barrel length

[KySongDog]

I've been looking at a Bushmaster M4A3 with a 16" barrel.  Is this too short for long range use?  Was wondering about accuracy.  Anybody got any experience with short barrel AR's?

Thanks

Semp

[FinsnFur]

Bopeyes got a short barrel but I'm not sure how much experience he gets with it. :roflmao:

Ok...  that was uncalled for.

[Bopeye]

I don't Semp. My barrel is a 20" , however my buddy and I discussed this topic not too long ago.

He's a recruiter with Army National Guard and has been going to the M-16 qualifying range since 1986. It's his claim that the shorter barrels don't shoot as well past 150 meters or so. I listened to him, but since I don't usually see a coyote further out than that, I still want a 16" barrel...........

Oh and Jimbo can ........aw heck.........read the avatar.......

[Frogman]

My 16 inch lightweight barrel has 1 in 7 twist and shoots my 60 grain V-Max reloads into an inch at on hundred yards and 2 inches at 200 yards.  I'm not sure the barell length affects accuracy much.  You will probably loose a few hundred feet per second in velocity though.  I really like my short barrel for the thick stuff here in WV.

Jim

[Kuipdog]

According to the U.S. Military in what I have read  barrel length only mildly affects accuracy. In some tests conducted barrels as short as 11 inches have been able to engage a man sized target out to 900 meters. Just make sure you barrel is a good one and that you have a steady rest. I have a 16 inch RRA and I can shoot it into about a 5 inch circle at 300 yards. The gun can actually shoot better if put in a locked down rest, thats what I can do with just the front on a sandbag.

[Bopeye]

Since when do we listen to what the U.S. Army thinks about something.........

We use to bury ammo by the thousands just to keep from having to shoot it. It would make our weapon dirtier which meant more time spent cleaning it. I hate to admit it now, but it's the truth..........
Makes me cringe come tax time knowing that I've buried a small fortune just to get out of a little work.........

You guys are probably right about it not affecting accuracy, but I shot expert six years straight and never was exactly sure where I was hitting. CENTER MASS is all that mattered to me.........

[Rich]

Shorter barrels tend to be more accurate because they are stiffer. Longer barrels give higher velocity.  Use of faster burning powders such as IMR 3031 seems to work best in the carbine length barrels, because bullet don't need as much barrel length to burn all of the faster burning powder.

[Bob D]

Shorter tend to be more stiffer.

Rich are we talking guns here or have you been playing with that viagra again?  :roflmao: :roflmao: :roflmao:

[cb223]

Most of the information I have read 20" is optimal length for an AR in .223. The 16" is not less accurate but it is lower velocity and noticeably louder.

My 16" will out shoot my 20" every day. The 20" is an Olympic Ultra Match, the 16" is just a run of the mill cheapest(was originally going to be just an ammo burner) Olympic barrel I could find. 

From my experience most all AR's will shoot right around MOA with the right ammo.

I think it mostly a matter of choice, unless you are looking at building a speciality long range target rifle. Which if you were,you most likely wouldn't be asking for advice on a predator hunting site.

Get a good barrel in the length of your choice with the twist rate for what you are going to be shooting out of it and you should be happy.

[Roundman]

I have shot the 16 and 20 AR's at 200 yards from a bench and I could not tell the difference. You will lose some velocity with the shorter barrel but not enough to worry about. Just my .02 cents

[Rich]

Bob D,

I fathered five children, so what does that tell you about my accuracy? I was using a short barreled single shot too. And another thing Bob, how many times to I have to tell you that I only use viagra to keep me from rolling out of bed at night and to keep me from peeing on my foot. You got a memory problem son? 

[Frogman]

You guys are a hoot!!   :roflmao:   :roflmao:

Jim