16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

[Anchor Zero Six]

Picked up a CZ 527 Kevlar varmit rifle in 223 last week and dropped it off with a local smith that I am feeling out for future work.

I would prefer 16" but There is a nagging voice saying 18" is the shortest I should go with the 1 in 9 twist.

So whats the Hide's take on the subject?

 

[uscbigdawg]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

With a 1:9, either will work, but when in doubt, it's a hell of a lot easier to keep it longer than to make it grow 2" (insert smart ass response to that ).

Rich

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

I have a metric shit ton of 55gr ammo but I also reload so if its a matter of having to cook up a load to work thats certainly an option but I would prefer to burn through whats already loaded up first.

I have a SAS flash hider/supressor mount that will also be installed so I think I'll probably try the 16" to bring the OAL to roughly 18".

 

[uscbigdawg]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

Send some bullets south (I'm temporarily in California).

Rich

 

[dontstrokeme]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

If 16" isn't enough in 223Rem just set-back and ream to 223AI....if you go with a thicker lug on the setback I wonder if it would keep you leagal at 16" ????? hmmmmm

Or just cut 16 1/2"!!!!!

 

[RBell24]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

never had one 16". Why not just be safe and keep it 18"

 

[AUJohn]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

What do you want to do with it?
Without knowing that no one can give useful input.

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

As for what I want to do with it...burn through a bunch of ammo, have a compact fun rifle for critters and lastly have a small caliber centerfire for my girl to shoot since she wants to step up from the .22RF

 

[ORD]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

Shooting 55gr ball out of a 1:9 twist barrel will work well with either the 16" or 18" barrel without any problem. If you plan on shooting anything heavier than 55gr (like moving up to 68 or 69gr loads), I'd keep your barrel length longer to give you an increased edge in terms of muzzle velocity and hopefully be able to stabilze the heavier bullets with the slower, 1:9 twist.

 

[ArcticLight]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

I have a 14.5 and it shoots 55 and 62 just fine.

While I had issues extracting 62's it was because I used a dirty powder on the 55's (I reloaded them).

It holds 1-1.5 MOA at 25 yards - hits the steel at 200.

16-18 will shoot just fine I'm sure out to 300 or 400.

 

[Anchor Zero Six]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

Thanks for the info, think I'll try the 16" and see what happens. Worst case I end up replacing the barrel with a match grade 1 in 7. 62gr would be about the heaviest I be shooting SS109

 

[carbinero]

Re: 16" or 18" for 223 with 1 in 9 twist?

Since you mentioned girl, why not 18" to keep the blast that much further away. It would make it that much more pleasant for her. Also, the extra 2" might be nice for hunting anything larger than little varmints. I have 16" and 20" 5.56s and think 18 would be great.