22 ARC Gas Gun Barrel recommendations

ID-Muley

WKR
Joined
Aug 6, 2016
Messages
431
I’ve been tossing around the idea of changing out my 223 barrel for a 22 ARC barrel to run heavier bullets. I’m running it in a gas gun and I have a 16in barrel now and love it. But I want to shoot probably the 75 ELDM so I can shoot deer or cougars or a wolf too if the situation arises. But 90% of the time coyotes…

What barrel have you guys had great accuracy with in this cartridge? I was debating possibly a Saturn or a Shaw. Which is better? Any other options under that $400 range that are fluted or somewhat light? My 223 is very accurate and shoots under 1/2 on average with most loads I throw at it.

Should I go 18 so I’m not neutering the performance too much as a happy medium between 16 and 20? Most of the time I will be shooting dogs but like I said it might occasionally shoot stuff a little bigger, so I think shooting 75’s at the same speed I can shoot 53’s out of my 223 would be awesome. Pretty sure that’s the bullet I want to run?

I will be shooting it suppressed that’s why I don’t want to go too long and it’ll be in the truck or SxS so a lot of dogs will possibly be running so I’d like to keep my speed around that 3000 range.

Thanks guys!
 
Preferred Barrels is my choice, on the more expensive side.

I have a whole upper and brass/bullets/reloading set up, you’d have to cut and flute it. But, even after that it would be a deal. Keep your .223 upper.
 
Preferred Barrels is my choice, on the more expensive side.

I have a whole upper and brass/bullets/reloading set up, you’d have to cut and flute it. But, even after that it would be a deal. Keep your .223 upper.
I appreciate the comment, my upper now has a carbon handguard, light weight BCG, I already bought a bolt head for it, I have brass, bullets, powder, dies, gas tube, adj gas block, etc all ready for the 22 arc so I literally only need a barrel and I’ll never shoot the 223 again and a buddy wants to buy my barrel and components. So that’s why I don’t need a complete upper or any components.
 
I appreciate the comment, my upper now has a carbon handguard, light weight BCG, I already bought a bolt head for it, I have brass, bullets, powder, dies, gas tube, adj gas block, etc all ready for the 22 arc so I literally only need a barrel and I’ll never shoot the 223 again and a buddy wants to buy my barrel and components. So that’s why I don’t need a complete upper or any components.
Where did you get your parts from? I’m thinking about doing the same with my gas .223.
 
Where did you get your parts from? I’m thinking about doing the same with my gas .223.
Smoke composites 15in handguard, aero adjustable gas block both from their websites and faxon ultralight BCG from midway USA. Then bought a Grendel bolt head for my BCG off midway later. The rest of the parts you can get from about anywhere. I put the whole gun together from scratch.
 
You may need to go down to 69/70 grain bullets to keep your desired velocity. Also, velocity reigns supreme in short distances, so maybe look at the 62 grain ELDvt with the higher BC ratio per weight.

18 is the absolute longest I would go in an AR, and the speed increase of 50fps with another two inches isn’t worth going over 16” in my mind.

Unless you are shooting game animals beyond 300 yards, there is no way I would go over 16”

This is from a guy happy to shoot my suppressed 14.5” .223, and still kinda wishes I would have gone 12” and not really sacrificed anything as a truck gun. We shoot rocks out to 400-500 and buddies hang with their 10” pistols shooting 55 gr.

You can see for “close in” truck gun type work, I am all about handy and quick. My suppressed 5.5” 300 BO is so much fun for 3-5 round speed volleys at steel. I sold my 9mm pistols…
 
Smoke composites 15in handguard, aero adjustable gas block both from their websites and faxon ultralight BCG from midway USA. Then bought a Grendel bolt head for my BCG off midway later. The rest of the parts you can get from about anywhere. I put the whole gun together from scratch.
Thanks, I was looking at Faxon’s BCG.
 
I bought a Ballistic Advantage 16” 1:7 barrel. I wanted an 18” but at the time of their sale it was out of stock.
After having the 16”, i really wish i would have waited for the 18”. I also wish i would have went with a 1:8 or 1:8.5 twist to run 55’s for more speed.
I’m still working on a bullet/powder load for it but it’s sitting right at 2850 fps with a 69gr TMK as it’s favorite load. I can’t get the short bullets to shoot at all, 62 eld-vt did ok but the 69 TMK has been the best so far.
 
I also have had good luck with Satern barrels. Great folks to deal with.
 
Looking to do the same thing for a build of mine.
Dont count out McGowen either. Their barrels seem to get pretty good praise and fairly reasonable cost wise.
Im doing a 6Arc next and plan to give the Saturn a try as it gets pretty good reviews and also comes with a bolt as well.

Length wise I also wouldnt go over 18" either.
 
Smoke composites 15in handguard, aero adjustable gas block both from their websites and faxon ultralight BCG from midway USA. Then bought a Grendel bolt head for my BCG off midway later. The rest of the parts you can get from about anywhere. I put the whole gun together from scratch.
Smoke Composites used to do a pretty big discount you could email them about too..mention if you shoot competitively? Worth asking about if its still an option. Carbon fiber isnt cheap.
 
I'd check out ballistic advantage. I have a few of their barrels and they all shoot great no fuss. They are also pretty affordable, you can get complete upper. I 100% see the benefits to the arc. The 62 VT and the 75, 80 and 88 eldms are sweet bullets. In a gas gun would be a lot of fun.
 
Been seeing a lot of really good reviews on the KAK industries barrels.
Think I am going to give one of those a try first on my 6 Arc and if it works well I might go with KAK for my 22 Arc build.
 
I’ve been tossing around the idea of changing out my 223 barrel for a 22 ARC barrel to run heavier bullets. I’m running it in a gas gun and I have a 16in barrel now and love it. But I want to shoot probably the 75 ELDM so I can shoot deer or cougars or a wolf too if the situation arises. But 90% of the time coyotes…

What barrel have you guys had great accuracy with in this cartridge? I was debating possibly a Saturn or a Shaw. Which is better? Any other options under that $400 range that are fluted or somewhat light? My 223 is very accurate and shoots under 1/2 on average with most loads I throw at it.

Should I go 18 so I’m not neutering the performance too much as a happy medium between 16 and 20? Most of the time I will be shooting dogs but like I said it might occasionally shoot stuff a little bigger, so I think shooting 75’s at the same speed I can shoot 53’s out of my 223 would be awesome. Pretty sure that’s the bullet I want to run?

I will be shooting it suppressed that’s why I don’t want to go too long and it’ll be in the truck or SxS so a lot of dogs will possibly be running so I’d like to keep my speed around that 3000 range.

Thanks guys!
If your 223 has a 20 inch barrel you are not going to match the velocity of a 53 grain bullet you can get with a 75 grain ELDM from a 22 ARC. You can reap the benefits of better performance in the wind and greater impact on target. The real advantage of the 22 ARC is not blazing velocities but the ability to run heavier longer bullets.
 
I bought a Ballistic Advantage 16” 1:7 barrel. I wanted an 18” but at the time of their sale it was out of stock.
After having the 16”, i really wish i would have waited for the 18”. I also wish i would have went with a 1:8 or 1:8.5 twist to run 55’s for more speed.
I’m still working on a bullet/powder load for it but it’s sitting right at 2850 fps with a 69gr TMK as it’s favorite load. I can’t get the short bullets to shoot at all, 62 eld-vt did ok but the 69 TMK has been the best so far.
With a 7 twist barrel it reaches maximum spin pretty fast. I couldn't run 62 gr, Midsouth Black tips much faster than 2900 fps. I started getting big groups and fliers.
 
If your 223 has a 20 inch barrel you are not going to match the velocity of a 53 grain bullet you can get with a 75 grain ELDM from a 22 ARC. You can reap the benefits of better performance in the wind and greater impact on target. The real advantage of the 22 ARC is not blazing velocities but the ability to run heavier longer bullets.
I will add I believe you can run the 75 eldm in a 5.56 or 223 Wylde. With 22 arc you should be looking at the 62 grain eld vt as well as the 80 and 88 eldm
 
Might take a look at the rexus barrels. I've got one of their 16" 6arc barrels and it shoots the three hornady offerings right at or just under moa. I'm not sure if they offer 22 arc though.
 
Might take a look at the rexus barrels. I've got one of their 16" 6arc barrels and it shoots the three hornady offerings right at or just under moa. I'm not sure if they offer 22 arc though.
Be nice if Rexus would put some barrels on the shelf.
 
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