Barrel length choice

blkexp98 · #1 05-23-09, 22:13

I have been thinking about doing away with two of my AR's in order to build one so i can have more trigger time on one rifle. As it stands i have a 16" barreld ar and a 21" barreled ar. The 16 was meant for use with an aimpont and the 21 was a scoped rifle i was going to make a match tennon mounted iron sight rifle. I have since dropped the idea of making a match (iron sighted) rifle since im moving and wont have access to a longer than 100yd range.

So my plan was to build a 18" upper so i could get more real use out of it and really learn how it shoots trajectory wise etc. I have a 12.5" that ive built and will just keep my aimpoint on that for the most part.

What do yall think about all that? If it were you would you build one rifle like this to replace two?

For those of you with the 18" barrels how do you really like them and what capabilities do you have with them?

As for brands i was looking into waiting for a Noveske or a WOA. Either way i was looking into the midlength port since reliability wise i think thats prefered. If im just wrong feel free to point it out.

If i sold the barrels to recoup some of the ost should i sell the bolts with them or keep them for spares? One barrel is a RRA midlength that i had custom profiled and the other is a WOA varmint barrel.

lanceriley · #2 05-23-09, 22:29

right now I have only 1 AR, a 14.5in govt profile cmmg m4 barrel. It's got an "F" Frontsight base and an LMT rear sight. for optics I have an aimpoint ML2. In the future I might slap a QD magnified scope on it (Hopefully an ACOG). so I'll be alternating between magnified optics, RDS and Irons. I can only shoot up to 180 yards in my range.

though I did consider buying a complete 18in upper for that sprish accuracy. but that's a whole lot of investment

so i can just swap uppers

benthughes · #3 05-24-09, 04:52

My 2 cents.... A 16" or longer upper with scope and bipod and a 10.5" upper with a red dot and good BUIS system. This is what I'm going for with a duplicate setup for each in 6.8 SPC.

lanceriley · #4 05-24-09, 05:07

hmm.. thinking about it... Iv been in the 11.5in barrel once. just too noisy.

If I were to do it all over again.

I think something in the 16in mid length barrel with say a DD lite rail 12in could balance out. you have 16in to reach out. and it's also short enough for RDS works.

ron_m4 · #5 05-24-09, 05:20

Quote:

Originally Posted by lanceriley

hmm.. thinking about it... Iv been in the 11.5in barrel once. just too noisy.

If I were to do it all over again.

I think something in the 16in mid length barrel with say a DD lite rail 12in could balance out. you have 16in to reach out. and it's also short enough for RDS works.

11.5 is good choice for first build i guess.... and later change a new upper from mid to long is a wise decision.

availability of ACOG is not that flooded here in our country, order it via online would be appropriate.

rob_s · #6 05-24-09, 05:31

I'm not sure I understand the question. It looks like the only options are the 18"?

I started down the path of getting a 16-18" AR for scoped/static shooting and wound up with a 12.5" 6.8!

lanceriley · #7 05-24-09, 05:36

i guess it means we dont usually know what we want

blkexp98 · #8 05-24-09, 09:07

I was thinking the 18" length as a middleground between the two uppers in question so thats really the main reason i used that number. The 18" would give me a little more velocity to make some longer shots if i was able to find a range where i could reach out. I would assume i would be ok out to 400yds or so with optics and a 16" barrel but dont know the drops for all that just yet. Ill do some more searching for some velocity numbers on a 16", 18" and a 20" and see if i really gain or lose anything by going 18". With that said im open to other options that 18" so if you have any suggestions im open to hearing them.

The reason I was wanting to make two rifles into one was so i would use it more and learn its handling better. I think over the last few years ive gotten out of focus on what i really need to do to be good with my rifles so im trying to slim things down.

ron_m4 · #9 05-24-09, 09:19

Quote:

Originally Posted by blkexp98

I was thinking the 18" length as a middleground between the two uppers in question so thats really the main reason i used that number. The 18" would give me a little more velocity to make some longer shots if i was able to find a range where i could reach out. I would assume i would be ok out to 400yds or so with optics and a 16" barrel but dont know the drops for all that just yet. Ill do some more searching for some velocity numbers on a 16", 18" and a 20" and see if i really gain or lose anything by going 18". With that said im open to other options that 18" so if you have any suggestions im open to hearing them.

The reason I was wanting to make two rifles into one was so i would use it more and learn its handling better. I think over the last few years ive gotten out of focus on what i really need to do to be good with my rifles so im trying to slim things down.

barrel length matters on accuracy only..... it depends on your priorities.

blkexp98 · #10 05-24-09, 09:37

I dont know that i would say that generally speaking. If you had a 20" light profiled barrel and a 16" light profiled barrel, with all things being equal, the accuracy would be better most likley with the 16" because its stiffer. Barrel length helps by giving you velocity so the projectile doesnt drop off so fast. You would see less difference in harmonics with a heavy or bull barrel though.

lanceriley · #11 05-24-09, 18:34

Quote:

Originally Posted by ron_m4

barrel length matters on accuracy only..... it depends on your priorities.

length equates to velocity.
barrel thickness / stiffness to accuracy