@BowChamp

 

my vote would go to the Muller MI 4 groove or 8 grove

 

I also have a V22S, mine has the Benchmark. It shoots a whole lot better than I do judging by how it shoots when the wind co operates. It shot a 2350 ARA unlimited outdoor the first match this year. Honestly though I don't think you could go wrong either way. There is a lady that shoots one at our matches that is also dead nuts accurate no idea what barrel she uses though. If I were buying a backup rifle I would ask "which one can you get me the fastest", if the time was equal flip a coin.

 

It's a coin toss. A Muller 4MI, Muller 8, & Benchmark 3 groove can all be winners and are all used by top competitors in ARA

Personally, I'd go with the 4MI but wouldn't be opposed to the others if the 4MI wasn't available

 

Muller 4 groove MI or Benchmark 3 groove.....you can't go wrong with either.

I personally wouldn't get the Muller 8 groove, but that's just my opinion.

 

Curious, what's your opinion on the 8 grove? is it not wind friendly?

asking for a friend! lol

 

I have a 8 groove and it shoots very well. I have a 4 mi and so far I think it’s a toss up which one shoots better. I agree with everyone if you can get the 4mi or a muller 8 groove. They are top choices but there have been some impressive shooting benchmarks also.

 

The Muller 8 Groove is considered to be "MI" just like the other configurations Paul makes. I'd be willing to bet there are more high-level shooters using Muller 8's than you think

 

I think opinions very. I think I read someplace where Jerry S said the muller 8 mi is the best barrel RFBR has ever seen. IDK maybe 🤔. I think if you get a good muller 4 or 8 they certainly have proven to win a lot of matches and have set some records I believe. I do know some people who don’t think too much of a muller barrel. But hey I like em.

 

One more match for my 8 groove shooting Eley match. Then switching to the 4mi and CX for the IR regional match in June. Have to commit to shooting it. Hard to leave a good shooting barrel (the 8) for what seems to be a good shooting 4mi. But never shot in a match with it yet. So I have to make the comment to use it and what happens. Happens 🤷‍♂️

 

You could always box up that junky old 8 groove and send it to me for disposal!?!?!?!?

 

I’ve had two M8gr barrels on two different Holeshot rifles. The one I have now shot a 2500 last November. The rifle is better than I am.

 

Yes Sir Mr. Gene. When we start shooting with top end equipment, it become more difficult to see a difference.

 

Salute. 🫡

Strategic thought…
Get both and have them fitted. Having two barrels should widen your ammo choices.

Bruce

 

Have a good shooting 8 groove. It liked two lots. One Midas, the other CX. Took it off last year when I got down to 3.5 bricks total. Goes back on for the Triple Crown.

There’s a lot going on with barrels. The taper of the bore. The chamber, the rifling, the cleaning, the tune and the ammo.

Hard for me to decipher cause and effect with all those variables but know good target when I see one.

Bruce

 

Great buck—those 9" brow tines and 219 lbs are impressive! That Win. Model 70 in .30-06 with 150gr Ballistic Silver Tips is a solid setup for Georgia woods. Sounds like a textbook harvest—well done!

 

30-06!?!?!?!? Heck No!! I used my 22LR rifle. I've killed a truck load of white-tails with it and it's never let me down.

The key is ....PROPER LIGHTING!

 

Best way to get the BIG ones.

 

All makers have manufacturing tolerances. Some barrels made by company X will shoot better than others. It's still a crapshoot.

 

If your rifle already has a Ruger made heavy barrel on it I would first put in a match trigger and try it out with some Eley Rifle Match or Center X ammo before buying a new barrel.

 

OP asked about a barrel for their Vudoo V22S

 

Let's try to stay on topic. The OP asked about choices for a new barrel. They never said why and it doesn't matter.

 

The OP posted 3 days ago and I've stayed out of it so far doing research into the subject to see if there are useful studies using both M4mi and BM3gv that might show which one is better. No luck yet but stay tuned.

 

By the way at our club both Benchmark and Muller make excellent barrels so its up to you which brand to buy assuming these days if you even find one for sale. I got beat in a match last week from a guy that was shooting his Muller barrel for the first time and it was not even broken in yet. If it was me I would go with a Muller.

If it was me I would also call Shilen as the top make of .22 rimfire barrels at our club is the Shilen "ratchet barrel" but I have heard rumors Shilen has either quite making them or is far behind on making match grade rimfire barrels. Their current website only lists .22 rimfire barrels that fit the Ruger 10/22 rifle. I only mention this because if Shilen is only making .22 rimfire barrels for the Ruger you could ask them to ship you an "unturned barrel" and have your gunsmith fit it to your Vudoo. I have a Shilen "ratchet barrel" on my Remington 40x 22 rimfire and you could not ask for a better barrel. I also have a Shilen barrel on my 22-250 and it shot half inch groups not even broken in and the barrel is a lightweight sporter not a heavy barrel so as you can see Shilen is top quality.

There is one more thing I forgot to tell you. Try and find an "indoor range" to test your present V22. When you are outdoors you have not only mirage to contend with but even a gentle constantly changing 5 mph wind will pay havoc with accuracy even when you are using a wind flag (which you should have or you are spinning your wheels trying to test for accuracy).

And it goes without saying if you are not using Eley Rifle Match or Lapua Center X or Midas you will never see what kind of accuracy your present barrel is capable of giving you.

In my area a gunsmith charges a whopping $500 labor to install a .22 rimfire barrel and match barrels these days are going for another $525 so you will have $1,025 in a new barrel after installation. So test indoors first before spending that kind of money on a new barrel you may not even need.

 

If it was me I would also call Shilen as the top make of .22 rimfire barrels at our club is the Shilen "ratchet barrel" but I have heard rumors Shilen has either quite making them or is far behind on making match grade rimfire barrels. Their current website only lists .22 rimfire barrels that fit the Ruger 10/22 rifle. I only mention this because if Shilen is only making .22 rimfire barrels for the Ruger you could ask them to ship you an "unturned barrel" and have your gunsmith fit it to your Vudoo. I have a Shilen "ratchet barrel" on my Remington 40x 22 rimfire and you could not ask for a better barrel.

It's pretty well-known that Shilen hasn't been shipping Ratchet barrels for quite some time and there's long back log. They still offer Ratchets but, from what I was told, they've working out some production process issues. I know of a few people that have received Ratchet barrels in recent months but it doesn't sound like they're in full production yet.

Shilen Octagon barrels had been readily available for awhile but looks like they're currently out of stock at Killough's. Plus they're not taper-lapped. So best practice would be to have it installed by a gunsmith who knows how and is willing to properly taper-lap a barrel

IMO Benchmark and Muller are the top candidates for a RFBR build at the moment. There are other barrels too but I'd go with the most popular among sanctioned RFBR shooters

 

Muller 8 groove would be my choice been shooting one for 3 years luv it