Short barrel 223....

[nightwalker]

I have been having a futher think about my "small calibre" rifle requirements, to sum up -

Calibre suitable for shooting fox and crows upto 200/300 yards,probably more at 200)

I reload my own ammunition,so wildcat calibres are not out of the question - just expense of dies/chambering etc in the UK)

Restricted to upto and including 22 centrefires in the UK for Crows,cannot go 6BR etc for crows)

I do walk alot when lamping at night and hate a looong heavy barrel,but could meet a compromise if it was super accurate?)


My thoughts upto now have been a 20 calibre, but on mulling things over, if I went for a shorter barrel,as short as 20")would a 223 be a better option,I would be putting a moderator on it, so no problems about increased muzzle report). I will be going down the route of Night Vision, so thought a rem 700 with weaver type bases,Quick detatchable mounts to go from day scope to night vision), maybe a HS LTR stock, with a cut down varmint barrel to 20"

What does everybody think?

Will the 20 calibres work well in a shorter barrel? will the 223 work in a shorter barrel? what twist would be best,I want as flat a trajectory as possible due to the difficulty in judging distance with Night Vision)

Other peoples experiences would be greatly received...

 

[revenant]

I recently bought a Rem 700 SPS with the short,20") barrel on it because a buddy of mine had one that was remarkably accurate. I also own a 16" and 20" AR,which I know are a little different, being gas guns) and the 20" is VERY accurate using 69 gr. bullets out to 300 yards the few times I have attempted those shots,10" plates using a red dot, non magnified scope, could hit it all day long-trajectory was very flat). I saw very little difference in performance between the 16" and 20" barrell, but I mostly shoot at 100 yards, so who knows?

So, in my humble newbie opinion, if you use a 20" barrel in .223 with a good 69 or so grain bullet and a load that the rifle likes, the answer would be "yes!"

 

[Posit]

I have a Tikka T3 Lite in 223, 1-9" twist, 22 7/8" barrel which shoots 1" groups at 200 yards,on my good days). Weight is, if I recall correctly, 5 lbs plus without scope.

Just a shot in the dark, as it were.

 

[Preacher]

A 14 inch TC Contender .223 barrel will cap a crow out to 250 yards with boring regularity with a 50 grain Ballistic Tip, and a 3x12 Burris scope......... So I'll assume a 20 inch .223 will do even better.........

 

[alf]

My "standard" .223 load is 27.9 gr. AA-2230 with a moly plated Nosler 40 gr. Ballistic Tip.
Chambers are cut with a PT&G reamer,.250 neck, zero freebore.
26" barrel average around 3775 fps.
18" barrel averages around 3525fps.
So, roughly, 30 or so, fps loss to the inch, in this case.
I wouldn't worry about cutting yours back to 20".

Al.

 

[nightwalker]

Thanks Alf, the barrel is getting chopped down as I type!!

I am very keen on using moly coating too, would like to not use it but it just seems unbeatable in my other rifles - 243 and 7mm08, I was thinking about using VVN133 powder for 40 and 50 grainers,bit quicker than VVN135) which might be beneficial for when using moly bullets.

Is my reasoning sound or should I be looking at something else??

Cheers

 

[alf]

I think your reasoning is fine on the faster powders, due more to the shorter barrel, than to the use of moly.

If you have VV-133 on hand, just use it, you'll be fine.

Al.

 

[nightwalker]

Don't have it on hand, only have N150 and N160 in stock, should I be looking at something other than the N133 as I have got to buy something for the 223, I do like VV powders..?

 

[tmc338]

I built a 18" 223 for my nephew on a Stevens action.. Best group so far is .212 . Load is 24.7gr of Data-68 in Lapua brass with 40gr moly v-max .010 off - Rem 71/2 primers. A&B 1-14tw .900 at muzzle Vais brake blueprinted the action. Rifle Basix comp trigger. @ 10 ounces B&C stock tactical/varmit. Out here in the hot dry air of southeast NM It chronographed at 3412 12ft from the muzzle. Shoots extremely good, with the brake lets you call any of your own shots. Tim

 

[grahamfarmer]

hi nightwalker
farmer come fox and vermin shooter here dont know which police force you come under we should all be the same in theory my local force warwickshire allow me to use a 308 for vermin spectacular on crows but a tad expensive even for home loading . personallly use a cz 601 in 223 rem deadly accurate at up to 250 yards favourite loads are
40 grns hollow points sierra for rabbits,
40 grns nosler balistic tips for crows,dont go through
both zero within .25 of inch at 100 yds
50 grns sierra blitzkings for foxes,
55 grns combined technologies silver tips for legal deer
all will stop foxy if he wanders in the way.
the thing you need to watch out for is what moderator you want to use as the over barrel mods require a miniumn lenght of barrel in front ofthe fore end ie pes,reflex and wildcat . i have just bought a rem 700 police in 308 and even that in the ltr version with a 20 inch barrel couldnt take any over barrel mod from what i could find out 22 inch barrels seem to be a short as you can get away with for the over barrel mods.

as for powders personally use varget but from the books n133 is there abouts so try it and see if you dont get on experiment but do watch out for the twist rate in the barrel mine loves light bullets as it is 1 in 13 twist 1 in twelve seems popular and will handle up to 63 grains there are a few 1 in 9 or faster about that will handle the heavier match bullets but light varmint bullets may blowup if you drive em faster than 3000 fps.

as a keepers gun the rem700 or tikka t3 both offer synthetic stocks in varmint or lite versions in stainless your major factor might be mounts for the nightvison where the remington might be a lot easier and edgar bros are having them screwcut ready for us now as well and in my area there are dealers that will supply mods up to 25cal with out proofing the mod or use one off your 243 if the thread is right. pm me if you would like load details or more info.


ps 223rem will stop wild boar if needed can send photo if you want to see.

 

[Ackman]

A couple of my .223's have a 20" barrel and it works fine. Velocity is down a little, but they shoot well. One is built on an AR15. The other is a 788 sporter weight truck gun. With a 20" barrel it handles real nicely. Muzzle blast isn't too bad. That 788 has a 14" twist with very minimal chamber and 0 freebore. Using IMI brass and Rem. 7-1/2BR primer, working load with VV133 powder and a 40 BT/VMax is 3895.