dbrown
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What kind of range difference is there with a 16 inch or 20 inch barrel on an ar-15
ar-15 range
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dbrown
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How much more range would you get out of the 20 inch barrel then the 16 inch barrel?
The way your question is worded makes no sense, but I think I understand what you are trying to ask. A bullet from 20" barrel will leave the muzzle 100-150 fps faster. Too many variables, such as the individual load and bullet weight to give a firm answer. But what exactly do you mean by range? The faster bullet will have more energy at longer ranges and do more damage, but the difference is minimal. And impossible to give an exact range where the bullet fired from the 20" barrel would still effective and the one fired from the 16" barrel would not.
As long as bullets are traveling at around 1000 fps they tend to remain stable and maintain accuracy, once they drop below a certain speed their flight becomes eratic and accurcy disappears. The faster bullet would maintain that speed for a slightly longer period of time, but would only continue to be stable for a short distance farther before it also became unstable. This range is almost impossible to pin down and would also vary considerably with different bullets and ammo.
For most peoples use, 300 yards or even more there is really no practical difference. If you want to push things to the limits then every bit of advantage helps.
As long as bullets are traveling at around 1000 fps they tend to remain stable and maintain accuracy, once they drop below a certain speed their flight becomes eratic and accurcy disappears. The faster bullet would maintain that speed for a slightly longer period of time, but would only continue to be stable for a short distance farther before it also became unstable. This range is almost impossible to pin down and would also vary considerably with different bullets and ammo.
For most peoples use, 300 yards or even more there is really no practical difference. If you want to push things to the limits then every bit of advantage helps.
We shoot out to 600m, wind allowing, at the Tactical Rifle match and many of the shooters run 16" guns. They make hits, sometimes. I think that is really, really pushing it though. And the ones that make hits are usually the really good shooters. So it can be done. 300m to 425m seems to be much easier for the 16" ARs at the match. This is all shooting steel, not for groups.
rcmodel
Member in memoriam
None so you would notice.
Trajectory is determined more by the bullets ballistic coefficient then barrel length.
Although the extra velocity of the 20" barrel helps, it is not a major player in accuracy at long range.
A shorter stiffer barrel might though.
rc
Trajectory is determined more by the bullets ballistic coefficient then barrel length.
Although the extra velocity of the 20" barrel helps, it is not a major player in accuracy at long range.
A shorter stiffer barrel might though.
rc
Ar180shooter
Member
I'll assume that you're talking about practical accuracy, and in those terms, barrel quality, ammunition quality and the skill of the shooter will have much more of an impact on accuracy than the barrel length. Even with a 14.5" barrel, you can hit a man sized target at 300 yards with iron sights relatively easily. If you're looking to shoot ground hogs at 400 yards, then you want something more along the lines of a 20" varmint barrel and a high powered (10x or so) optic. If what you want is an all round sort of rifle, I'd be tempted to recommend something with a 20" govt or lightweight profile barrel, and a low powered variable (i.e. 1-4x or 1.5-6x) optic.
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