Colt 16in M4 VS. Colt 20in HBAR??

[StrikeFire83]

Hello everyone!

I am mainly a pistol guy, the only rifle I own right now is a Ruger 10/22 that I've been shooting since I was a kid. I've shot a 30 ought 6 and a 270 several times with pretty good results. I'm looking into getting an Colt/AR type weapon chambered in .223 with my graduation/Christmas money in December. I'm looking at two Colts:

1) Colt Match Target Competition HBAR (20 inch barrel) - $1149.00

OR

2) Colt Match Target M4 (16.1 inch barrel) - $1129.00

My question is this: how much is my accuracy going to drop off with the 16'' vs the 20''?

Thanks in advance for any and all responses.

 

[lycanthrope]

Barrel length won't matter in this case in regards to accuracy.

The 20" gun will, however have a longer sight radius and allow you to shoot the iron sights a bit better. You will also have more velocity from the longer barrel in this case.

The 16" is not legal for CMP competition but the 20" is.

 

[natedog]

I'd go for the M-4. You could probably do a lot better than $1129, too. Just a note, the Match Target M-4 will have "post-ban" features, like a permenantly extended buttstock, no bayonet lug, and no flash suppressor. The model that has all the above is the Colt LE6920. Some try to rip you off on that one and charge over $1500, but if you look around on the www.ar15.com equipment exchange message board or on here for a guy named WildAlaska you can find them for less, between $1000-$1200.

 

[StrikeFire83]

Thanks so much for the reply.

A couple more questions:

1) "Permenantly extended buttstock" - this really doesn't matter to me, should it?

2) "no bayonet lug" - I don't plan to fix any bayonetes, is the lug used for anything else?

3) "no flash suppressor" - The M4 I'm looking at has some sort of a dongle at the tip of the barrel, it is not like a supressor of some sort. Here's a link the the gun I'm looking at:




Colt Match Target M4

Thanks again for all your help.

 

[Duke of Lawnchair]

"Permenantly extended buttstock" - this really doesn't matter to me, should it?

I think you already answered your question.
Buttstocks, especially on AR15 variants vary from person to person.
Prior to the sunset of the federal AWB, my carbines wore A2 buttstocks. That was fine and dandy till I actually tried a collapsible. Once the ban sunsetted, I went out and outfitted my carbine(s) with functional collapsibles.

The ability to adjust the stock has been a god-send (in my opinion). While prone or sitting, I find that the stock fixed in the most open position works great. On the other hand, when I'm squared off towards a target (offhand) the first and second settings work best for me.

"no bayonet lug" - I don't plan to fix any bayonetes, is the lug used for anything else?

I think that there are aftermarket accessories, such as vertical foregrips and bipods that attach to the bayonet lug. Don't quote me on that.

"no flash suppressor" - The M4 I'm looking at has some sort of a dongle at the tip of the barrel, it is not like a supressor of some sort. Here's a link the the gun I'm looking at:

The "dongle" is a muzzle brake.

 

[natedog]

The gun is basically functionally the same...however, since the assault weapon ban is over, I'd like these things just because the government didn't want me to have them.

The bayonet lug is definetly cosmetic, as it's not possible to mount a bayonet on a 16" barreled rifle. The adjustable stock is nice because you can adjust the length of pull to you, your optics, and your shooting position, or just for more compact storage. The "dongle" on the end of the match target will increase muzzle blast, but decrease recoil. With the 6920 (or any M-4 type rifle) the muzzle will be threaded to accept suppressors, different flash hiders, and compensators.

Colt is good, but don't rule out CMMG, Bushmaster, or LMT.

http://www.cmmginc.com/

http://www.bravocompanyusa.com/LMT.html

http://www.bushmaster.com/

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

1) "Permenantly extended buttstock" - this really doesn't matter to me, should it?

Well, the downside of the permanently fixed telestock is that you get the adjustability of a fixed stock with the discomfort of a telestock On the bright side, you can easily replace it with a regular fixed stock or working telestock for about $60 (budget) or $150 (Colt/high-end aftermarket).

You can also do what most of us who own ARs do and buy the AR you can afford now and slowly convert it over to the AR you want as you have the money. This gives you the bonus of piles of extra AR parts that you can either accumulate until you have a new AR or sell off to finance new purchases. You might have a hard time selling a fixed telestock though.

2) "no bayonet lug" - I don't plan to fix any bayonetes, is the lug used for anything else?

Not really an issue, IMO.

3) "no flash suppressor" - The M4 I'm looking at has some sort of a dongle at the tip of the barrel, it is not like a supressor of some sort. Here's a link the the gun I'm looking at:

Muzzle brake. These are great in making the already minimal recoil of a .223 absolutely disappear. You'll be able to watch holes appear on your target even with magnification. The downside is they make the gun a lot louder for people to either side of you on the firing line and can earn you some nasty looks on a firing line where people are packed in tight or indoor lines.

 

[226]

A Colt LE6920 carbine has fully collapsable stocks, bayonet lug, and flash suppressor. You can find a few here.

LE6920

 

[yayarx7]

Also remember that the M4 barrel is a 14-some-odd inch with a 2-some-odd inch long flash suppressor on it not a true 16-some-odd inch. The 20 inch is 20 inches.

THe M4 is the cool thing to get for the Tactical types and I will admit the shorter barel handles better. I personally would like the 20 inch for range use, and get a true 16 inch mid-length with all the cool stuff for the better handling HSLD look.

...my $.02

 

[natedog]

Actually, I think the LE6920s are 16" of barrel (breech to muzzle), then another 1.5"ish of A2 flash hider. The LE6921 is a 14.5" and A2 flashhider (which is a SBR).

 

[TheDutchman]

StrikeFire83 Colt's are great but a better bang for the buck would be a Rock River Entry Tactical.
http://www.rockriverarms.com/item-d...mage=nbrentry.gif&CFID=15764&CFTOKEN=93327830

Come by Spreadfire's(AKA Steve Ou) table's at the Austin Gunshow this weekend. If you do not know where Steve's table are look for the Fn 249 SAW sitting on the table and the Class III stuff. Steve has a RRA ET with Chrome line barrel and and I believe one LE6920. Come by on Saturday as for Aaron, I will show the the Difference between the two.

 

[Gordon]

I love my 92 vintage HBAR. However I just bought a Lewis Machine tool upper for $429 (with out bolt) which has a 14.5" barrel with a permanently fastened Phantom Vortex C-2 making it 16.5" and legal. I put on an ACE SOCOM stock which looks very strong, is adjustable and has a built in Single point sling adapter.
I put a 3-9 scope on the HBAR upper and moved it's Aimpoint ML2 to the M-4 upper, I lost almost 2 pounds from the HBAR!