AR Platform for F/TR - barrel length?

[AR Shooter]

Am a dedicated 223R shooter and am having an upper built in order to shoot F/TR on an AR platform. Obviously, I'll have my choice of barrel lengths and am wondering what might be the optimum length for 600yd F/TR shooting. I'm going with 80gr bullets as I'll be somewhat load restricted in the AR action and have a bolt gun I load hotter for 90gr bullets and 1000yd matches.
What say you is the optimal barrel length on a 223 AR for 600yd? 24" or something longer?

 

[Tempest]

For 600 yards personally I would replicate what the SR shooters use, which is typically 20".

At match yesterday I was speaking with one of the SR shooters and he was getting over 1,700 FPS at the 600 yard target using 80g Berger. That's getting pretty close to .308 FTR velocity at the target.

 

[Walt Krafft]

For 600 yards, 24" will be fine. 80SMK or 80.5 Berger N140 or Varget. My first bolt gun ftr barrel used a Wylde chamber and shot fine. 7 or 8 twist barrel.

 

[TexasC]

If it is F T/R not Tactical then COAL is not the same consideration as anything magazine fed. Because F T/R is shot single load. You may need/want a SLED. Even SR, 600 yd stage is shot single load, 80-80.5 are ok but the Berger 85.5 is the cat's meow for 600.

 

[AR Shooter]

If it is F T/R not Tactical then COAL is not the same consideration as anything magazine fed. Because F T/R is shot single load. You may need/want a SLED. Even SR, 600 yd stage is shot single load, 80-80.5 are ok but the Berger 85.5 is the cat's meow for 600.

Hmmm......... will the Berger 85.5 work in an 8" twist?

 

[jelenko]

26" with a +2 gas system would work fine also.

 

[Walt Krafft]

You nay want to check the rules for AR Tac and keep the rifle legal for that. It will give you more options for matches to shoot in, and the target is much bigger.

 

[Sumtoc]

I shot Compass Lake space guns XC with 26" Krieger barrels for about 20 yrs, including 80 Gr SMKs at 600 yds, single loaded. But I'm shooting FTR now and the Berger 85.5 is the ticket for 223 IMO. The only debate on barrel length for XC was that a longer barrel (like 26") made Offhand a bit harder due to barrel dwell time. I couldn't score well on OH anyway so.......

Do the leg work Walt recommends above. I am not familiar with AR Tac rules but I know they will matter. If you plan to shoot regular FTR remember that you'll be shooting against bolt gun guys and all that fancy gear.

 

[LVLAaron]

@AR Shooter Are you wanting to shoot FTR? Or AR-Tac? They're very different.

 

[Medic505]

I would hope you also purchase a good brass catcher so you don't throw hot brass all over the shooter to your right.

 

[jelenko]

I would hope you also purchase a good brass catcher so you don't throw hot brass all over the shooter to your right.

You can also trim the ejector spring 1 to 1 1/2 coils that will drop the fired brass at ~ 1:30 12" to 20". And, there is a deflector/brake that helps. https://www.deflectorbrake.com/

 

[XTR]

The question is do you want to be competitive or just have fun.

On flat relays a 26” barrel will do fine, think of it like a match rifle. (I’ve got a one in the safe).

If it is breezy you will be giving points to the 308s and the 30” 223s shooting 90s, but if it’s what you want to run have fun.

If you’re thinking about AR-tac, that’s different. Read the rules.

 

[TexasC]

Hmmm......... will the Berger 85.5 work in an 8" twist?

Cannot confirm or deny, but them Berger 85.5 are working really good out of my Brux 28" 1:7.5" at 2990.

TexasC

 

[AR Shooter]

@AR Shooter Are you wanting to shoot FTR? Or AR-Tac? They're very different.

Nothing Tac for me. At 78yr of age, moving around with a heavy rifle isn't like it used to be.

Only F/TR at 600yd and benchrest silhouette at 200/300/385/500 meters on 1/3 sized animals (sized so a 223 69gr takes them down - we did shoot 1/2 sized animals, but 40's became too easy so down to 1/3 sized and 40's are rare these days). If the 77 SMK works well at the 500m distance I may make this a dedicated silhouette gun and stick with my R700 bolt-gun for F/TR.

I have a Caldwell brass catcher that does well enough for the benchrest match. We have 10'+ per position at our F/TR match so easy enough to keep the brass 'in bounds'.

I'm hoping my usual 600yd load of 24.5gr of CFE223 with the 80gr SMK or Berger will also work well in the 24" barrel at 600yd. Will also try 77gr SMK loaded to mag length in the silhouette match since it does not require single-feed.

I do realize what I'm giving up against the 308. I've always enjoyed shooting the 223 in SR and don't feel that I'm giving up much at 600yd. On a windy day or at 1000yd its a bigger issue, but those days are infrequent.

Holliger (WOA) is building the upper with a side charging handle. This will be my 5th upper from WOA over the years. Always been happy before.

 

[LVLAaron]

I would consider shooting AR-Tac class. It's designed specifically for what you are trying to do. The only problem with it is you'll be down on the end of the line with the sling shooters.

 

[AR Shooter]

I would consider shooting AR-Tac class. It's designed specifically for what you are trying to do. The only problem with it is you'll be down on the end of the line with the sling shooters.

Thanks. Looked it up and you may be right.

 

[XTR]

Nothing Tac for me. At 78yr of age, moving around with a heavy rifle isn't like it used to be.

Only F/TR at 600yd and benchrest silhouette at 200/300/385/500 meters on 1/3 sized animals (sized so a 223 69gr takes them down - we did shoot 1/2 sized animals, but 40's became too easy so down to 1/3 sized and 40's are rare these days). If the 77 SMK works well at the 500m distance I may make this a dedicated silhouette gun and stick with my R700 bolt-gun for F/TR.

I have a Caldwell brass catcher that does well enough for the benchrest match. We have 10'+ per position at our F/TR match so easy enough to keep the brass 'in bounds'.

I'm hoping my usual 600yd load of 24.5gr of CFE223 with the 80gr SMK or Berger will also work well in the 24" barrel at 600yd. Will also try 77gr SMK loaded to mag length in the silhouette match since it does not require single-feed.

I do realize what I'm giving up against the 308. I've always enjoyed shooting the 223 in SR and don't feel that I'm giving up much at 600yd. On a windy day or at 1000yd its a bigger issue, but those days are infrequent.

Holliger (WOA) is building the upper with a side charging handle. This will be my 5th upper from WOA over the years. Always been happy before.

You need to read the AR tactical class rules. The NRA swears it’s not but it’s basically F-AR and last time I looked it was still shot on the “big target”

 

[LVLAaron]

Thanks. Looked it up and you may be right.

Yes I am.

 

[LVLAaron]

Since they've updated the rules I've considered building a large frame in 6mm something... would be hard to beat.

 

[Jeff Porter]

I’ll throw another log on the fire for AR Tactical class with bipod and squeeze bag etc. and the scope power limit. Sounds like what you want to shoot if you want to stay competing but still use a .223 gas gun.

Aaron - I have a .243 gas gun that is begging me to get it out and shoot AR tactical.