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

In my personal experiance, a 14.5" barrel with a book max load under a 55gr projectile will yield approx 2800fps. A 16" with the same load will gain 50fps. A 20" barrel will gaim another 50-100fps.

thanks for the info guys

Threads that keep on giving

Theres a very good study by the Swedish Police on this topic. It's on the web somewhere, I'll try to find a link.

I have heard it said longer barrels have lower ES, possibly due to more complete powder burn. I don't have a reference for it.

If it would give a practical advantage is questionable since longer barrels are also expected to be whippy and a long heavy barrel profile means poor balance, but then again everyone uses bipods.

This post is bringing up good memories for me.

I had a 20"

Sold it albeit it was a semi varmint profile barrel.

Next time I went for a 16" as a all-rounder for hunting, 3 gun and yeeting with having a great time.

I found 16 was hands down the most practical.

Using irons ringing steel at 270y was stupidly easy.

The thing for a 223 I think I'd actually be more concerned with would be twist rate.
@Beavis will be able to offer more insight on the subject than I but I found 1 in 8 was a good all-round twist rate.

Hope this info helps

Originally Posted by Cordite

I have heard it said longer barrels have lower ES, possibly due to more complete powder burn. I don't have a reference for it.

If it would give a practical advantage is questionable since longer barrels are also expected to be whippy and a long heavy barrel profile means poor balance, but then again everyone uses bipods.

Longer than what? My load in my 18" rifle has a 1.7fps SD so rifles with shorter than traditional barrels certainly don't struggle to have good ED/SD.

Originally Posted by Rock river arms hunter

This post is bringing up good memories for me.

I had a 20"

Sold it albeit it was a semi varmint profile barrel.

Next time I went for a 16" as a all-rounder for hunting, 3 gun and yeeting with having a great time.

I found 16 was hands down the most practical.

Using irons ringing steel at 270y was stupidly easy.

The thing for a 223 I think I'd actually be more concerned with would be twist rate.
@Beavis will be able to offer more insight on the subject than I but I found 1 in 8 was a good all-round twist rate.

Hope this info helps

If I built a bolt gun today in 223, I want a 1:7, maybe even a 1:6.5 twist. I wouldn't mind having a play with some of the 90-95gr bullets.

I'm currently running a 17" barrel on my GBC straight pull rifle and getting 2700fps with 75gr Gold Dots. I can load it hotter, could probably push it to 2800, but getting ok accuracy and using less powder where I am. This load really takes 223 to another place firepower wise.

Just out of interest, would the barrel length make a difference for a bolt gun vs semi auto regarding velocity?

Originally Posted by JaSa

Just out of interest, would the barrel length make a difference for a bolt gun vs semi auto regarding velocity?

Literally no difference. The difference will be between barrel idiosyncrasies. Some barrels are faster than others, some barrels take a couple hundred rounds to foul up and then will jump in velocity.

A bit academic these days anyway.

Originally Posted by Beavis

If I built a bolt gun today in 223, I want a 1:7, maybe even a 1:6.5 twist. I wouldn't mind having a play with some of the 90-95gr bullets.

I'm currently running a 17" barrel on my GBC straight pull rifle and getting 2700fps with 75gr Gold Dots. I can load it hotter, could probably push it to 2800, but getting ok accuracy and using less powder where I am. This load really takes 223 to another place firepower wise.

With no semi options these days and most bolt actions like the Tikka's not sized to the 223 case at what projectile weight would it be more logical to just buy a 243 and be done with it. I ask as 90-95g bullets seem to be 243 territory.
Full disclosure I do not own a 223 or 243, just an interested observer.

I'll break out the defib on this one. Is a 16" or 18" 223 with a suppressor going to have any issues shooting factory ammo? Cheers

Originally Posted by hamishg

I'll break out the defib on this one. Is a 16" or 18" 223 with a suppressor going to have any issues shooting factory ammo? Cheers

HAHA about the defib but no, I don't see why it would.

Cheers 300cal. Wouldn't foul the suppressor faster or anything? Any advantage going 18 over 16 other than a few fps?