Guys,
I am going to grab .223 bolt gun for the kids and was looking at the Ruger American Compact with the 18" barrel. Does the .223 burn enough powder to take advantage of the 22" barrel or is it just extra weight? Also is the 18" just a cut down 22" or is it a different contour as well?

Thanks for any help on this, it will be restocked as part of a project with them so the shorter pull of the compact will not be a factor.

Hunt hard, kill clean, waste nothing and offer no apologies.

"In rifle work, group size is of some interest...but it is well to remember that a rifleman does not shoot groups, he shoots shots." Jeff Cooper