SmallCaliberCentral

Is 22" too short for a 204 Ruger or should I really be looking at a 24" barrel to shoot factory loaded 39 grain bullets?

I know Remington makes the model 700LVSF with a 22" barrel what kind of velocities are you seeing with 39 grain sierra blitz kings loads? Usage will be range fun off the bench to 300 yards and a p dog trip one of these years. thanks for your input!

Is 22" too short? Definitely not!
23" was found to be fastest length (with the following set up)

http://www.bullberry.com/204Rugerdata.html

you match the power burn rate to barrel legth but even then the difference from gun to gun will (i love this sport)

When I had my .204 upper built, the gunsmith told me at that time, "22 inches is the minimum optimal length for the .204", and that is where I had him cut it.

I've been very happy with the accuracy, using 39 & 40 factory ammo. My handloads get even better accuracy.

razor: As others have noted, you'll be fine with a 22" 204. Look at it like this; you're only "sacrificing" about 35 to no more than 50 fps compared to a 24" version of the same rifle.

With the very high speed of this caliber, you'll do very well with a 22 incher, and have a nice handy rifle in the process. I prefer 24" on most of my varmint rifles, but that's just me.

Eventually I plan on a M700 LVSF in 204 too, and I'll have no worries with the 22" barrel.

I have the Ruger MKII Ultralight which has a 20" barrel. I love it. I chronographed a load last weekend and I was getting 3750 fps out of it with 40 gr vmaxes and H4895.

I get 3650 fps out of my 22" barrel shooting 39gr SBK's over 27grains of varget

I just added the LVSF to my 700 collection,just had a trigger job done on it so far,my smith told me to shoot it for a while before deciding on bedding and floating.I have been shooting 32 gr.BKs with benchmerk,it shows surprising accuracy for a factory rifle.Its also a great little carry rifle,the main reason I purchased it.Most of my shots are in the 200-300 yd range at groundhogs,and the 32s have worked fine,although I have a box of 39s that Im going to try for those occasional windy days or coyotes that pop out from time to time.Good luck with your 700,I fell in love with mine on the first shot,Matt