January 18, 2023 Most of us have a.223 Remo rifle. Now, thanks to our friends at Rifleshooter.com we can assess exactly how velocity changes with barrel length for this popular cartridge.Rifleshooter.com performed an interesting test, cutting the barrel of a .223 Rem rifle from 26? All the way down to 16.5 inches. The cuts were made with a rotary saw in one-inch intervals. The magnetospeed chronograph measured velocity at each length. The test was made even more interesting by the inclusion of four types of.223 Rem/5.56 ammunition at each length. Rifleshooter.com conducts these tests and has a full-service gun shop at 782 Custom Gunworks. Visit 782guns.com.READ RifleShooter.com 5.56/.223 barrel cut-down test article >> Test Barrel lost 25.34 FPS per inch (.223 Rem Chambering).
What percentage of velocity did each 1 lose, on average? reduction in barrel length? This may surprise you. The average speed loss for the four types of.223/5.56 ammunition was 9.5 fps. The average barrel length reduction was 240.75 feet per inch (from start to end). This results in an average loss of 25.34 feet per inch. To 16.5? Start FPS at 26 FPS ends at 16.5 Total Loss Average Loss per Inch UMC.223 55gr3182* 2968 212.2 FPSFederal.193 55gr3431 3187 244 25.7 FPSFederal.193 55gr3431 3187 244 25.7 FPSFederal.223 Win m855 62.5gr 3280 2992 284 30.3 FPS Blk Hills 30.3 FPS Win m855 62.5gr 217 22.8 FPS 22.8 FPS 25? The velocity was higher at 3221 feet per second. Rifleshooter.com observed that “Cutting the barrel to 26? The barrel was reduced from 26 to 16.5 inches. This resulted in a velocity drop of 214 feet/sec using the UMC 223, 55-grain cartridge, 244 feet/sec using the Federal M-193 cartridge, 288 feet/sec using the Winchester M855 cartridge, and 217 feet/sec using the Back Hills 223, 68-grain match cartridge. “How the Test Was Conducted
According to the testers, their procedure was as follows: “Ballistic data were gathered using a Magnetospeed barrel mounted ballistic chronograph. The rifle was fired from a front rest equipped with rear bags and five rounds of each type ammunition at each barrel length. Each round was recorded with its average velocity and standard deviation. After data had been gathered for each cartridge at a given length barrel, the rifle was cleared. The bolt was then removed. The barrel was removed using a cold saw. For the next length, the test protocol was repeated. The temperature was 45.7? F” CLICK HERE to read the Rifleshooter.com test. This includes detailed charts with inch by inch velocity numbers. See More Barrel Cut Down Tests on Rifleshooter.com
Rifleshooter.com performed barrel cut-down testing for many other calibers/chamberings, including 6mm Creedmoor and.308 Winchester. See these test results at Rifleshooter.com.Much Different Results with 6mmBR and a Longer Barrel
Rifleshooter.com’s.223/5.56 test results are very different from the results we obtained years ago using a barrel chambered to hold the 6mmBR cartridge. We reduced our 6mmBR barrel from 33 to 28? From 33? to 28? We lost only 8 FPS per inch. This is obviously a different cartridge, but our 6mmBR barrel length was also longer than Rifleshooter.com’s.223 Rem begin length. With shorter barrel lengths, velocity loss can be more severe. Different cartridge types and powder/bullet combinations will produce different results.
Similar Posts:Tags :.223 Rem Barrel Cut Velocity, Barrel Test Velocity, Cut-Down Test and Barrel Test.
