Twist and length - AR Barrel

[rabid wombat]

This thread made me think…https://www.thehighroad.org/index.php?threads/ar-15-barrel-brand.904845/#post-12280641

I have settled on White Oak (variety of reasons, but decided). Which and why:

24 inch 1:8 twist https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/24-inch varmint barrels.html
20 inch 1:7 twist https://www.whiteoakarmament.com/woa-20-mid-weight-wylde.html

Reason…well, I can…much like @Megawatt maker … “600 yard target. General screwing around. I live in one of the few states that doesn't allow us to use semi for hunting big game, and I'm 50 years old, so my days of playing Wolverine are past me now...lol.

Just target shooting really. No clubs around me do 3 gun..or much of anything else.”

 

[C-grunt]

For pure longer range target shooting id go with the 24 inch barrel for the higher muzzle velocity.

 

[citizenconn]

I voted 20" because its more versatile while still offering pretty good target shooting capabilites. I'd prefer a 1:8 twist rate, though I'm not sure it will matter unless you are using the extremes of weights in projectiles. I have used the .223W a lot for shooting steel out to 700 yards and the 20" was pretty effective out to 500-600 with heavy enough projectiles. I have some 24" bull barrels that were definitely better long range shooters as C-Grunt mentioned, but I wouldn't want to lug them around much. I've also got some thinner 24" barrels and they tend to whip like crazy, which is kind of fun. I don't think I'm quite as accurate with those thinner 24" barrels as the medium weigh 20" ones, which are match grade. Your mileage may vary. I use 18" ones if I'm gonna carry them around the forests of East Texas.

 

[gunmechanic]

24" is my vote .

 

[Demi-human]

For pure longer range target shooting I’d go with the 24 inch barrel...

With the thicker contour for better bench manners and balance.
The little bit of barrel for velocity won’t mean as much as the bit of weight out front.

The 1/8 will spin anything that fits in an AR magazine.


Now, my “general screwing around” is having a Faxon pencil barrel shipped tomorrow. I should be able to carry it further than the bench!

 

[Riomouse911]

I went 24”.

I had a Colt Accurized Rifle years ago that had a 1/9” 24” stainless bull barrel, a weighted A2 stock, Harris bipod, etc. When I did my part it would put 10 Federal Sierra matchking 68 gr hpbt into a 1/2” hole at 100 all day. (A few other match quality loads were 3/4”). I miss that type of bench accuracy, it was really fun to shoot.

** This pic is from another forums post, but mine looked exactly like this one:



If you put together a dedicated target gun similar to one of these I think you’ll he happy with the results.

Stay safe.

 

[N555]

Get the long bbl, stay put and use the rifle to reach out and mess stuff up.

 

[ms6852]

I have the 20" with a 1/8 twist and do good with 75 gr BTHP to 500 yards easily. I vote the 24" barrel because it offers the advantage of longer distances with a guesstimated velocity increase of 150 to 200 fps due to the 4 extra inches. The 1/7 twist can handle heavier bullets but you can only go so heavy with a bullet before you have to turn either rifle into a single shot because the long bullet will not fit in the magazine. The 1/8 twist for that matter with the extra 4 inches will cross a barrier in distance that can be more accurate and flatter trajectory than the 20" barrel, given bullet weight and powder charge are identical .

 

[mavracer]

To me the versatility of the 20" wins out.

 

[ZGunner]

I had a Stag Arms Super Varminter that had a 24” ss bull barrel with target crown. I remember that thing shooting amazingly consistent. I wound up selling the upper and scope to a forum member when my wife and I were a little hard up for money. Like all the firearms I’ve ever sold, I regret it and wish I still had it. It’s really satisfying to have a semi-auto tack driver like that.

 

[taliv]

The 20” is for high power. It’s that length because the rules say use 20”. It’s faster twist because they hand feed 80g bullets for 600 yards.


The 24” is for varmint shooting. It’s longer because longer is better when you can do anything you want. It’s slower because they like shooting light weight varmint bullets fast so pdogs explode.

 

[jmr40]

A 223 just doesn't gain much speed with barrels longer than 20". But if you go much shorter than 20" then you start to see measurable velocity loss. If you were to take a 24" barrel and cut it down to 20" you might see 75-100 fps velocity loss, maybe less. But with 2 different barrels of the same length 20-50 fps difference is very common and 75-125 fps isn't unusual. I wouldn't be surprised to see individual rifles where some with 20" barrels would equal or beat some individual rifles with 24" barrels.

On the other hand the odds are that the 24" barrel will be faster, even by just a little, and other than being heavier and longer there are no downsides. And I think the 8 twist is more versatile. An 8 twist will shoot the heaviest bullets I'll ever shoot and I think it works better with light bullets. I use everything from 50-75 gr and my 7 twist rifles just don't shoot bullets lighter than 62 gr well.

If the 20" barrel were the 8 twist and the 24" barrel the 7 twist I'd go with the 20" barrel with no hesitation.

 

[mshootnit]

i would never do 1:7 twist with my own money, hence my vote

 

[rabid wombat]

Thanks everyone! I went 24 inch 1:8 twist.

 

[mavracer]

Thanks everyone! I went 24 inch 1:8 twist.

I've got a couple White Oak barrels great shooters.

 

[ms6852]

Thanks everyone! I went 24 inch 1:8 twist.

Don't forget that a range report and pictures are in order.

 

[rabid wombat]

Don't forget that a range report and pictures are in order.

Could be a while….

“This item is temporarily out of stock and will be placed on backorder. In 24 - 48 hours you will receive notification of estimated lead time via email. Please note that backordered barrels and uppers are currently running about 16 weeks. Your credit card is not charged until the item ships.”

 

[Varminterror]

The 1:7 20” will be spinning faster than the longer 1:8 24”, and the 100-150fps difference between the two is only .6mils at 800. Either are manageable. The 24” will be notably longer to maneuver, but also notably more stable on the bipod.