221 optimum barrel length

[Bruce W]

With a short case is there much differance between velocity from 18 inch to 24 inch. I believe i read where 22 inches is about the longest length where velocity increase isnt much more on a longer barrel. Gentlemen, Your input please. Thanks, Bruce

 

[bheadboy]

I have had 15" xp, - 20"40x -22 inch on Ruger #3rebbl and 24' rem 700, I found the velocity about max about max at 20" with only slightly gain on longer bbl the slower powders take too much volume to get enough in to gain over the faster ones so the bbl maxis out about 20"in my experience 40-50grainers

used lil gun, 1680, AA7, both 4198's, 2015, and h322 - today I would try LT 30 as well

Bob

 

[Bruce W]

Thanks for your input, I was going to have a reamer made for lighter bullets ,( 0) freebore, im thinking and a barrel from pac-nor. I was wondering at what point the barrel length would start to show less gain. Bruce

 

[bheadboy]

I found allowijg for .020 bullet jump gave me more boiler room as long as the bullet has neck contact to base of shoulder.

Bob

 

[JohnHenry]

Having a 221FB built now. Went with 22 inch barrel(including the tenon) and chamber has zero freebore and a .250 nk. Unturned my Lapua brass has a loaded neck diameter of .250. Plan the just clean the necks up a little.

 

[Gabe22BR]

Mine's 22 " long. Easy to swing out the window, laying in the passenger side seat. Shoots holes @ 100yd, and was built by Lester Bruno. I sent my action with Jewel trigger to him, he did his "magic on the action, then he chambered a new Krieger barrel cut to 22", PTG reamer .246 neck, throated for 50gr. Sierra BK. Bedded in a Edge stock.

 

[Bruce W]

Yes I was thinking 250 neck also as I turn my brass on everything. I was also going to request that the neck shoulder junction has the same radius as the ppc case to limit case growth. Bruce

 

[boltman223]

I found allowijg for .020 bullet jump gave me more boiler room as long as the bullet has neck contact to base of shoulder.

Bob

I'm with Bob. I like a little extra boiler room and a zero freebore chamber pushes even the 40 vmax and nosler b-tips into the case enough to take up room. I have zero freebore and .025 freebore 223 reamers so I know first hand how the bullets sit in the case and this will apply to 221. if I were to do it again I'd do .040 for the 40's. .040 will keep the bullet completely out of the case and still have almost the whole kneck holding the bullet.

In turn this will also be more versatile if you decide to try some heavier bullets too.

 

[Ackman]

Thanks for your input, I was going to have a reamer made for lighter bullets ,( 0) freebore, im thinking and a barrel from pac-nor. I was wondering at what point the barrel length would start to show less gain. Bruce

You don't want freebore with this one. Or any .22 if you'll be shooting 40's and 50's. With 0 freebore a 40gr bullet touching the lands will be .140" down the neck......that's nowhere even close to infringing on case capacity. And 50's won't go past the neck/shoulder junction. It's easy to find out about this.......chamber a split neck case and see where the bullet is.

 

[Bruce W]

I noticed on some reamer prints that the overall case length is quite long and the freebore is added to that. One in particular had the case length at 1.432 My hornady manual shows a length of 1.400. So that being said with that particular reamer your already starting out at + .032. If i purchase a reamer that will also be addressed. Bruce

 

[Ackman]

I've never seen a .221 case longer than 1.400. Actually they're more about 1.390-1.395". But that's Rem., I've not measured Lapua. And if Lapua .221 is like their .223 the neck will be too thick for a .250" chamber unless you neckturn. Always get your brass first and spec. the reamer to it. Go about .010" and no more than .015" longer than neck length. I believe my reamer is ground for a 1.410" chamber length. Works really well.

 

[Bruce W]

Yes, 1.410 is what i would order