223 Barrel

[tenwalker]

Will I gain much by going to a 28" barrel on my next build. The new one I am just about to finish (223) is a 26" (1 in 12) I will be shooting mostly 50gr v-max for PDs

gun) lightbulb

 

[liltank]

No. At some point with certain cartridges, length will actually start to diminish your return in speed. The 223 was specifically designed to be optimized in compact barrels such as the AR platforms. Most are built with an 18" barrel. I would say 26" would be your max in length and wouldn't hurt it any to shoot a 24". I'm sure others will chime in. 50 V-max in my opinion really won't need that long of a barrel to optimize its potential. Now getting into heavier pills (75-90grn), then that is where the longer barrel would help to stabilize and burn slower powders efficiently used to push them along.

Tank

 

[rdsii64]

I know that this is an old thread but in my 12 twist 24 inch barrel I'm getting 3500 fps with 26 grains of N133 and the 50 grain vmax. I wouldn't think you would need to run anything longer than 24 to 26 inches.

 

[liltank]

I know that this is an old thread but in my 12 twist 24 inch barrel I'm getting 3500 fps with 26 grains of N133 and the 50 grain vmax. I wouldn't think you would need to run anything longer than 24 to 26 inches.

No, that's plenty to splatter anything that breathes. Would be interesting to see what happens when you hit something though.

Tank

 

[rdsii64]

No, that's plenty to splatter anything that breathes. Would be interesting to see what happens when you hit something though.

Tank

Even with that speed I don't it would do very well on something tough. Barnes does have a 50 grain tripple shock I would be willing to try.
If I could get the 50 tripple shock to the same speed that would be quite interesting.

 

[tenwalker]

My .223 with a 26" Krieger with a 1 in 12 and 25.5grs. of N133 and a 50gr. V-max is running at 3667fps. My best shot on its first outing to SD. was 429yds. It will do sub 3/8" 3 shot groups a 100yds. so far but I have only had it to the range once. I hope as I shoot it more that would shrink a little more.