to affect accuracy in any significant way.

[Artos]

I have not found barrel length to affect accuracy in any significant way.

Anytime you want to bet dollar bills on 5 shot groups with your pistol length guns against my rifles, let me know.

[Mike D]

Agreed. Mike, I'm surprised to hear that statement from you. My suppressed, short-barreled .22s are no less capable than regular 22LRs. They are, IMO, the very best suppressed SBR hosts. I shoot CCI SV which is super consistent and works great for me out to 100 yards. A 40r bullet moving at 930 fps is still delivering 70% of its initial FPE, which is more than enough for anything you should be pointing a 22 at.

And that was my point. 22 offers limited terminal performance as it is. Why handicap it even further.

At least with a full length barrel you can take advantage of additional velocity and energy when needed and still use subs when wanted.

With a really short barrel you take a bullet that say runs 1350 and drop it below 1100. Then you take a bullets that runs 1050 and drop it to 800 fps.

Seems kinda pointless to me.

[Colton]

And that was my point. 22 offers limited terminal performance as it is. Why handicap it even further.

At least with a full length barrel you can take advantage of additional velocity and energy when needed and still use subs when wanted.

With a really short barrel you take a bullet that say runs 1350 and drop it below 1100. Then you take a bullets that runs 1050 and drop it to 800 fps.

Seems kinda pointless to me.

The man wants what he wants.

[35remington]

Anytime you want to bet dollar bills on 5 shot groups with your pistol length guns against my rifles, let me know.

You are making the wrong argument. It's not whether yours beat mine, it's whether cutting yours or cutting mine renders them significantly less accurate. That is what I have found to be true.

And that was my point. 22 offers limited terminal performance as it is. Why handicap it even further.

At least with a full length barrel you can take advantage of additional velocity and energy when needed and still use subs when wanted.

With a really short barrel you take a bullet that say runs 1350 and drop it below 1100. Then you take a bullets that runs 1050 and drop it to 800 fps.

Seems kinda pointless to me.

Different tools serve different purposes. You know that as well as I.

[Mike D]

You are making the wrong argument. It's not whether yours beat mine, it's whether cutting yours or cutting mine renders them significantly less accurate. That is what I have found to be true.




Different tools serve different purposes. You know that as well as I.

I do. Just offering my opinion, nothing more.

I had an M&P 15 that I was going to SBR and just couldn't make it make sense.

[Artos]

I think you have to have a minimum bbl length to achieve the certain level of accuracy available to allow for good bullet rotation, complete powder burn combustion, etc.

I just don't think your or my bbl would hang onto what they are capable of in the lengths I am seeing suggested.

I can see what you are looking for might make a neat survival weapon, but see no advantage of creating an ultimate sbr hunting rig going that short. You will have to shoot crappy fast loads to get to 1000fps & I'm betting groups would stink for head shots needed.

Tactical Solutions had one called a Sawtooth that was kinda neat,

[35remington]

I think you have to have a minimum bbl length to achieve the certain level of accuracy available to allow for good bullet rotation, complete powder burn combustion, etc.



I just don't think your or my bbl would hang onto what they are capable of in the lengths I am seeing suggested.



I can see what you are looking for might make a neat survival weapon, but see no advantage of creating an ultimate sbr hunting rig going that short. You will have to shoot crappy fast loads to get to 1000fps & I'm betting groups would stink for head shots needed.



Tactical Solutions had one called a Sawtooth that was kinda neat,

That's fair. I have never cut something down this far, so it's worth looking into. If I could find a 1:9 twist barrel, that'd be ideal.

[Buff]

I use suppressed rifles a lot.
If someone wounds an animal here at the ranch and I track it down with my dog and shoot it with my .45 LC handgun, it puts every animal,on the farm on high alert.
I used to tell folks, the pig hunting would stay good until they wounded one that I had to finish with a gun. After that the hog pretty much go nocturnal for several days.
Depending on what I'm chasing I chose between 3 guns.
Big hog or red deer in the daylight I use a .300 AAC.
Any doe or 100 pound and under pigs in the daylight I use a custom Ruger .22 rifle with Eley sub sonic ammo
At night I use a SRT .44 with a thermal scope.


I have lost count of how many deer and pigs I have shot with the .22 but it has been a train car load of them.

I have never lost an animal that I plunk a couple of rounds into the lungs.
They might go another 50 yards or so but they don't go far.

Much like shooting an animal with a bow, nothing can live long without lungs.

I have a tax stamp coming to cut the .300 Ruger American down to 10" and have another Ruger American .22 coming from Buds guns.
As soon as it gets here I will apply for a stamp to cut it off to 10"
For a fellow wanting to kill wounded animals with as little disturbance as possible, a .22 is a fine option

[Jethro]

I have to say, I am with Artos on this one. There is lots of accurate, good quality subs out there in the 1050 fps range. Too many options, IMO, to make that a primary consideration in cutting the barrel down to 4.5". Now if you just want one that length, then fine. But to do it just so you could make bulk ammo subsonic would not be the route I would go.

I guess in my mind it just limits things too much for me. If I want quiet, I can shoot subs all day long in my 16-18 inch barrels and be quiet. And if you really just wanted short and compact, you could even chop it down 12-14". But with a longer barrel if I want to I also have the option of running high velocity for more power. Once you chop it to 5", then everything is low velocity.

And I would pretty much bet that the forend of that stock is hollow, and you won't be able to chop the length on it without leaving a gaping hole in the front end. Just my guess, maybe I am wrong on that.