Any Benefit over 16"??????

[Fastshooter03]

Just finished threading and chambering my new Broughten 1x<8" twist barrel. Going into a Tikka M595 action. 30-221 ECT reamer.
Now I need to figure out how long to make it.
Is there any benefit to having a length longer than 16-17"?????
This will be shooting subsonic 99% of the time with a suppressor.

My take off barrel is a Lilja 1x8" approximately 17" and threaded 5/8-24. So if anyones interested in a 30-221 barrel for a M595 action........
Not sure if the barrel threads and headspace are the same on the new T3 actions.



Nick

[dksd39]

not for subsonics- the shorter the better..you can get all you need out of 10"

[Rikky Lee]

Agree for subsonic shooting. And 16 inches makes for a handy carbine. My previous barrel length was 21 inches and was great for supersonic loads but tricky for subs.

[Fastshooter03]

not for subsonics- the shorter the better..you can get all you need out of 10"

That's what I was needing to know.
I sorta figured I wasn't going to be able to load any less powder or have it be any quieter having an 18" vs 16" but I wasn't 100% sure.

Nick

[Alleycat]

I love those barrels. We have them on our 1000 yd guns. we've never had a bad one.

[Fastshooter03]

I'm glad Tim's only 1/2 hour away and I can pick up when done.
I only have 4 more to go.
1-308 AR
3-223 AR
I already have a 17" 1x12 twist AR 223 for 3-gun that shoots freaking great.
Next one will be 18" 1x8 twist AR 223 for 3 gun. I need to shoot heavier bullets at certain matches:uzi2:
The extra 1" will hopefully help out with cycling issues I have with the 17". Can't use fast burn rate powders.
The second 2 AR 223 barrels will be longer with a integral muzzlebrake.
Broughten's makin things easier now with closer to finished contouring than before on the AR type barrels.:smile:
I want to start my own side business which would include making custom barrels using Broughten blanks. They go good with my new prototype uppers.


Nick

[Fastshooter03]

Got it back on the gun.
Here's some pics:http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss307/fastshooter03/PDR_0719.jpg
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss307/fastshooter03/PDR_0717.jpg


I kept it a little long in case the 5/8-24 threads affect accuracy.
If they do I'll have to make a custom QD with bigger threads.

Nick

[Colohunter]

Nice looking gun.

[Fritzcat]

Nice rifle!

[Fastshooter03]

Thanks!
I forgot to mention that I had to make a new extractor for this Tikka since some were sent out with 308 length extractors.
I ran into one other shooter with the same problem and he was able to get a dealer to order in the 223 one.
The older M595 actions have 6rd mags in 223 size.
I would hope the T3 actions are more thoroughly checked before shipping.
Someday I'd like to see how a T3 is.


Nick

[dksd39]

very nice...you will enjoy it

[alorton]

You mentioned selling your old 300/221 barrel. I'm thinking about getting a bolt 300/221 as I love the AR I just got put together in this caliber.

How hard to find/expensive would an action be?

What are you asking for the old barrel?

What kind of accuracy were you getting out of the old barrel? I assume you changed it out looking for a more accurate setup.

[Fastshooter03]

I just checked on gunbroker and someone has a 223 Master sporter just like mine.
The buy now price is $1400-ouch!
I didn't see any other M595 action rifle in 223.
If they kept the same threads and headspace on the T3 action, I think those are running $500+or-.
The old barrel is a Lilja blank 1x8 stainless approximately 17" threaded 5/8-24. I think $225 shipped for it.
The last time out I was shooting at 200 yds subsonic 220 mKg with suppressor and could hold inside the head border on an IPSC target.
The reason I switched is twofold:
1. The last time I deepened the chamber after trying my 7.62x30mm project(didn't work out by the way) my piloted reamer was very tight in the bore. So the bore must be slightly undersize.
2. I recovered some bullets from a sand berm and 2 of the 6 land marks on the bullet had weird lead-in gooves that where not in-line with the twist of the other lands.
I've had accuracy problems before with Lilja 30 cal barrels but really good luck with Lilja 223 barrels:confused:
So I would not call the old barrel a tackdriver but it's ok. Maybe it needs some more lapping or something. Tim at Broughten borescoped it and said the smithing work was very good except for some odd shapes in the throat area. He said it could have been from the reamer but wasn't sure.
So rather than buy a pilot set for my reamer I just went with the Broughten 5C blank since I've had very good results with one I made for my 3-Gun AR and they tend to have higher velocities with the same powder charge. I get 75-100fps more than the same length DPMS 223 chambered barrel. Here's a pic of a group from my 17" 223 Broughten 5c AR with a 5x scope at 100yds:
http://i586.photobucket.com/albums/ss307/fastshooter03/PDR_0645.jpg
I think the group is actually smaller than the center dot on the scope's SPR reticle.
The pilot on my reamer had no problems at all with Broughten blank.

Nick