If you were to hunt deer with 223 Remington, what barrel length rifle is best?

I said my piece above regarding velocity, however, to answer the question in the title, regarding barrel length for hunting, without the specific context of optimal velocity...

18-20" rifles tend to offer the best compromise of performance, balance, and compact handling for me. A 16" carbine or shorter SBR will be faster handling and more compact, but they sacrifice stability on target from field positions. 22"+ rifles start to become heavy, long, and ungainly in the field. For hunting applications, the 18-20" ballpark are the sweet spot. Some might argue the prevalence of 18" barrels in 3 gun matches as favor for the 18", over the 18-20" recommendation I offer, but to that I point out the lack of speed and manipulation requirements for hunting which are dominant in run-and-gun matches. My hunting rifles are a couple pounds heavier than my race rifle, but lighter than my precision match rifle. Horses for courses - and for hunting, 18-20" is where I land.

22"+ rifles start to become heavy, long, and ungainly in the field. For huntingapplications, the 18-20" ballpark are the sweet spot.

I disagree, and so do most hunting rifle manufacturers. 22” to 24” is the norm. If you want a shorter barrel, it probably won’t matter too much, but 22”-24” barrels carry just fine in the field. With the .223 for deer, I’d want a longer barrel for maximum velocity and to get the muzzle blast that much farther from my ears. JMHO.

Mr. Hill said:

I disagree, and so do most hunting rifle manufacturers. 22” to 24” is the norm.

Click to expand...

22-24" might be common for bolt rifles and varmint/heavy uppers in 223rem, but it certainly is not for hunting AR's from major manufacturers:

Remington Predator 223 18" barrel
Rock River LAR-15 Hunter 16" barrel
DPMS Prairie Panther (hunting section of their site) 20" barrel
Windham Weaponry VEX Camo 20" barrel
Savage MSR-10 Hunter 16" barrel (18" in 6.5creed)
S&W doesn't make an AR-15 or 10 with longer than 20", the camo optic ready hunting rifle is 18"
Ruger doesn't make an AR-556 longer than 18"
And the beat goes on....

ohihunter2014 said:

Id go with a larger caliber all together unless your down south with the smaller dog size deer.

If you have to do 223rem a 60-70gr and maybe even higher bullet as long as it fits the chamber/throat would be out of a 22'' 1-9 or faster twist.

Click to expand...

Don't tell that to the 15 deer my son shot with 2 different .223 rifles. One was a Savage Axis (20") the other a DPMS Sportical (16") Both 1:9. All were killed with 55 gr. V-max bullets. Weights were from 100 up to 180 #. ranges from 10 to 225 yards. Farthest any of them went was 50 yards.

Don't worry about barrel length at all. I have heard good things about the TTSX. I have seen good things with the Partition. It is a very good deer bullet. The Nosler Bonded 64 grain 223 bullet is another good one. Highly destructive and TOUGH!

I always take the 16 inch for this job when using proper bullets (ie no fmj or varmint bullets). At a reasonable range you need to put the bullet into the heart and lungs. It will do the rest just fine. Never had a problem

I should clarify I will take the 16 because it is easier to carry and maneuver around. I see no advantage of the longer barrel in this situation.

Not everyone will experience this the way I do, I have always shot better with a longer barrel. For me the longer barrel provides greater stability. I have a tremor, so those with steady nerves may not be bothered by shorter barrels; I am. I also shoot longer shotgun barrels. The problem is reversed with pistols....go figure. With regard to deer, the barrel length makes no difference. Just have the proper ammo as others have aptly described.

IMO in an AR the 20 inch barrel length is the best combination of handling and muzzle velocity.

Opening day I shot a doe at 170 yards with a .223 from an AR with a 20 inch barrel. The bullet was the previously mentioned 65 Grain Sierra Gameking with a muzzle velocity of 2970 fps. The bullet entered the deer's driver side shoulder, took out the spine, exited out the passenger side shoulder, DRT.

I have shot deer with a .300 Weatherby that did not hit the ground as fast as that one. Placement is everything.

Just my .02,
LeonCarr

I have hunted deer with 60 gr "tactical and police" bullets.

The most popular elk cartridge is 30-06 150 gr.
If we ratio the weight of and elk to a deer..... the 223 is too powerful for deer.

But power has nothing to do with elk hunting. A man can carry a 10 pound rifle and tolerate it recoiling at 15 feet per second.
He then justifies it as the proper weapon for his quarry.