Lightweight versus heavy weight .223 rifles

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[tulkyuk]

I'm not happy with what it weighs

 

 

John,

If your not happy with this,

 

How do the heavy profile barrels compare

 

No good getting one of these

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[bullet boy]

John,stick with what your happy with.

[tulkyuk]

Yes they are as accurate, but will heat up and lose accuracy quicker than a heavy barrel - but only if you intend on doing a few quick shots one after another

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[tulkyuk]

With that reply, you have your answer

.223 is not a heavy recoil round, so does not realy need a heavy barrel to help with that side of it either.

and by quick shots, i ment emptying the mag and then another

Edited August 16, 2008 by tulkyuk

[alexm]

I went through this dilemma recently... looking for a .223 for vermin/fox, mainly used whilst walking. I was torn between wanting something lightweight, but really liking the look of the heavy barrelled Tikka Tactical and Supervarmint types and attracted to the idea of target rifle accuracy so I went to look at them in person at a dealers. I got him to put a moderator on the tactical then had a hold of it... then held a T3 lite... then held the tactical again.

 

Result: T3 lite ordered!

 

I know a lot of guys use the heavy barrelled guns for foxing/vermin to good effect and if you have the strength and fitness not to notice the extra weight over a sustained shooting session then fair play but for me I just know I would regret it the first time I was out, huffing and puffing up a hill in the dark.

 

Common sense prevailed... and saved me a few hundred quid in the process!

[jcbruno]

you wont go wrong with a tikka or CZ thin barrell and with a bipod and decent scope you may be suprived at how well it can stand up to a HB gun

[Baldrick]

Heavy barrels take an age to cool down. Not great on a windless, hot summer's evening.

[bob300w]

"Leaving aside peppering prarie dogs and heating up the barrel. How do the heavy profile barrels compare to the light barrels accuracy wise?"

 

All target or varmint rifles are heavy-barrelled, nuff said?

The main factor affecting this debate is that you are using factory Ammunition.

As you are using factory ammo, a heavy barrel will be more accurate, as heavy barrels are less affected by vibration, (resonance).

There a large variation in powder loads in factory rounds, as powder is not weighed, but loaded by bulk.

Where a bullet will strike depends on where the barrel is in it's vibratory cycle when the bullet leaves the barrel.

With identical loads, the barrel will be in the same position, this is one of the reasons why home-loaded ammunition is more accurate than factory.

[tikkamark]

you wont go wrong with a tikka or CZ thin barrell and with a bipod and decent scope you may be suprived at how well it can stand up to a HB gun

I have shot with 3 CZ light barrel .223's and had to zero a brand new one for a mate of mine it could very easily shoot 3/4" groups right out of the box with AE 50 grainers,there a no nonsense rifle they might not look the prettiest thing in the world but are a great rifle.

 

Do you think you'll moderate the next rifle if you go for one john?

[Oly]

John, if you like your rifle but are thinking about a lighter version - but also thinking about a semi-custom job - why not change the barrel for a lighter heavyweight barrel, fluted and/or cut down even??

 

Even taking 2-4 inches off your current rifle would help and depending on what length you go for in the end it shouldn't effect accuracy too much, unless your shooting foxes at 600yrds plus!

 

If you like your rifle and are looking to go semi-custom I would stick with what you have got in my opinon and see what can be done with it.

[Dunkield]

John, how much does it weigh?

 

(I nearly fell flat on my face when Ive passed me his .223 )

[pavman]

Being new (ish) to Rifles I faced the age old dilemma of selecting the right tool for the job, some who know me are aware I have lost a big section of my left bicep in an old accident at sea, whilst I can manage a 10 bore from the boat I see no need to carry extra weight around if there is choice, I went for the Tikka T3 Lite .223 in black synthetic (less than 7lbs prior to fitting can) and also have the Sako Quad .17HMR in black synthetic, I like wood but cant abide scratches and dinks, anyways so far I am very please with the results when put up to my friends heavy Rem and Bruno

Edited August 19, 2008 by pavman

[jcbruno]

you wont go wrong with a tikka or CZ thin barrell and with a bipod and decent scope you may be suprived at how well it can stand up to a HB gun

I have shot with 3 CZ light barrel .223's and had to zero a brand new one for a mate of mine it could very easily shoot 3/4" groups right out of the box with AE 50 grainers,there a no nonsense rifle they might not look the prettiest thing in the world but are a great rifle.

 

Do you think you'll moderate the next rifle if you go for one john?

 

 

yeah i am soon going for a tikka t3 hunter in 223 myself i have decided to ditch the 17hmr as i have owned 2 previousley i think i can reload 223 for cheaper and have more fun at the range and afield with the 223

Edited August 19, 2008 by jcbruno

[tikkamark]

John, how much does it weigh?

I would also like to know what your setup weighs john I weighed mine with mod,bipods full clip ect and it tipped the scales at 13lbs but the weight is not a big issue for me.

 

Since you do a good bit of solo work while lamping id say a lighter gun would be a blessing for you once you add a battery pack to the list of things to lug around it makes the job fairly labour intensive

[Oly]

Since you do a good bit of solo work while lamping id say a lighter gun would be a blessing for you once you add a battery pack to the list of things to lug around it makes the job fairly labour intensive

 

I know what you mean Mark, but John should also question whether or not he can shoot as well with a lighter rifle too. I know I certainly shoot considerably better with a heavyweight, and there do seem to be two definate camps on the weight issue.

[Dunkield]

I think the weigh issue comes down to distance travelled versus shots taken.

As Fister says I reckon the Tikka 695 is about spot on for both, but as I have mentioned before a friend of mine bought a Sauer 202 lightweght and that is stupidly light, easily the lighest rifle I have picked up.

But when you yomp all day long just to take one shot I would say is pretty much the ideal tool for the job.

[Frank]

I have shot with 3 CZ light barrel .223's and had to zero a brand new one for a mate of mine it could very easily shoot 3/4" groups right out of the box with AE 50 grainers,there a no nonsense rifle they might not look the prettiest thing in the world but are a great rifle.

 

I agree with what Mark has said here.

Edited August 29, 2008 by Frank

[JohnGalway]

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Edited September 3, 2009 by JohnGalway

[Dunkield]

That is HEAVY John.

I will weigh my CZ all up in a bit, but without the mod it is only a bit over 7lb.

[Monkey Nuts]

Tikka T3

[Dunkield]

 

I was waiting for that one - what do you say JohnBoy???

[Dead-Eyed Duck]

I've had a heavy barrelled 0.223 (Sako), a HB 22-250 (Remmy Varmint) and moved to a Sako lightweight 0.223 a few years ago.

 

The reason that I changed was that I also had a 0.17 Rem with a lightweight barrel and this held very good accuracy for 10 shots or so.

 

You will see from the recent post from Gonna Shoot a Wabbit that we shot 4 foxes in just over half an hour on Tuesday night with the Sako 0.223, and it is more accurate than me out to 200 yards. I have found that the extra weight of the bipod and T8 mod stops the gun jumping about - there is very little recoil anyway, as with any 0.223.

 

I can put cloverleafs with it easily out to 100 yards if I try hard enough, but after 10 'rapid' shots the groups start to open out.

 

I bought it because I am just a lightweight myself, and kitting out a HB barrel with a moderator plus bipod became just too much if I was carrying it for 2-3 hours.

 

You will see from the pic on the post that I have a T8 fitted, and I may change this to a lighter version.

 

The only time that the lightweight barrel is a 'nuisance' is if I want to play with changing the loads, but as I have not needed this since I bought the gun then what the heck.

 

Hope this helps

 

Don

Edited August 29, 2008 by Dead-Eyed Duck