14.5 inch with pinned flash hider vs 16 inch

[jimmyp]

Hi all, new member here, with a basic question. I am in the market after much deliberation for a new rifle and I have decided to just stick with .223 for right now. The Noveske N4 Light upper is where I am headed but have a question about barrel length and bullets. I plan to try and shoot 77 grain bullets or at least stay above 55 grains as the barrel is a 1-7 twist. I also plan to put a telescopic sight on it, the TA31DOC, NXS 1-4 or Leupold M4 1.5-5 with the illuminated SPR are all under consideration. I think this will be a medium range gun as I have a RRA with an aimpoint comp ML3 on it for closer range targets. The RRA has a 16 inch barrel with a 1-9 twist. I was just at a local gun range and shot a LMT upper/noveske lower with a 14.5 inch barrel and a pinned on flashhider + TA31DOC, a friend let me try his gun, it balanced nicely and seemed lighter than my RRA. For mid range shooting 100-300 yards is the 14.5 in barrel adequate?? How much velocity do you lose going from the 16 to the 14.5 nich barrel using the heavier 64-77 grain bullets. One use most likely will be shooting deer, I hunt every year usually with a heavier gun but really want to try this with a .223. So hunting bullets will be used and the ranges are usually 25-150 yards for this activity! Thanks for your advice. JimmyP

[uspopo]

With the parameters you specified above I would go with the 16 inch setup. The Noveske N4 Light Recce would be the perfect candidate.

Stan

[jimmyp]

thank you I am getting the Noveske N4 light Recce with 16 inch barrel, Low Pro with 10 inch VIS. Have not decided on a scope yet but the stadia were so close in the TA31DOC I shot yesterday that when real bright I found myself having trouble discerning the 100 and 200 meter lines! The NXS reticle is a lot simpler wish that the batteries lasted longer.