22" vs 18" .223 bolt rifle barrel

[swampratt]

Yes under reloading section.
I went shooting today and tested 2 savage Axis bolt rifles.
Both began as 22" barrels and I cut one down to 18".
Loads were not as finicky in the 18" barrel which I have found to be true for all my rifle barrels I made shorter .

I had 2 different loads today some 55 V-Max with H4895 and some 50 V-Max with H335.

Long barrel did not like my long seated loads but that load was not worked up for that chamber either.
It was worked up for the other rifle when it had a long barrel.

I drew a 1.2" circle and shot at the middle of it and the long barrel sent one load 2.5" low out of the circle and the other load was 1:00 above the circle.

The shorter barrel rifle put all rounds in the circle.

Guess what is going to happen to the 22" barrel some time in the future

You guys already know all this stuff.

 

[Shinneryfarmer]

Cut it down, 18" has always been my favorite barrel length. They seem to be more forgiving for lack of a better word across a range of loads.

 

[Beautiful Mulberry]

Can you get those groups any tighter?
They already stack on top of each other

 

[mr ed]

Yes under reloading section.
I went shooting today and tested 2 savage Axis bolt rifles.
Both began as 22" barrels and I cut one down to 18".
Loads were not as finicky in the 18" barrel which I have found to be true for all my rifle barrels I made shorter .

I had 2 different loads today some 55 V-Max with H4895 and some 50 V-Max with H335.

Long barrel did not like my long seated loads but that load was not worked up for that chamber either.
It was worked up for the other rifle when it had a long barrel.

I drew a 1.2" circle and shot at the middle of it and the long barrel sent one load 2.5" low out of the circle and the other load was 1:00 above the circle.

The shorter barrel rifle put all rounds in the circle.

Guess what is going to happen to the 22" barrel some time in the future

You guys already know all this stuff.

try re-cutting the crown and see how it shoots before you shorten it.

 

[swampratt]

try re-cutting the crown and see how it shoots before you shorten it.

I have done that a few times and it has helped but never as much as shorter with the same cut crown.

My 6.5 CM was the worst with the 22" barrel.
One day it shot great and then let the temps change and it shot horrible.
I cut it shorter 2 times and now it is at 19" and holds good.

I had issues with my 30-06 not shooting boat tailed bullets worth a darn.
Flat base bullets no issues.
I touched up the crown just a little and it now shot the boat tailed bullets very well.

I have not cut the 30-06 22" down but I did get another 30-06 22" and have thought about it.

You know a short 30-06 would be a loud one.