.223 barrel twist rate & length?

[Target07]

I am looking to re-barrel my Rem 700 .223. It is currently wearing the factory varmint profile barrel (.894" OD) 1/12 twist & 26" in length. I am looking to get something in a heavier twist rate for the heavier grain bullets (ie. nothing over a 75gr. AMAX). I was thinking 1/8 twist what are your thoughts? And is there a particular manufacturer that you would recommend (ie. Shilen, Kreiger, Douglas, or ???).

Next, I will probably have the barrel cut down and re-crown as the majority of the aftermarket ones that I have found are 28" in length or longer. So, my second question is what is a good length, partnered w/ a good twist rate, for shooting up to 75gr. bullets?

 

[chad3]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

16-20" AR seem to be doing fine. If you can get 1:7 twist, I'd go that route.

 

[shooter65]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I went with a 26'' 8 twist Krieger. Shoots lights out.

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: shooter65</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I wwnt with a 26'' 8 twist Krieger. Shoots lights out. </div></div>

Any idea what the profile diameter is on the Krieger you have?

 

[jpmuscle]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Definately get the 1/7 more options is always a good thing.

As for 26" isnt that alil overkill for 223? I ordered a douglas 22" stainless from CLE for my AR and I still feel that will be alil bit to long.

 

[shooter65]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

#17. .895 at the muzzle

 

[shooter65]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Why is a 26'' overkill? My reason is for more FPS.

 

[jpmuscle]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Im jus thinking a shorter barrel is more user friendly and velocity can be adjusted for in the loading process but if one wants all they can get out of it 26" is no biggy just my .02

 

[LongArm]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I like 20" or 22"

 

[shooter65]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I had a 21'' Shilen on it and had it re barreled to 26''. My is built strictly for long range shooting.

21'' is more operator friendly for hunting. All depends on what your purpose will be.

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

You really don't need too long of a barrel to get full burn out of a .223. I would recommend 22" at max.

1:8 twist should do you well. 75 AMAXs will stabilize with that twist.

If you want a GREAT barrel without the long lead time, I can highly recommend a Brux barrel. You should have it in a matter of a few weeks rather than months.

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: darrenk75b</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You really don't need too long of a barrel to get full burn out of a .223. I would recommend 22" at max.

1:8 twist should do you well. 75 AMAXs will stabilize with that twist.

If you want a GREAT barrel without the long lead time, I can highly recommend a Brux barrel. You should have it in a matter of a few weeks rather than months. </div></div>


Thanks. I will have to check them out. Do you have to order directly from them or do you know a distributer that has them. I am thinking about going w/ a 22" bbl 1/8 twist. All I need to do is figure out the profile.

 

[shooter65]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Try here

http://www.brunoshooters.com/Merchant2/m...Category_Code=2

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

You can order directly from Brux. However, some of those Kreiger barrels from Bruno Shooters would work well. Don't worry about the length - the smith can make it the length you want.

What do you want to do with the rifle? Hunt? Target?

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: darrenk75b</div><div class="ubbcode-body">You can order directly from Brux. However, some of those Kreiger barrels from Bruno Shooters would work well. Don't worry about the length - the smith can make it the length you want.

What do you want to do with the rifle? Hunt? Target? </div></div>

Both. Target shooting and hunting coyotes. I figured either way I am going to have the smith cut it down. Just want something that is handy for hunting but I don't want to cut it down so much that it is detrimental to the performance of the .223 round. I was kinda leaning towards a 22" bbl.

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

If you plan on hunting with it, I would recommend a lighterweight contour.

You've been a member here for a while, so may be familiar with the "Halibut" rifle - a lightweight .223/.223 acklet with a 20-22" #3 contour max profile barrel. Throw it in a McMillan Classic stock or a Remington Ti stock, and you have a handy hunting rifle.

 

[BoomStix]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I just talked to the people at Shilen 2 days ago and they are about 16 weeks out right now.

 

[JamieD]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

My personal .223 I just completed was finished at 22". It was a bartlien 1-8 twist medium palma (for an AICS stock).

I'm shooting the 75 A-max with my .223 and easily running 2850 to just over 2900 fps with diff loads. The shorter barrel I think helps keep things stiffer, lighter and easier to lug around.

JamieD
Wolf Precision

P.S. I just ordered a Krieger and there wait time is down to about 2 months now.

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I just spoke w/ a local smith and he has a Rock barrel in stock that may fit my needs. Still waiting to find out the profile and twist rate on it.

I hear a lot of good things about Rock barrels but don't have any expereince w/ them. I assume they're as good as all the other "name brand" aftermarket barrels?

 

[Sterling Shooter]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Target07</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I am looking to re-barrel my Rem 700 .223. It is currently wearing the factory varmint profile barrel (.894" OD) 1/12 twist & 26" in length. I am looking to get something in a heavier twist rate for the heavier grain bullets (ie. nothing over a 75gr. AMAX). I was thinking 1/8 twist what are your thoughts? And is there a particular manufacturer that you would recommend (ie. Shilen, Kreiger, Douglas, or ???).

Next, I will probably have the barrel cut down and re-crown as the majority of the aftermarket ones that I have found are 28" in length or longer. So, my second question is what is a good length, partnered w/ a good twist rate, for shooting up to 75gr. bullets?

</div></div>

Look, if the idea is to get a bullet nose-on to the greatest distance then go with something like a 1/7 and 26-28 inches.

 

[Graham]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

I agree with 1 in 7. Straight-8, if it's a true 8-twist, is fine, too.

But unless you are shooting a AI case, with the greater powder capacity it provides, in my experience 24" is about the limit for performance gain with a .223; and 22" to 24" is ideal for pushing the extreme range of the cartridge with high-BC 80's.

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Rock makes great barrels as well. Look around here and you'll see them used very often.

 

[Sig685]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Sterling Shooter</div><div class="ubbcode-body">Look, if the idea is to get a bullet nose-on to the greatest distance then go with something like a 1/7 and 26-28 inches. </div></div>

A 1:8 or 1:7.75 is a better idea than a 1:7. There is no bullet worth shooting at LR that will be statically stabilized in a 1:7 and not in a 1:8. (You need 1:6.5 for the 90gr SMK or JLK.) And since the OP said 75gr A-max as the longest bullet he would ever use, I would even think that a 1:9 in 26-28 inch will stabilize that quite nicely also.

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

<div class="ubbcode-block"><div class="ubbcode-header">Originally Posted By: Target07</div><div class="ubbcode-body">I just spoke w/ a local smith and he has a Rock barrel in stock that may fit my needs. Still waiting to find out the profile and twist rate on it.</div></div>

Alright, heard back from the smith. It is a Rock No.4 profile (.750" at the crown...from what I could gather from their website) 1/8 twist. Not to familar w/ these profiles. As stated previously my Rem 700 is currently wearing a .894" varmint profile factory barrel. Any thoughts on putting the Rock No.4 profile barrel on my rifle? I mean, I don't want some pencil thin barrel on it but is .750" a lot smaller than .894"...other than the obvious difference it going to look drastically different. I just want a beefy barrel on it.

 

[FCS]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

http://www.rockcreekbarrels.com/prod01.htm

Take a look at the contours Rock offers.

#4 is a lot smaller than a Rem Varmint contour. Worse case, call Brux barrels and you'll most likely have a barrel in hand in two weeks with twist & contour you desire.

8 twist will do everything you want, light Palma contour wouldn't be a bad choice either.

 

[darrenk75b]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

That's kinda a "tweener" contour. Not really light enough for a walking varminter rifle, but not what you would consider a heavy barrel for bench work.

 

[Target07]

Re: .223 barrel twist rate & length?

Thanks fellas. I think I will take all of the advice here and get a brux barrel.