Shortening a 233

[Shootermick]

Has anyone had a 223 barrel shortened? If so, to what length, and was it a success?

[straightshooter]

Possibly not quite the answer you may be looking for but here goes.
I have Whitworth Mini Mark X now known as a Zastava M85. Quite a few years ago I wanted to be able to shoot ADI 62 grain projectiles with reasonable accuracy so I replaced the original 12" twist 22" long barrel with a 9" twist 20" long barrel.
That 2" reduction in length made the rifle even handier and it seems to now have even better balance.
I realize that reduction in length would have meant the loss of a few fps at the muzzle but I haven't noticed any loss of downrange performance as I will rarely take a shot at game beyond 100 to 150 meters.
I also haven't noticed any substantial increase in muzzle flash.

[madang55]

I believe....happy to be corrected...that the 223 and 308 are calibres which don't suffer too much from shorter barrels. However, I see some of the newer ( and IMHO pointless) Taipans, Wawricks with the real short barrels produce a muzzle flash out to a metre. Quite spectacular in the daytime, so night shooting would be a hoot.

[TuskerOrd]

Since moving to NZ, I was shocked by the fact that shooters here have no issues in shortening barrels to 14 or 16 inches. Wirh great success.

Ive got a stack of 4 to 8" off cuts - a lot off brand new rifles.

Dont be afraid to chop your 223s barrel mate. Personally Id go for a 16 or 18.

[Shootermick]

Since moving to NZ, I was shocked by the fact that shooters here have no issues in shortening barrels to 14 or 16 inches. Wirh great success.

Ive got a stack of 4 to 8" off cuts - a lot off brand new rifles.

Dont be afraid to chop your 223s barrel mate. Personally Id go for a 16 or 18.

It’s a Lithgow with a 22” barrel, too cumbersome to handle in the ute at night with the thermal. I was thinking about a new shorter barrelled rifle, but for the cost of a new one, and the hassle of selling the old one I’m considering just going the chop back to 18”, maybe 16”. I’ve had a .22 rifle cut back to 16” a few years ago and the local gunsmith did a great job, so I’d just go back to him again.
Probably the most cost effective way to solve my problem.

[bigpete]

I chopped my 223 down to 18 inches. Still shot half to three quarter inch groups at 100m after

[Shootermick]

I chopped my 223 down to 18 inches. Still shot half to three quarter inch groups at 100m after

What rifle was it BP?

[bigpete]

My dads old fox rifle,a Remington 788

[Billo]

I see no point in owning a 223 with a barrel longer than 20 inches. Shorter barrels are more accurate and a bit thickness only helps as a heat sink.

[tuknal]

ive cut a howa down from 24 to 22 inch,, and ive got 7inch of suppressor on the end of that and dont have an issue out of the drivers seat at all ,but having said that ,im going to cut it down to 18 soon ,cant see it being a issue

[on_one_wheel]

Imo the only advantage you'll ever have with barrel length being on the long side is that it gives you a more accurate sight plane when using open sights.
Bust out the hacksaw and chop it down to the minimum legal length

This might be helpful.

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