Shorten 223 barrel?

[Single Six]

Thinking about shortening my Edge XP 223's barrel to 16" to give it better balance and be a little handier(currently 22"). I'm also theorizing that it might increase accuracy, less long, thin barrel whipping. I know I'll lose some velocity, but I don't think it will be a big issue, I'll probably be 300yd or less, unless something magical happens and I start shooting a lot better, ha!

What do you think?

Thanks

[GaCop]

It's doable. If you handload, going to a little faster powder may help with some of the velocity loss. My 16" AR carbine with a Stag Arms non chromed barrel in a Yankee Hill free float handguard will do 1" at 100 yards all day with a 60gr V-Max handload. Chrono velocities are in the high 2700fps range.

[Blue Avenger]

Had a 10" Encore .223 that would do 3"@300yds with a 3x12 handgun scope. Never did check the speed. Paper and Crows were DOA. Friend and I traded that barrel back and forth a few times!

[Single Six]

That's what go me started on it. Thinking about getting a Contender or something handier, then I thought heck, if 223 shoots OK out of them, why not just shorten mine...and I knew ARs are sometimes equipped with shorter barrels.

[mopar440]

my 16'' ar holds under an 1 at 100 yards not going to lose much on speed with 223 might gain a little accuarcy by cleaning up the crown i say go for it should be a pretty balance rifle

[allgrainbeer]

Hi everyone, i thought if the barrel was under 18 inches... it was considered a handgun and therefore need to be registered as such....

can someone clarify this thought i have floating in my head.......

thank you

[dmack]

18" is for shotguns.

Q:What is the registered part of a Short Barreled Rifle (SBR) or Short Barreled Shotgun (SBS)?

While a receiver alone may be classified as a “firearm” under the Gun Control Act (GCA), SBRs and SBSs are classified in totality under the National Firearms Act (NFA). A firearm that meets the definition of a SBR consists of a rifle that has a barrel less than 16 inches in length. A SBS consists of a shotgun that has a barrel less than 18 inches in length. The serialized receiver is recorded for registration in the National Firearms Registration and Transfer Record (NFRTR).

http://www.atf.gov/firearms/faq/national-firearms-act-short-barreled-rifles-shotguns.html

[Hammer]

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Why do people talk about such sensitive topics in mixed public ?

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[Single Six]

To clarify.

Why not? No one's talking about anything illegal.

[Hammer]

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The horror of it all.

Shortening a perfectly good barrel.

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[Single Six]

ROTFL

[Blue Avenger]

16" min for carbine type rifles 30" min for a hammer rifle!

[Single Six]

Hammer rifle?

[Blue Avenger]

Mr. Hammer Likes long barrels, 26" is a carbine in his world. ;)

[Hammer]

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With its buttstock firmly on the ground...

A real rifle barrel can have a large American flag hung from it and be saluted by six Marine Divisions with the flag snapping in the wind as the Marine Corps Band plays The Star Spangled Banner.

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[Hammer]

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For a few dollars more...

Pac-Nor can make you an 80-inch rifle barrel.

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[Single Six]

At what point does length become moot?

[Hammer]

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The distance between the Earth and the Moon varies due to the Moon's elliptical orbit.

Perhaps at its shortest distance extra barrel length becomes moot.

[Hammer]

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We were all taught as children that if we can get a little closer to the target then we should.

Figure every extra inch of barrel length gets me a little closer to the target.

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[helotaxi]

It's doable. If you handload, going to a little faster powder may help with some of the velocity loss.


No it won't. Pressure peak is going to be the LIMFAC and it is not driven by barrel length. The highest velocity load in a longer barrel is also going to be the highest velocity load in a shorter barrel.