AR15 barrel length

kfallscody

kfallscody

New member
I am building an AR-15 and cannot decide what barrel length to get. I am wanting to get the J&T bull barrel kit but I can't decide between 16" and 20". I just don't know enough to know what benefit the longer 20" barrel would give. Will the shorter barrel effect accuracy or range? My guess would be range but I just do not know.

I will be doing a fair amount of walking with this rifle so weight is a bit of a concern. I am open to non-bull barrel options as long as accuracy is good.

Thank you again for any help.

-Cody
 
The accuracy potential is the same with the 16" or 20". You will gain some velocity with the 20" and loose a lot of noise. If you can get the barrel fluted, the 20" balances well and should tip the scales at about 8.5 pounds.

The barrel, whether it be a 16" or a 20" can't be fluted from end to end. You stay away from the chamber area, you can't flute where the gas-block is mounted and the muzzle is unfluted. What this means is that you loose more weight with the 20" barrel as a larger percentage of the barrel is fluted.
 
Quote:
I am open to non-bull barrel options as long as accuracy is good.





The Bushmaster V-Match rifles have a very good reputation for accuracy in an H-Bar configuration. They are available in 16, 20 and 24 inch barrels, fluted or non-fluted.
 
My carry rifle is a J&T 20" expedition upper with a flattop, FF tube, and front sight milled off. accuracy is acceptable for a hunting rifle (about an inch with reman ammo)
RR
 
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I guess I should have mentioned also that price is a concern as my budget is somewhat limited. The Bushmaster V-Mach stuff is a bit out of my price league. I HAVE to stay under $600 for the kit(I already have a stripped lower on the way).

J&T does not offer a fluted 20" barrel in their bull barrel kit, only a 16" or 24". I do see that Model 1 offers the 20" fluted barrel but I have heard not so good things about their products.

So I guess, should I go with the J&T 16" bull barrel kit or the Model 1 20" fluted bull barrel kit? Am I over thinking this? Am I over-estimating the weight of a non-fluted 20" bull barreled AR?

I also looked at the 20" expedition kit from J&T but the part that says "light contoured barrel" concerns me. Are these concerns unfounded?

I look at the non-bull barrel kits and the price. For a little bit more I can get, what I have read, is a LOT more accuracy.

This will be primarily a hunting rifle but also a plinking/target rifle on occasion. Do I really need 1/2 MOA? Most likely not but do I want it.. absolutely.. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/smile.gif

I know, a lot of questions. The more I think about this, the more questions I come up with.
 
I would get with Mike Milli and have him put together a price for an oly SUM barreld upper, stock and lower parts kit. SUM barrels shoot very well and Mike has a reputation for building good ARs. Plus he supports this sight and has been a wealth of information to a lot of members. (No, I'm not asociated with D-tech in any way shape or form.)
 
I to am looking for an AR Upper for yote hunting but I want a Tack Driver.
Any got experiance with Model One Or Fulton
What kind of Accuracy do you guys get with your AR's and what configuration
 
kfallscody, Check out Randall Rausch at AR15Barrels.com. He built my .204 Ruger upper with a 22" (I could have had any length I wanted) barrel and does a lot of custom barrel work. I had some very good comments about his work before I decided to place the order.
I think if you give him a price guideline and your basic purpose, he might be able to stay in your ballpark.
I have just finished doing the breakin routine and am consistantly getting 3/8" groups @ 100 yds and he says it will get better.
 
Quote:
Will the shorter barrel effect accuracy or range?


Accuracy, no. Range, yes. A 20" barrel will give better ballistics and therefore more range.

Quote:
I will be doing a fair amount of walking with this rifle so weight is a bit of a concern. I am open to non-bull barrel options as long as accuracy is good.


I would choose between a 20" standard barrel or a 16" Varmint barrel, for your purposes. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/grinning-smiley-003.gif

I have a Rock River Arms A4 that has a 16" SS Varmint barrel with a 1:8 twist and can get 1/2" groups at 100 yards with Winchester (white box) 45gr. hollow point ammo. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/cool.gif Being short, it's easier handling in tight quarters and being a Varmint barrel it's stiff enough for good accuracy, but not too heavy.

Be sure to get a National Match trigger, as it will make all the difference in your shooting. /ubbthreads/images/graemlins/wink.gif I purchased all my RRA A4 parts at Adco Firearms. www.adcofirearms.com

Good hunting, Bowhunter57
 
Wow, so much good information from everybody, thank you. I do like the thought of a shorter barrel. I remember when I was kid my dad had a short .308 that I used for deer/elk and I loved that gun.

I have been tossing around the idea of a del-ton CAR kit with the Heavy(not bull) 16" DPMS Barrel, flat top upper, A2 buttstock, bull barrel gas block, DPMS Free float handguard and ergo grip. The kit comes to about the same money as the base J&T 16" varminter. I think the heavy barrel will probably be sufficient for my purposes and not to heavy as to make me want to leave it in the gun safe. I remember people being happy with their DPMS stuff and seeing some groups that were most impressive.

I still have some time until I get the money together(tax return) but I am leaning to that option. It looks like the National Match trigger is probably out the question for now but is something I will defintely be getting down the road.
 


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