20-Inch .223 Wylde vs. 22 ARC AR-15 Uppers: A Detailed Comparison

The classic 20-inch AR-15 upper remains one of the most popular precision configurations in the platform. It delivers maximum velocity from .223/5.56 cartridges and has dominated service rifle competition, varmint hunting, and long-range plinking for decades. With the 2024 introduction of Hornady's 22 ARC, many shooters now wonder if the traditional 20-inch .223 Wylde has finally met its match — or even been surpassed — in a same-length barrel.

This comparison pits two 20-inch barrel uppers head-to-head: the proven .223 Wylde chambering versus the new 22 ARC. We'll examine ballistics, recoil, accuracy, ammo realities, compatibility, and real-world use cases to determine which deserves a place in your safe in 2025.

Cartridge Basics

.223 Wylde The .223 Wylde chamber (not a cartridge, but a hybrid chamber design) safely and accurately shoots both commercial .223 Remington and military 5.56×45 NATO ammunition. A 20-inch .223 Wylde barrel with rifle-length gas typically achieves the highest velocities possible in an AR-15 with these cases.

22 ARC (Advanced Rifle Cartridge) Hornady's 22 ARC is based on the 6mm ARC case (itself derived from 6.5 Grendel) necked down to .224". It has ~17% more case capacity than .223 Rem and is specifically engineered to push long, high-BC .224 bullets (75–90 gr) at impressive velocities from AR-15 barrels. It runs at lower pressure (52,000 PSI max) than 5.56 NATO (62,000 PSI) and was optimized for 16–20-inch gas guns.

Important: 22 ARC requires a Type II bolt (6.5 Grendel/6mm ARC/22 ARC bolt face, .136" depth, .441" base). Most quality 22 ARC complete uppers ship with the correct BCG, but you cannot simply swap a 22 ARC upper onto a standard 5.56 bolt lower without changing the bolt.

Ballistic Performance from 20-Inch Barrels

Real-world 2024–2025 data from shooters and manufacturers (Proof, Criterion, Odin Works, Rainier, etc.):

*Many shooters report 2,920–2,980 fps with factory Hornady 88 gr from 20–22" barrels; Hornady's published 2,820 fps is from a 24" test barrel.

Key takeaways

• The 22 ARC delivers 200–300 fps more velocity with 75–88 gr bullets than a .223 Wylde can achieve with bullets of the same weight.
• At 500 yards, the 22 ARC carries ~200–250 ft-lbs more energy and drifts 6–10 inches less in a 10 mph crosswind than even the best .223/77–80 gr loads.
• The advantage grows beyond 600 yards. The 22 ARC 88 gr ELD-M still exceeds supersonic speed past 1,200 yards in most conditions and delivers .22-250-level energy at 700–800 yards.

In short: inside 300 yards the difference is small. From 400–800 yards the 22 ARC is noticeably superior — flatter, harder-hitting, and far more wind-resistant.

Recoil & Shootability

Both are very soft, but the 22 ARC has slightly more recoil.

• Typical .223 Wylde 77 gr load in an 8.5–9 lb rifle → ~3.8–4.2 ft-lbs free recoil energy
• 22 ARC 88 gr load → ~5.0–5.5 ft-lbs

The difference is noticeable when shooting prone or off bags for long strings, but most shooters call it negligible. Both are dramatically softer than 6mm ARC or 6.5 Grendel.

Accuracy & Barrel Life

Modern 20-inch .223 Wylde barrels (White Oak, Criterion, Kreiger, SHAW BARRELS.) routinely shoot ½–¾ MOA with match ammo.

Current 22 ARC barrels from Proof Research, Odin Works, Criterion, SHAW BARRELS and Lilja are showing **½ MOA or better with factory Hornady 88 gr ELD-M. The cartridge shows excellent inherent accuracy and is less sensitive to jump because of its longer throat design.

Barrel life: .223 Wylde wins slightly (8,000–10,000+ rounds for throat life in precision barrels). 22 ARC is a bit more overbore but still very good — expect 5,000–7,000 rounds of match-grade accuracy before velocity loss becomes significant. Not a meaningful difference for most owners.

Ammo Availability & Cost (November 2025)

.223 Remington / 5.56

• Match-grade 77 gr loads cost $0.85–$1.30/round. Bulk 55–62 gr training ammo costs $0.40–$0.55/round. Available everywhere.

22 ARC Hornady factory ammo only (75 gr and 88 gr ELD Match, plus 62 gr ELD-VT coming). $1.80–$2.20/round for match loads. Handloading components are now widely available (Hornady brass is excellent), and reloaded 88 gr ELD-M can be brought under $1.20/round if you load your own.

The ammo situation has improved dramatically since launch — most major retailers now stock it — but .223 remains far cheaper and more plentiful.

Practical Applications

Choose the 20-inch .223 Wylde if you...

• Shoot NRA/CMP Service Rifle or High Power competition (77 gr loads are king)
• Want the absolute cheapest way to shoot tiny groups at 600 yards and beyond
• Already own multiple 5.56 bolts and magazines
• Primarily shoot paper or steel inside 500–600 yards

Choose the 20-inch 22 ARC if you...

• Hunt predators, varmints, or coyotes, or hogs past 400 yards
• Want maximum performance on steel from 600–1,000 yards
• Love experimenting with the latest high-BC .224 bullets (Berger 85.5 LRHT, 90 gr ATIP, 95 gr Sierra MK, etc.)
• Don't mind paying more for ammunition and want the clear ballistic edge beyond 400 yards

Best Current 20-Inch Options (2025)

.223 Wylde

• White Oak Armament or Compass Lake Engineering → service rifle match barrels (the gold standard)
• Criterion or Kreiger → barreled uppers from GA Precision, Altus, or Compass Lake (~$900–$1,300)
• SHAW 20" barrels → available through AR15 Elite, outstanding, unmatched reputation for price point and quality.
• Budget king → Mid State Firearms or AR15Discounts stainless/nitride 20" uppers (~$400–$550, often sub-MOA)

22 ARC

• Proof Research carbon or steel 20" → best accuracy and lightest weight (~$1,200–$1,500 complete upper)
• Odin Works 20" medium contour → excellent value (~$800–$950)
• SHAW 20" barrels → available through AR15 Elite, outstanding, unmatched reputation for price point and quality.
• Grendel Hunter / Ballistic Advantage Hanson profile → most popular budget precision options (~$650–$850)
• Criterion 20" barrels → available through several builders, outstanding reputation

Final Verdict

A 20-inch .223 Wylde upper is still one of the best all-around precision AR configurations ever made — cheap to feed, laser-accurate, and proven over decades.

But the 20-inch 22 ARC is objectively superior in almost every ballistic category that matters past 400 yards. It delivers .22-250 Remington ballistics (or better) from an AR-15 magazine with less recoil and shorter barrels when needed.

If your shooting rarely exceeds 500 yards and you value economy above all else → stick with .223 Wylde.

If you want the best possible .22-centerfire performance the AR-15 platform can deliver in 2025 — especially for long-range steel, predator hunting, or just bragging rights — the 22 ARC in a 20-inch barrel is the clear winner.

The old king is still excellent. The new king is simply better at distance.

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