AR-15 question.... 16" vs. 20"???

gil_wy

gil_wy

New member
Well, to make a long story short, I will be ordering either an Oly K8 or Oly K16 from Mike (Dtech) in the next day or two. From all I've read on here is that accuracy is a wash....both will probably shoot better than I can especially with Mike's "semi-custom" touch /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif. We had a snow day today (I'm a teacher) and I went to the local gun shop and fondled a 20" bushmaster and a 16" DPMS both with bull barrels this morning. To be perfectly honest, the 16" felt WAY better in my hands as far as point and shoot goes. Plus I thought it just looked cooler /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif. My biggest concern is noise. Can someone give me a relative comparison to something out there? I have a 20" .270 in a Ruger Mt. rifle and shot a lot of the bigger hand guns and my partner used to shoot a .300 Win. with a BOSS system /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif....these would be the loudest guns I have experience with. Just want to know what I'm getting into if I decide to go to a 16" barrel. Thanks for any help guys!!! Can't wait no matter which way I decide!!!!
 
I have a 16" bull bl DPMS and a 20" Colt AR match bl and there is a sound difference between the two. While I almost always have hearing protection, electronic while hunting, I don't notice that much difference.

Like you, the 16" is much better for my needs and to my preference. If you want to hear something loud, try my 14.5" with a muzzle brake.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/crazy.gif That one I only take out when going alone, out of consideration to my hunting partner... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

If you are going to have the upper custom made, you might consider a compromise and go with an 18", which would give you the full 2 revolutions in a 1/9 twist, and still give you close to the feel you like.
 
I've got a muzzle brake for my 7mm Mag, it's LOUD.

I had a 16" DPMS "Sweet 16". It was so loud (and sharp) it actually hurt, MUCH worse than my 7 Mag.

With Mike's fluting, there won't be much difference between it and a bull 16". Go with the 20".
 
To get the TOTALLY best and functional AR for hunting, buy the 16" barrel and wear ear plugs.

You'll have a lot handier AR and you'll be able to still hear when you're over age 50.

All those folks shooting the "silent 20" rifles" without hearing protection won't be able to tell the difference between the two in ten years, anyway. Anyone who shoots an AR shoots lot of ammo generaly, so hearing protecion is especially mandatory if you don't want permanent hearing damage. In reality it is with any rifle.

In actuality, a 16" barel is considerably louder if you're along side of it. Behind it, you won't notice a whole lot of diference between the two. Especially if you're wearing hearing protection.

-BCB
 
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To get the TOTALLY best and functional AR for hunting, buy the 16" barrel and wear ear plugs.

Anyone who shoots an AR shoots lot of ammo generaly, so hearing protecion is especially mandatory if you don't want permanent hearing damage. -BCB



BCB is right.....my hearing is TERRIBLE from shooting 30 years worth of stuff without hearing protection. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smiliesmack.gif

On the other hand......I just simply REFUSE to wear muffs, plugs, or anything else when actually hunting. Call me foolish, or whatever, but I simply am not comfortable with anything on my ears while in the field. I won't even pull a watch cap over my ears. But you WILL NOT catch me at the range without muffs on all the time. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/confused1.gif

As for your original question..... I have owned both a 16 and a 20. The 16 was NASTY loud. There is a VERY noticible difference. As far as the 16 being easier to handle, it surely is. But I'll deal with the 20 and never look back.... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif

When my hunting buddies would see the 16 come out of the bag, you could hear them moaning a mile away..... /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/laugh.gif
 
I have over ten years in the military I have shot thousands of rounds through both the m4 which is a 14.5" and the A2 which is 20". My vote goes for the 16 inch. Much handier, just as accurate, and lot cooler looking. Like others have said before just wear earplugs or some sportears or something like that.

The 20" models are a little quieter but will still give your ears a whackin so wear the hearing protection and get the 16" model.
 
I had a 20" now have 2 16" and an 18" My 16" ones have the flash hider instead of the muzzle brake. There is a big difference between a brake and flash hider. I dont mind mine with the flash hider. I never have liked a brake on anything.
 
16" louder? definitely! Worth the better swing on a running coyote? In my opinion yes. I have the 24" bull barrel,non fluted, that I use for my prairie dog gun now that I have my DPMS 16" fluted bull barrel that I use for coyotes. Love this short little gun for chasing down coyotes. As far as the weight is concerned I just weighed my 16". 10lbs 6oz. , loaded 20rd clip, buttlercreek sling, 4.5x14 40mm Nikon side focus bal. plex buckmaster scope. I weighed the 24", with the Burris 8x32 50mm signature, it was 13lbs 5oz. No bipod on either. I started using shooting stix after trying to lift all this junk to swing at a running coyotes. As far as my hearing(what? did you say something?). Seriously I'm 41 and can hardly hear anymore. So EVERYTIME I shoot I use my PRO EARS. Best investment I've ever made. I just hope I can still hear when I'm 60. Would be curious to know what a fluted 18" or 20",scope,sling,loaded 20rd, setup like mine weighs? I would go with the lightest if that being like mine 10lbs 6oz. My tongue is already hanging out /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/tongue.gif by the time I walk a mile with my gun, bandit, laser range finder, and binoculars. Maybe I should get into better shape. Oh ya that's next years resolution.
/ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grin.gif

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Is the 16 louder than the 20? I don't know because I wear hearing protection. Like Hideglo, I don't wear it while hunting, but then you don't notice it. Get what you like the best.
 
There is only one guy on the firing line on Thursday evenings during the High Power season that shoots a 16" AR. All the rest of us EBR users have 20" or longer tubes. No one enjoys lining up next to Ron because it is every bit as loud those 18" barreled .308's. And the flame it throws is impressive. Which means that not all the powder gets burned in the bore = lower velocity.
 
Listen to Leon!
If your 20" is coming from Dtech and you have him flute the barrel, than the difference between the two length uppers is closer than you think.
My 16" handles great for close quarters hunting but points only slightly quicker than my 20"...due to the heavy fluting on the longer barrel. And the marginal difference is likely more a consequence of the 16" having an Aimpoint red dot and the 20" wearing high power glass.
Mike's fluting shaves off quite a bit of weight too...my 20" locked & loaded with Leupold 4.5-14 glass weighs exactly 10.0 lbs.

Does anyone have access to an SPL meter? I'd be real interested to "hear" the results of how many decibels a shooter is subject to behind both a 16" and a 20" AR. The 16" does have a lot more "crack" to it. Either way, repeated exposure is going to have a cumulative effect resulting ultimately in permanent hearing loss.

Gary P is onto something too....sooner or later you'll have both anyway!!
 
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From what most have said on the board I'd go with the 20". The 16" is obnoxiously noisy.



The noise level between the two is non exisitant if you wear electronic ears like I do. When I hear someone make a statement like the one above, my first question is always "Do you own one?" or is that just what you heard?
There is a difference but it is not tremendous. If you are shooting an AR, weather it be a 16" 20" or 24" you should be wearing hearing protection!!!! Hence my statement "The noise level between the two is non exisitant if you wear electronic ears" You said the 16" felt the most comfortable. That should be saying something to you, because what feels good more times than not helps you to shoot better.. I have a 16" DPMS sst bull barrel and I love it, it shoots better than I ever will, I also shoot my buddy's 20 inch and while I like it, it just does not feel as good to me. I talked to Mike the other night for about 20 minutes and he has convinced (I didn't need much pushing at all, I was already falling in that direction)me to send my AR in after the first of the year to flute and Norrel my barrel as well as camo the rest of the gun. My advice is to talk to guys on this board who own the guns and shoot them, there is where you will get good quality information.
Here is my 16" DPMS
January92005002.jpg


and here is my buddy's 20 "DPMS lower and left handed Stag arms upper.
January92005040.jpg


Rus
 
Reb shot my 14.5" with a Comp/Brake on it, it was absolutley painful, but his 16" with the standard A2 flashhider wasn't any worse than a 20" I'm going to build another 16" here shortly !
 
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From what most have said on the board I'd go with the 20". The 16" is obnoxiously noisy.



The noise level between the two is non exisitant if you wear electronic ears like I do. When I hear someone make a statement like the one above, my first question is always "Do you own one?" or is that just what you heard?
There is a difference but it is not tremendous. If you are shooting an AR, weather it be a 16" 20" or 24" you should be wearing hearing protection!!!! Hence my statement "The noise level between the two is non exisitant if you wear electronic ears" You said the 16" felt the most comfortable. That should be saying something to you, because what feels good more times than not helps you to shoot better..



+1 /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif Stay away from the muzzle brakes, they aim the sound back towards you.
 
I went with a WOA (1/7 twist) 18" with colapiable stock and Leuopld MK4.
This gun is very light, weights just over 8lbs. and really easy to carry.
I shoot the 60gr. V-Max under 1/2 MOA at 100 yards and for target shooting it shoots the BH 77gr. Match around 3/8 MOA.

spr2_D.jpg
 
I have a Colt 20 inch and the OLY k16 i6 inch. Both shoot about the same. I do not see a real big difference in shooting and accuracy. I use them both to shoot prarie dogs to 300 yds. I really like the k16 the best. The weight is destibuted and it just feels better in my hands. In fact I use it a lot more than my Colt. Just if you go with the oly, add the "extras" you want to make it custom. It will add a little to the wait time, but it was WELL worth it. I did add the Oly Al collapsable stock. It added minimal weight and ballanced the gun better.
 
I've got a 16" AR and a 20" AR. I prefer the 16" for hunting, since it's easier to carry, handles better and is almost as accurate as my 20" AR. IMHO, there's not a whole lot of difference in the noise generated by either rifle. Both are in pre-ban configuration and wearing A2 flash suppressors. MI VHNTR
 
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