Faxon Rimfire 16″ 416R SS Nitride Threaded 10/22 Pencil Barrel

The Faxon Rimfire 416R SS Nitride Threaded 10/22 Pencil Barrel is the choice for shooters chasing maximum weight savings without sacrificing accuracy or performance. It runs 16 inches in a classic pencil profile and tips the scales at just 1.15 lbs including the thread protector. That is a genuinely dramatic reduction from a factory 10/22 barrel, and you feel it the moment you shoulder the rifle.

Weight at the muzzle is felt more than weight anywhere else on a rifle, which is what makes a pencil profile such an effective upgrade.

Why the Faxon Rimfire 416R SS Pencil Profile Works

A pencil profile removes material along the length of the barrel rather than concentrating it under the handguard. That shifts the balance point rearward toward the receiver, which makes the rifle quicker to swing between targets, steadier offhand, and far less tiring to carry over a long day.

The Faxon Rimfire 416R SS barrel is engineered specifically to reduce front-end weight, enhancing balance and maneuverability. That makes it ideal for competitive rimfire shooters running fast stage transitions, backcountry small game hunters counting every ounce, and anyone building an ultralight plinking rifle.

Key Features

• Designed and manufactured in-house by Faxon from premium 416R stainless steel
• Classic pencil profile that dramatically reduces front-end weight
• Just 1.15 lbs total, including the thread protector
• Salt bath nitride treatment applied inside and out
• 16 inch length threaded for a muzzle device
• Maintains rigidity for consistent point of impact under normal heat loads

Materials, Finish, and Rigidity in Detail

The salt bath nitride treatment is applied to both the interior and the exterior of the barrel, which matters more than a surface-only coating would. It produces a durable, corrosion-resistant surface and extends barrel life across countless rounds of rimfire enjoyment, and treating the bore as well as the outside protects the part of the barrel that actually does the work.

416R stainless underneath the nitride is what makes the accuracy possible. It is the material of choice for match barrels because it holds dimension through machining and resists the corrosion that rimfire ammunition residue can encourage if a rifle sits dirty.

Rigidity is the question every pencil barrel has to answer, and this one answers it honestly. Despite the slim profile, the barrel maintains impressive rigidity for consistent point-of-impact under normal heat loads. Rimfire cartridges generate a fraction of the heat a centerfire round does, which is precisely why a slim profile is viable here in a way it would not be on a .308.

Practical Use, Installation, and Care

Fitting is a straightforward 10/22 barrel swap. Loosen the V-block screws, remove the factory barrel, seat the new one squarely, and torque the block evenly. Check that the extractor and bolt face relationship is correct before live fire, and re-verify your zero afterward since a barrel change moves point of impact.

Keep the thread protector on unless a device is installed. Exposed muzzle threads are easy to ding on a bench, a case, or a truck floor, and damaged threads will cause a device to sit crooked, which is a worse problem than the weight of the protector.

Cleaning should be gentle and occasional. Rimfire barrels often shoot best slightly fouled, so run a bore rope or a patch when accuracy drops rather than after every session, and avoid aggressive brushing that can wear the crown over time.

Balance the rest of the rifle around the change. Once the Faxon Rimfire 416R SS pencil barrel is installed, a heavy optic or a bulky stock can undo the weight savings you just paid for, so choose supporting components with the same ounce-counting discipline.

Build the rest of the rifle to match the weight savings and browse our parts and upgrades collection for stocks, triggers, and mounting hardware that suit an ultralight setup.

Cutting a pound off the front of a rifle changes how it feels in the hands more than almost any other upgrade. This barrel does it without giving up the accuracy that makes a rimfire worth shooting. Ships direct to your door, no FFL required.