223 velocity in different barrel lengths ?

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20 April 2009, 22:06

fla3006

223 velocity in different barrel lengths ?

Gentlemen, I am curious about differences in 223 muzzle velocity from AR15-type rifles with different length barrels, specifically 20, 22 & 24 inch barrels. Anyone ever chronograph? Thanks!

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

22 April 2009, 02:21

BECoole

A 20" barrel will keep a proper load like an 80 Sierra supersonic at 1,000. I think a 16" will stay supersonic at 600, but again you need a decent load. The sight radius of a 16 makes it poor for 600.

Sorry, I don't know what the longer barrels do.

30 April 2009, 06:47

fla3006

I'm looking at the target/varmit rifles with long barrels, wondering if there is any point going beyond 20".

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

30 April 2009, 17:49

tiggertate

I have both, Forrest and I can't say there is any difference in field performance but there is more muzzle blast (from the shooter's vantage point) with the shorter barrel. It should make no difference in accuracy at all.

Also, the 20" barrel is much easier-handling; more so than you would think for only four inches less.

"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.

30 April 2009, 18:25

fla3006

I'm leaning toward the Remington/Bushmaster VTR with 22" free floated fluted barrel. I have a S&W M15 carbine.

NRA Life Member, Band of Bubbas Charter Member, PGCA, DRSS.
Shoot & hunt with vintage classics.

30 April 2009, 21:18

tiggertate

22" sounds like a nice compromise.

"Experience" is the only class you take where the exam comes before the lesson.

13 May 2009, 00:26

DaMan

quote:
Originally posted by DaMan:
It took me a while to find this. Bushmaster no longer has it on their site.

I took a pic of the printout I had in my reloading records.

13 May 2009, 03:07

perry

would you consider a 20" with a supressor?

Perry

13 May 2009, 08:23

jstevens

20 in. is plenty long, and they get too heavy pretty fast. My 16 in. mid length carbine weighs 8.8 pounds with scope, sling, and a loaded 30 round mag. Picture adding a 24 in bull barrel to that. The 20 loses less than a hundred fps for me, another 150 or so to go 16 in.

15 May 2009, 03:17

homebrewer

Saeed ran a velocity test on .22s sometime in the past. I found it somewhere on this site-- or maybe I found it by searching the subject. Don't remember...

15 May 2009, 03:43

DaMan

quote:
Originally posted by homebrewer:
Saeed ran a velocity test on .22s sometime in the past. I found it somewhere on this site-- or maybe I found it by searching the subject. Don't remember...

I don't get it! What do the tests of different barrel lengths vs. velocity in .22LR have to do with barrel length/velocity comparisons in the .223 Rem/5.56 x 45mm?!!!