223 barrel shortend to 16.50''

[ratdog]

i have been giving this some thought has any handiholics done it an do you like it and the noise increase. didn't see any thing in facts other than how to cut and crown barrel. would appreciate your reply.

[marine]

  I had my .223 ultra varmint barrel cut down to 18" a few years ago.  The total cost from the gunsmith was $45 for cutting, recrowning and reblueing.  Well worth the cost to me since i was concerned that I would mess something up.  This is the only handi-rifle i have ever owned and its just about perfect now.
  To answer your question,  I wish i had gone to 16 1/2".  It actually became a nicer rifle to carry around in the fields when hunting woodchucks due to better balance.  The weight is still there but shouldering the rifle now I dont notice the weight and it doesnt want to fall backwards when slung on my shoulder.  I used to shoot the wwb 45gr hp into tiny little groups at 100yds and just about the same with Hornady 40gr vmax.  Just about any 55gr ammo would group around 1 to 1 1/2 moa. After cutting the barrel down the lighter ammo just wouldnt shoot as well and 55gr ammo seems to be what it prefers now.  The lighter bullets were like a shotgun pattern at 50 yds. The rifling in mine is a 1 in 12 twist.
  The noise increase isnt really that much but the muzzle blast is. Its not much differant than shooting my short barreled ar15.  I typically use ear plugs or muffs when targeting so its no big deal anyway and those few shots when hunting never cause much trouble. 
  The other change i noticed was the trigger.  I always felt that this rifle had a nice smooth trigger but once some of that barrel weight was gone it just started feeling heavy to pull.  If you havent done a trigger job on your rifle you may want to think about that too.  You will see what i mean if you do any longer range shooting.  I hope this helps you out some with your decision. 

[JMcDonald]

Even with 1gr below starting loads (should be about 38-40k PSI, and is a relatively fast powder for the range used for this caliber), I learned this weekend that my .308 puts out a nice flame once the sun starts approaching the horizon . I'd say the flame seems about basketball-sized. I can't say it is particularly louder since I never shot it with the 22" barrel, but it doesn't seem any louder than other guys on the bench (even .223 shooters, oddly enough). And, realistically, probably any .308 rifle will put out flame in low light, so that probably isn't an accurate metric.
I haven't seen any particular accuracy issues, though I haven't really experimented with many bullets or powders.
I don't think a .223 would be bad.
And you should always wear hearing protection, at least when target shooting. It may not be painful, but 20 or 30 years from now when your ears ring constantly and your most common phrase is "what?," you'll wish you'd gone ahead and protected your ears .
IMO, unless I was going for really long-range shooting (and needed the flat trajectory and higher impact velocities), the 200fps loss isn't a big deal to me.
I do wonder how taking a few ounces off the end of the barrel made the trigger feel heavier, though?

[marine]

  It just seems more noticeable i guess due to the rifle not being so front heavy.  Its not that the trigger pull actually increased.  Plus the scope that was on it before the barrel cutting was a monster.  A light rifle with a heavy trigger seems to make it move more easily on the bench.

[Jimbo47]

  I had my .223 ultra varmint barrel cut down to 18" a few years ago.  The total cost from the gunsmith was $45 for cutting, recrowning and reblueing.  Well worth the cost to me since i was concerned that I would mess something up.  This is the only handi-rifle i have ever owned and its just about perfect now.
  To answer your question,  I wish i had gone to 16 1/2".  It actually became a nicer rifle to carry around in the fields when hunting woodchucks due to better balance.  The weight is still there but shouldering the rifle now I dont notice the weight and it doesnt want to fall backwards when slung on my shoulder.  I used to shoot the wwb 45gr hp into tiny little groups at 100yds and just about the same with Hornady 40gr vmax.  Just about any 55gr ammo would group around 1 to 1 1/2 moa. After cutting the barrel down the lighter ammo just wouldnt shoot as well and 55gr ammo seems to be what it prefers now.  The lighter bullets were like a shotgun pattern at 50 yds. The rifling in mine is a 1 in 12 twist.
  The noise increase isnt really that much but the muzzle blast is. Its not much differant than shooting my short barreled ar15.  I typically use ear plugs or muffs when targeting so its no big deal anyway and those few shots when hunting never cause much trouble. 
  The other change i noticed was the trigger.  I always felt that this rifle had a nice smooth trigger but once some of that barrel weight was gone it just started feeling heavy to pull.  If you havent done a trigger job on your rifle you may want to think about that too.  You will see what i mean if you do any longer range shooting.  I hope this helps you out some with your decision.

Glad you posted your experience.
 
Don't know if I could give up accuracy or some of it for the convienience of a shorter barrel, but it's good information for anyone comtemplating such a move.

[marine]

  The accuracy wasnt bad at all after the barrel being shortened it was just odd that it preferred differant bullet weights after that.  I spent a few years recording the distances of all my woodchuck kills and on average they were less than 100yds.  with that it seemed as though the extra barrel lenght just wasnt forth lugging around when it came to a hunting rifle.  It fills the role of a walk around hunting rifle now and your right portability vs accuracy needs to be thought about before cutting your barrel down.  I dont believe i lost much but gained alot. 
  im sure there are others here that have done this to their .223 handis and maybe they will find this post and share their results.

[ratdog]

thanks marine you answered my question i have a barrel in classifieds if doesn't sell im definitely  going to cut it sounds handier.

[sobeit]

Consider having barrel turned to a smaller diameter.....NEF  std. barrels have no difficulty shedding 3/4 pounds..or more...just compare a NEF 22rf sportster to your stock 223.

[sobeit]

Just weighed a couple of barrels...almost 1.5#s difference between a light weight 22rf and a 223 bull....and thats no bull !

[ratdog]

marine what weight bullets you been shooting in your shorty and what is your barrel twist rate. curious.

[marine]

  I have been shooting 55 grain bullets.  Mostly PMC Bronze fmj and Hornady VMAX.  The 40gr hornady Vmax bullets didnt seem to stabilize after the barrel was shortened. My barrel twist rate is 1 in 12.  I dont reload but if you do im sure you could custom tailor a load that would be much more accurate than i buy. But its not too bad either.  This is a 100yd group with PMC Bronze ammo and the 18" barrel.
 
   

[JMcDonald]

Turning down a barrel will probably have a greater impact on accuracy than shortening it, especially beyond a few rounds.
I see your point about having less weight on the end of the gun, plus having lost the weight of the scope, that the gun would be more succeptible to any pressures and movements.
 
This is actually the first anecdote I've heard showing a barrel to be less accurate after shortening.

[ratdog]

marine my 22'' handi doesn't shoot pmc ammo very good my reloads shoot 1'' groups at 100 yards 55grn spitzers the 62's keyhole like crazy 1-9 twist barrel my ar 15 really shines with 62 russin same twist.good luck with that shorty i did mine today with a sawsall trued it up on my bench sander the sawsall is very controlable mush faster and square. used a hacksaw and file much harder i got the final push to do mine seeing yours.monday range day.

[marine]

  If i had the tools to do it i would have gone at it like you did.  I totaled up the cost of tools and decided it was cheaper to pay someone.  im gonna feel terrible if yours doesnt shoot as good as mine you know.  In reality its hard to beat the accuracy of a handi rifle with good ammo. Ive had $1000 bolt guns that couldnt keep up with it.  Thats why they are all gone now.  good luck with shooting on monday.  Im looking forward to seeing the results.  Did you go to 16.5" with it?

[ratdog]

marine actually i cut it about 16 and 5/8 inches just in case it wasn't cut square but i put masking tape on the side i wasn't cutting cut perfect saw is very easy to control i wouldn't do one again with a hack saw. after i just really smoothed it off with my bench disc sander i use for wood working. i have cut other barrels before and didn't crown them no change in accuracy.my 357 may be next i just got it back from Remington. scope is mounted ready to go and bore sighted.