.223 Ballistics

[ASG]

I would like to know if there are any significant ballistic advantages in firing the .223 Remington from a 20" barrel or a 26" barrel. I am considering purchasing one of two bolt action rifles with the above mentioned barrel lengths, and it will be for target shooting out to 300 yards. I know that the the longer barrel will have the capability for more accuracy, but in the case of the .223, is a 26" barrel a little much? Do velocities slow down with a 26" barrel? Thanks,

ASG

 

[Mikey]

The longer barrel does NOT have the capability for more accuracy. If both barrels are of the same quality they have the same accuracy capability regardless of length. If you intend to use open sights, the longer barrel will have a longer sight radius which can help the SHOOTER be more accurate.

The longer barrel will give HIGHER velocity and perhaps a little more usable range. Usually the velocity increase will be 50 to 100 fps per inch of barrel, but that's not a constant and can vary. The extra velocity is only useful in a hunting situation since targets don't really require bullet expansion or retained energy (unless you shoot steel targets like silhouettes).

For target shooting, assuming the two rifles are of equal quality, either will do. If you ever want to varmint hunt with it, the edge goes to the longer barrel.

Mikey

 

[STLRN]

As Mikey said, the longer barrel will not improve the theoretical accuracy of the
weapon, however will in most cases increase the muzzle velocity. That will make the
round a little "flatter shooting." The projectile will require less windage and elevation than the standard velocity round. This will increase the Max effective range of your weapon and on windy days may make it a little more “accurate.” But if 300 is the
longest range you are shooting to, there will be very little difference

 

[Blue Duck357]

I think the question on velocity from ASG was refering to the fact all calibers will begin to slow down if fired in too long a barrel. We just don't normally see this as a centerfire round would have too have a really long barrel for the friction to begin outweighing the extra propellant burned. From what I've read .22 rimfires however reach their peak velocity at 16-18 inches and longer barrels just slow the bullet down from the friction of going down the bore with little powder left to burn. But yeah, a 26 inch barreled .223 is going to be quite a bit faster than a 20 inch.

Another factor you might want to consider is that the longer barrel is going to put the sound and muzzel blast another 6 inches from your face which makes it easier for a lot of shooters to get better groups.

Just my thoughts

[This message has been edited by Blue Duck357 (edited November 11, 2000).]

 

[tuc22]

The only advantage of barrels longer than 20" are increased velocity of some but not all types of ammunition. In order to exploit the longer barrel you have to handload and find the right powder/bullet combination for those extra few inches of length. This usually means a slower burning powder to burn longer in the longer barrels. Using factory ammo you will not see significant gain.

 

[Art Eatman]

tuc22: Going back to at least 1940, about every ten years or so somebody at The American Rifleman runs an article about barrel length vs. velocity. Some poor, innocent rifle-barrel gets the hacksaw treatment.

I don't know of any centerfire rifle which is unaffected by shortening a barrel from the one-time standard of 26". I say "standard" because at one time the factories all published charts of muzzle velocities for the various loadings and they all used 26" barrels for the tests.

Handloading has nothing to do with the changes. As a separate issue, one can find the "best" load for any given rifle by proper selection of some powder/bullet combo--but a 26" barrel will always be faster than a 20" barrel.

As a generalization, as you reduce the barrel length from 26", the velocity is reduced by 50 to 70 ft/sec.

FWIW, the more "efficient" case designs such as the .308 apparently run toward the low end; cartridges such as the '06 toward the higher. IIRC, the concept for the .308 was to try for a combination of case and powder which would drive a 150-grain bullet at 2,700 ft/sec from a 19" barrel. Thus the shorter case, somewhat faster ball powder, and higher chamber pressures than the '06.

Hope this helps.

Again.

Art

[This message has been edited by Art Eatman (edited November 12, 2000).]

 

[tuc22]

Art,
Yes, I agree with your statements, what I meant was that longer barrels do give relatively tiny increases in velocity but do not improve the trajectory or drop of a round unless you shoot at extreme distances. If you shoot typical factory ammunition and do not custom handload a round to exploit the 26" or longer barrel and you shoot less than 800 yards then what's the difference? A 20" or 26" is not going to matter to this shooter who asked if there were significant ballistic advantages at 300yards.

 

[Art Eatman]

Well, now, tuc, if you're shooting an '06, and the published velocity w/26" is 2,900 vs. a 20" barrel giving you 2,500 to 2,600, that's a bit over a 10% difference.

If you're shooting a running deer (90-degree path) at 200 yards, the travel time for the faster bullet is right at 1/4 second. For the slower bullet, a half-a-tenth more, roughly. I figure a running deer at about 30 mph, or 44 ft/sec. .05 sec = two feet of lead.

The more you gotta lead him, the harder it is to hit him. It's worse at 300. I can tell you, faster is better. Lead is just as important as trajectory.

And just to throw jokers into the deck, figure one 26" guy who's found out about Federal High Energy, and another 20" guy who hasn't. The question: Whose odds are better?

Now, I understand what you're saying, but a lot of guys can't tell the difference between 250 yards and 400 yards. Heck, I've seen people call a 100-yard range 300 yards! Which is why flat-shooting magnums are used: It ain't 'cause of the "killing power"; it's the flat trajectory for those who can't estimate the range.

Granted I handload, and shoot a lot more than the average fella, with hunting on my mind. But when you walk a fair number of miles trying to kick Bambi out of bed, your only shot is somewhere between 20 yards and 400 yards, and he's in fifth-gear overdrive, you need every edge you can get.

But that's why it's fun, I reckon...

, Art