.223 short barrels

[kayakcox12]

Hi all,
Have been shooting for ages and now have a .223 avalible on my ticket - long range vermin and deer in a woods. Just trying to understand shorter barrels - 16.5 inches instead of average 20 inches realise they are slightly less slower (40fps per inch roughly) but are they less accurate? (Or less than I‘m going to notice?!) So when I turn up for the odd range days at 300/600m I’ll still hit the target - realise its also about the ammo too….

Love to hear your thoughts!

Kayakcox

 

[HonestJohn]

DYOR

 

[kayakcox12]

Hence asking some people who might know on here?! Thanks anyway….

 

[Dr. Strangelove]

Should be no difference in accuracy! Yes, you’ll lose MV but should still be able to hit targets out to 600m. With .223 you’ll be more affected by wind than losing 4” off the end of the barrel, in my opinion!

 

[Mungo]

DYOR

What, precisely, do you suppose he’s doing?

Speaking as someone who does research for a living, asking a group of people with a wealth of relevant experience is among the best possible ways to do research.

 

[kayakcox12]

Should be no difference in accuracy! Yes, you’ll lose MV but should still be able to hit targets out to 600m. With .223 you’ll be more affected by wind than losing 4” off the end of the barrel, in my opinion!

Sorry - MV?

 

[Mungo]

Sorry - MV?

Muzzle velocity

 

[3OH8]

Out to 600 you’ll be fine. Knowing what your velocity is, for your calculations, is more important than what it is.

I shoot one with a 16.5” barrel myself. Plenty accurate.

 

[Heym SR20]

Short barrels will give less velocity unless compensated for by using a faster burning powder.

Shorter barrels may be a bit stiffer and will flex less on firing than a longer barrel and this may mean better accuracy.

A short barreled rifle will be substantially louder and may well feel very unbalanced.

 

[Milk no sugar please]

I had a m590 chopped down to 18” from 22 and I am still able to get around 3000fps with a 55gr bullet. I’ve not shot it more than 250 yards but the rifle is extremely handy and pointy. I much prefer it. It is noticeably more noisy but just as accurate as it was before it was shortened

 

[25 Sharps]

I’m going against the flow here, 300/600 yards at the range doesn’t come into it. If you are shooting long range vermin with .223 you want velocity, velocity comes from a longer barrel, 24 or 26” so you can eek velocity out of the cartridge and buck the wind as much as possible.

What’s the driver for a short barrel on a long range vermin gun?

 

[bluesako]

i had a 18 inch barrel on a remmy 700 223 rem shot it out to 840 yds no problem iwish i hadnt sold it bs

 

[Mungo]

I’m going against the flow here, 300/600 yards at the range doesn’t come into it. If you are shooting long range vermin with .223 you want velocity, velocity comes from a longer barrel, 24 or 26” so you can eek velocity out of the cartridge and buck the wind as much as possible.

What’s the driver for a short barrel on a long range vermin gun?

I have seen it claimed that .222 and .223 have such a small amount of powder and are efficient enough that they don’t need longer barrels to get all possible velocity out of them. Any thoughts?

 

[viking90]

My .223 came with a factory 12.5" barrel and its fine for 300m. I really need to scope it up to make it better past that sort of distance.

 

[25 Sharps]

I have seen it claimed that .222 and .223 have such a small amount of powder and are efficient enough that they don’t need longer barrels to get all possible velocity out of them. Any thoughts?

Yeah, it’s guff, you only have to run it through quick load.

My 25-45 is a .223 necked up to .257, so burns the same amount of powder, it has a 25” barrel. There is no way on this earth I could keep it within pressure tolerance and get it large deer legal with a 20” barrel.

 

[Skinny78]

I have seen it claimed that .222 and .223 have such a small amount of powder and are efficient enough that they don’t need longer barrels to get all possible velocity out of them. Any thoughts?

Sharps is correct, long bull barrel and you can really stretch the 223 out.

 

[25 Sharps]

My .223 came with a factory 12.5" barrel and its fine for 300m. I really need to scope it up to make it better past that sort of distance.

Define fine?

12” steel plates in no wind?

A 300 yard magpie in a 10 mph crosswind?

 

[PhilSN12]

My foxing rifle is a Schmeisser SP15 with a 14.5" barrel, 1:9 twist and it has no problem with accuracy and I will engage foxes out to 250y in the right weather conditions, although I normally stick to 200y.
I have not shot a steel target with it past 350y so far, but this is just down to not having the chance.
Having used 5.56 for many years I know how the round can be affected by wind so 600y would be challenging if it was gusty.
I use 55g Federal Premium which leave the barrel at 2848 (3240 on the box), zeroed at 170y (secondary zero at 61y) gives a flat enough trajectory to just aim dead on at Charlie out to 200y.
If you are going to be shooting out to 600y and you have not got Strelok Pro it would help you with the long shots. Also chrono the weapon once you have found a round that suits the barrel.
Don't be put off by certain characters on here, spread your wings with your research. Join Snipers Hide and ask your questions about this calibre and barrel lengths as the yanks can dispell any myths about it as they have been using short barrel AR's/M4's for years.

 

[Mungo]

Yeah, it’s guff, you only have to run it through quick load.

My 25-45 is a .223 necked up to .257, so burns the same amount of powder, it has a 25” barrel. There is no way on this earth I could keep it within pressure tolerance and get it large deer legal with a 20” barrel.

Does the standard 30fps loss per inch apply, do you know?

 

[Skinny78]

Yeah, it’s guff, you only have to run it through quick load.

My 25-45 is a .223 necked up to .257, so burns the same amount of powder, it has a 25” barrel. There is no way on this earth I could keep it within pressure tolerance and get it large deer legal with a 20” barrel.

Bull barrel?