.223 Remington Velocity by Barrel Length
Velocity by barrel length for the .223 Remington cartridge. We'll also discuss best barrel lengths for various applications, although the discussion will be a bit more limited than for the 5.56 cartridge, since many dedicated .223 firearms are bolt-action rifles with less customizable barrel lengths. Data for Black Hills 68 gr. and Remington UMC 55 gr. FMJ are from RifleShooter.com. The velocity data for Remington UMC 45 gr. and 50 gr. JHP's are sourced from Ballistics By The Inch.
Note: If you're looking for velocity by barrel length data for the 5.56x45mm NATO cartridge, see - 5.56 Velocity by Barrel Length
| Barrel Length | Black Hills 68 gr. Match | Remington UMC 55 gr. FMJ | Remington UMC 50 gr. JHP | Remington UMC 45 gr. JHP |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| 26" | 2849 fps | 3182 fps | -- | -- |
| 25" | 2828 fps | 3221 fps | -- | -- |
| 24" | 2804 fps | 3211 fps | -- | -- |
| 23" | 2775 fps | 3131 fps | -- | -- |
| 22" | 2774 fps | 3111 fps | -- | -- |
| 21" | 2762 fps | 3090 fps | -- | -- |
| 20" | 2740 fps | 3071 fps | -- | -- |
| 19" | 2699 fps | 3028 fps | -- | -- |
| 18" | 2679 fps | 3006 fps | 3179 fps | 3354 fps |
| 17" | 2652 fps | 2922 fps | -- | -- |
| 16.5" | 2632 fps | 2968 fps | -- | -- |
| 16" | -- | -- | 3076 fps | 3257 fps |
| 14" | 2524 fps | 2808 fps | 2901 fps | 3099 fps |
| 13" | -- | 2694 fps | -- | -- |
| 12" | 2424 fps | 2646 fps | 2964 fps | 2943 fps |
| 11" | -- | 2579 fps | -- | -- |
| 10" | 2314 fps | 2489 fps | 2682 fps | 2776 fps |
| 9" | -- | 2403 fps | -- | -- |
| 8" | 2121 fps | 2296 fps | 2478 fps | 2536 fps |
| 7" | -- | 2135 fps | -- | -- |
| 6" | 1865 fps | 1955 fps | 2153 fps | 2189 fps |
| 5" | -- | -- | 1921 fps | 1939 fps |
| 4" | -- | -- | 1674 fps | 1709 fps |
| 3" | -- | -- | 1276 fps | 1277 fps |
Contents
Best Barrel Length For .223 Remington
Note: Many barrel length recommendations will be similar to that of 5.56, but with the drawback that many dedicated .223 Remington rifles are bolt-actions with non-customizable barrel lengths, unlike a highly customizable AR-15 chambered in .223/5.56mm.
For Subsonic Loads
Shooting subsonic ammo with suppressor may or may not be worth it in a typical .223 Remington firearm depending on your own taste. One advantage however that a bolt-action .223 rifle has over say, a 5.56 AR-15, is that it will be much easier to cycle ammunition with strange (and particularly heavy) bullet weights, where this would require single-feeding in the semi-automatic AR-15. For subsonic loads, pick whatever barrel length you're going with for all other use, and be done with it. No need to overthink it in our opinion.
For Maximum Velocity
For maximum velocity with .223 Remington, you'll likely want to opt for a rifle offered in something similar to a 26-inch barrel length. Some examples include multiple Remington 700 and Remington 783 variants, as well as CZ 527, Savage Model 110 etc.
Best Overall Barrel Length for .223 Remington
The best barrel length for a .223 Remington rifle is probably the longest you feel you can tolerate. For maximum range and velocity, find a 26-inch barrel or similar length that you like, and forget anything else. On the other hand, if you plan on using a suppressor, the best overall length may be more like 20"-22", since many common .223/5.56 suppressors are around 6 to 7 inches in length and should typically help add additional velocity anyway. On the other hand, a rifle such as Ruger's "American Ranch" in .223/5.56 comes in at around 16 inches, but you get the benefit of being able to safely shoot hotter and faster 5.56 ammo and attach a suppressor to the included threaded barrel. That makes it an interesting all-around option for a souped up .223 rifle.
Other Information
- Velocity by Barrel Length of Various Calibers
- 5.56 Velocity by Barrel Length
- .300 Blackout Velocity by Barrel Length
- .277 Wolverine
- .300 HAM'R
- .223 Wylde (Chamber)
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