Thread: ideal barrel length for 223, is there a formula?

Originally Posted by birch

is there a formula for barrel length, am not that knolageable about this but a longer barrel make for better accurcy? shooting off the back of a truck so i dont need to worry about the length getting in the way( ie walking through bush would be better with shorter barrel) ive also been told 223 dont have such a "crack" with a longer barrel , and in theory the powder is still burning when the projectile leaves the muzzle so, if you dont need to worry about any restrictions what would the ideal length be for a 223?

If you aren't worried about barrel length then go as long as you can, any increase in velocity is an advantage.

The US military found that the short 14.5" barrel in the M4 was found wanting compared to the 20" of the M16, so some units would stick with the long barrel if they could.
The only downside to a long barrel is maneuverability and a bit of weight, so if this doesn't matter to you then go as long as you like.
So to answer the question, like all good questions in life the answer is:

There is of course a point were a few inches +/- make negligible difference in velocity but have a big impact on maneuverability.
Need to consider if the extra velocity is worth it too you, if shooting long range and F-class then yes it is, but if hunting under 200m then it won't be beneficial.
If all the powder isn't being burnt due to a short barrel, then just use a different powder.

In most rifles a good do everything length is 18"-22", going to the shorter end if using a suppressor.

It depends.....