What length 223 barrel?

[G2 Shooter]

I want to buy a .223 heavy barrel for my Encore. It will be used for groundhogs and I will be using factory 55 grain ammo. What would be the best length barrel to purchase?
Thanks.

I believe the standard rifle barrels available for the Encore are 24", 26" and the Pro Hunter is 28". I guess the question should be "What is the most efficient length barrel?" At what length does resistance hinder forward motion? What length will give me the best accuracy?

Thanks to all that have responded.

[Chantecler111]

22 or 24".

[North Texan]

A lot of .223 barrels are just 20", but a 22" would squeeze a little more performance out of them.

[HEAD0001]

The Encore is a fantastic ground hog rifle. I would go with a 26, or even the pro-hunter 28 inch. The Encore is a short set up to start with, so the longer barrel would not be obtrusive. I like the longer barrels. I believe they give higher velocities, and they seem to balance better. Tom.

[James B]

At least 24 inches.

[Chantecler111]

I forgot, with the Encore, you can't get a barrel shorter than 24".

[Kengston]

If I am not mistaken, Wouldn't longer barrels on smaller cartridges be worse for distance? I would rather shoot a paper wad out of a 12 inch straw than a 24 inch straw. It would take more energy to get the paper wad to fly out of a 2 foot straw than it would the 1 footstraw. Or wouldn't this make alot of difference for rifles. Just used the straws for comparison.

[Duckbutter48]

G2 remember when comparing Encore barrels to normal rifles that the chamber is included in an Encore length unlike a bolt action. So a 24" Encore barrel is 24 minusthe length of the cartridge. So if a 223 cartridge was exactly 3"(just for ex.) then you'd have a 21" barrel.
In a bolt action a 24" barrel is after the chamber so thats what it is.

ORIGINAL: Chantecler111

I forgot, with the Encore, you can't get a barrel shorter than 24".

WHy do you continue to post answers when you have no idea what you are talking about. You can get the Encore in any lenght thru a bunch of different companies. You can get factory barrels at different lengths also.

Sometimes its better just not to answer when you are clueless.

[spencer0071]

I would suggest a 20 inch barrel. If you have your heart set on shooting 55 grain ammo I would be more concerned about the twist rate rather than length.For 55 grainsa 1:14 twist is optimal, though a 1:12 will do.

[Chantecler111]

Sorry, I apologize for my comment about the 24" barrel, it was moronic and uninformed.[]