What barrel length for AR15?

[Onslaught]

I don't have as many ARs as Zak, and I sure as heck ain't no "Sully"... but ARs are my hobby, and I have owned owned 11.5", 14.5", 16", and 20" ARs with carbine, mid, and rifle length gas systems. I can say whole-heartedly and without reservation that the mid-length 16" is BY FAR my all-time favorite.

From my FIRST HAND experience on a 500 yard range, even a 14.5" barrel can consistently hit the target. The biggest factors there were the optic (ACOG) and the ammo (77gr black hills). So anybody that tells you you need a 20" to go past 200 yards is exaggerating. You do get the benefit of flatter trajectory and less wind drift with a 20", but have to learn both with any length barrel. The 16" will give you more ammo choices for longer range shots than the 14.5" (not that you were asking about that).

I bought an Armalite 20" rifle for those "long shots", but after only ONE trip to the range I discovered that it couldn't do ANYTHING my RRA 16" couldn't do just as well, so I traded it off. I now only have 14.5" carbines and a 16" middie. Well, I do have a rifle on layaway, but that's a bit different...

The mid-length gives you a lower gas impulse than a carbine (reportedly the SAME as the rifle length) and 2" additional sight radius over the carbine without the extra weight of the dissipator.

I'd go "off the beaten path" a bit and check out the "RECCE" uppers from Global Tactical. They're SUPER-accurate 16" mid-length ARs that would have NO trouble shooting out to 500 or 600 yards with a good scope and a good shooter.

I've updated my motto since that layaway purchase I mentioned...

If it's a carbine, I prefer 14.5". If it's a mid-length, I prefer 16". If it's a rifle, I prefer .308

 

[Alex45ACP]

I'd go "off the beaten path" a bit and check out the "RECCE" uppers from Global Tactical. They're SUPER-accurate 16" mid-length ARs that would have NO trouble shooting out to 500 or 600 yards with a good scope and a good shooter.

Thanks, those look very interesting. I might change my plans now and spring for that upper + Stag Arms lower.

 

[f4t9r]

I would recommend the 16
the reason for this is ??? well I just like them

 

[idakfan]

Check out the RRA Elite CAR A4 being sold by Eagle Firearms.

Mid-Length upper A3 w/removable carry handle, about $800.

www.eaglefirearms.net

Good people.

 

[Aguila Blanca]

I'm planning to buy a new Bushmaster AR15 type rifle soon and need to choose a barrel length. I'm stuck between 16 and 20 inch. I'm leaning toward the 20" because I'm not planning to be kicking down doors or anything like that, and a longer barrel should give more velocity. But a friend of mine is telling me to get the 16" because it's lighter and the 4" don't make much difference in velocity. Any input?

BTW the rifle will be used for self defense purposes.

Barrel length does matter. Both standard 55gr and 62gr military ammo rely on fragmenting to create an effective wound channel. They require a minimum velocity to fragment reliably upon impact. Especially with 62gr ammo, the effective range drops from around 140 yards (if memory serves) to about 90 yards for effective fragmentation.

I decided on a 16" barrel and 55gr ammo. At some point I'll investigate synthetic tip ammo, but the 55gr M193 is so cheap I can afford it.

 

[Longbow]

is 24" of barrel too much for the AR15?

Its gonna be for paper punching/target shooting only, as I already have a Daewoo for everything else.
Does the extra lenght barrel really helps with accuracy or is it just gonna be an unneccessary weight to lug around? What is the best barrel lenght for an AR15 for my purpose? Thanks in advance!

 

[sully]

24" works fine with internal, external, and terminal ballistics. The issue with the 24" IMHO is the extended weight that stresses the upper receiver, meaning that the weight of the barrel combined with the leverage due to length is stressing the upper receiver where the barrel extension locks into it as there is not much barrel extension inside the upper receiver. IMHO if you are going to use a 24" then do not go to a bull or super bull configuration.
Out of all the precision guns that we build we never go longer that a 20", as it is adequate and ballistically works all the way around.

CY6
Greg Sullivan "Sully"
Chief Instructor
http://www.SLR15.com
http://www.TheDefensiveEdge.com

 

[Longbow]

Thanks so much for the advice!
I'll gonna have the barrel cut down to maybe 18" or 20" since I already bought it. Its medium(?) weight I'm told by the seller. Thanks again.

 

[rangerruck]

depending on the round. you lose about 100 fps , per in of bbl. also the longer bbl will allow you raction to fucntion more trouble free for a longer time over the life of the weapon.

 

[Zak Smith]

depending on the round. you lose about 100 fps , per in of bbl.

Try 50, max

 

[AR15hunter]

I see this thread is now over 2 years old.

However.

I have a question.

My upper has a 16" barrel. Gas port is 6.875" from the muzzle.

So does that make it mid-length or what??

 

[BBroadside]

Welcome aboard, AR15hunter.

Does this article answer your question? It's pretty specific about gas port locations.

"The 20-inch barrelled AR-15/M16's gas port is located 12.5" forward of the chamber and 7.5" back from the muzzle. The M4/M4A1 Carbine's gas port sits 7.5" in front of the chamber and 8.5" back from the muzzle. The Armalite Mid-Length Carbine places its gas port 9.5" in front of the chamber and 6.5" behind the muzzle."

Looks like you have a mid-length to me.

(Now I know it's possible to resurrect some pretty old threads around here!)

 

[AR15hunter]

Yep. Mid-length it is.

Thanks heaps.

 

[J. Jay]

The 20" barrel and gas system is more accurate and reliable than the 16" system. period. If you want a shorter overall rifle, then put a collapsing stock on it. Many do this for more comfort with winter coats, etc.

Its been my experience that a 20" heavy barrel with a good trigger will perform better than a 24" super bull with standard trigger every time. I'd stay with a 20" heavy barrel not just b/c the barrel length is better for bullet stabilization, but the longer sight radius makes your "eye" more accurate.

If you are thinking of getting a 24" super bull barrel for even more long range accuracy----get a bolt action rifle.