Light v/s heavy barrel for a .223

inukshuk

inukshuk

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I know that a heavy barrel is better for long ranges in large calibers. Now would it make a noticeable difference on a small caliber like the .223 for accuracy out to 600 yrds since there is little recoil?
 
A good stress relieved barrel will not change poi when it heats up.
A heavy barrel will take longer to get really hot. If you shoot alot this may be important.
I don't understand why so many folks want a big heavy barrel, especially in a .223.
 
You just answered your own question. A heavy barrel will take longer to get really hot. I have a med heavy barrel and wish it would stay cooler longer. I like to shoot alot and like to shoot without having to wait between rounds.
 
It will depend on what is most important to you. You might end up with two guns.

I will describe what I am thinking right now for my purposes. I have lots of heavy barrel and heavy calibre guns around. I find them unwieldy and tend to want to use them less and less. I want a light sporter barrelled 223 that I can grab, run outside, and drive first shot tacks into skunk and other nasty critters.

In the past I have emptied many rapid fire clip loads. The heavier barrel is great for this, it is just that I am not doing it often enough to warrant having one right now. :)
 
canuckhunter said:
Not a problem between match relays. Plenty of time to cool down.
Yep, heavy barrels are perfect for long strings, that's why varmint and match guns have them.
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My light hot barrel has never been a problem either. I don't hold the barrel so it never bothers me.
I think many have them because like the original poster, they think heavy means more accurate.
 
I would think that when the barrel is hot that they are more accurate. In a first shot or second shot I am not conviced that a heavy barrel is more accurate.
 
Note.
I'll never shoot more than 4-5 rounds relaxed between shots. Take my time to check groups, reload and start again. I have a heavy rifle now at 15 lbs and love it and I'll use it only now for long range practice and hunting bigger game. The .223 will be for small game and targeting up to 500-600 yrds.
The rifle I'm looking at is the Tikka camo stainless with a 1:8 twist.
 
Actually, yes, for at least two reasons:

First, and personal, I have a bad shoulder, a lot of rounds even from a .223 aggravates it.

Second and more important, if you don't see the impact on the target, you can't call the shot & adjust. My heavy .223 jumps but I can usually keep the target in view even at high power.




inukshuk said:
Can we say that a .223 really has any recoil worth mentioning?
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It's not the question of temperature or recoil, at least not at the first place. It is about barrel vibrations. Heavy barrel vibrates less that results in tighter groups, whether you cool it or not. Read Vaughn. With light barrel it is difficult to have the precision of a heavy one even for the very first shot.
 
redleg said:
My light hot barrel has never been a problem either. I don't hold the barrel so it never bothers me.
I think many have them because like the original poster, they think heavy means more accurate.
Click to expand...
Well yes they are more accurate. They setup less barrel vibrations. If they were not more accurate, then thin barrels would be the norm for benchrest shooting. They pursue the utmost in accuracy and heavy barrels are one ingrediant. Of course, one has to have the correct design in heavy barrels for a given action/sport as well. That is another story.
Back to the original thought. They take longer to heat up and yes, longer to cool down. In long string shooting this is indeed a desirable thing. It means longer barrel life as hot barrels wear out much quicker.
 
Sadly :(no one here as answered my initial question of weather I would NOTICE a significant difference. I don't need the info on a heavy barrel. I already know that.
Anyways I'm going to purchase the Tikka t3 camo stainless, have my gunsmith fine tune it etc., add a 20 MOA rail and if needed add foam inside the stock. Then go out and do a lot of shooting. Once the barrel starts to go out on me I'll have a new one a bit longer and a size heavier put on. Then if it's to top heavy just add a bit of weight in the stock to rebalance things.

Now to find the right ammo to match the 1:8" twist.
 
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