223 barrel heat

G

Goper Slayer

New member
is a heavey barrel really needed fora 223? I know that a 22 250 will heat up a heavey barrel just after a couple of shots. willa 223 do the same? Im just wondering cause i like brownings hunter and they are sporter wieght barrels. I might fire a few rounds in quick sensession and dont really want to shorten barrel life. it will be used for gopher and yote huntings.
 
Goper Slayer, if you are not shooting prairie dogs or some sort of competition where a long string of shots is required, you don't have to worry about a heavy barrel. Yes, a 223 can heat up a barrel, but you'll do fine with a sporter weight for calling or a walk-about rifle. The increased surface area on a heavy barrel is inducive to quicker cooling and the mass adds rigidity for more consistent accuracy. Remember, a barrel is like a tuning fork. The stiffer the barrel, the smaller the arc at the muzzle during the stresses of firing a bullet. A light barrel can be just as accurate as a heavy one. But the heavy one may hold the group together over a longer shooting string. And don't worry too much about barrel life in a 223, they'll last a long time. Sorry about the ramble...got up too early this morning. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif
 
Any cal reguardless of size will heat up if you shoot long enough. Do you need a heavy barrel on a 223 , NO . The heavy barrel should shoot more accurate but this doesn't always happen. Lot's more to accuracy than barrel size. If you are going to be doing most of your shooting off sand bags then the heavy barrel is the way to go, if the rifle is a calling rifle the light barrel is much better. The 223 barrel should out last two 22-250 barrels. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif
 
I have heavy barrels on my ARs (.223 & .204) just because I use them mostly for competition or prairie dogs and rapid, high count firing is usually desirable.
My Savage .204 has a sporter barrel since it is usually shot under more controled situations. The lighter barrel is a lot more comfortable for carrying in the field.
You need to evaluate what your usual shooting will be. How may shots in a row will you normally be making. If only 1-3 within a given situation, you really don't need the heavy barrel. If you are going through 20-30 in a matter of 30 seconds, that's a situation that requires a lot of consideration in favor of the heavier hardware.
 
I have the long "soda straw" barrel on my CZ 527 in 223. It only has a 5 round magazine, but as fast as I can shoot that thing, the barrel has yet to get too hot to comfortably hold. It does get hot, but not excessively.

YMMV.

Regards,
Stubb
 
Stubb: No being a wise a$$, I also shoot CZ 527's, my Rabbit Rifle is the carbine. Our Jack rabbit population is such we shoot many more times than P dogs, even. Last night I got my barrel to hot to touch. I try to alternate 10 shots w/ CZ and 10 w/ Ruger 1V, but Ruger in for trigger job. Will be taken' the 17 HMR tonight. I worry, but my gunsmith says just keep shootin'.
 


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