AR barrel length and where to buy?

[Chicken Shoot]

I'm wanting to replace my Bushmaster 16" upper with a SS (possibly) bull barrel upper. What is the optimal length? I'm looking at 20" barrels buy the 24" looks nice too. Not sure if the 24" is overkill though. Any place you would recommend buying from that won't cost an wing and a leg??

 

[Blimey]

What do you want it for?

I have a 24” SS and it is absolute crap. It’s so heavy and unwieldy, I hate it and will be getting a 16.5 for that gun in the future.

Longer barrel will give a slight increase to velocity but nothing more.

Midwayusa sells a nonthreaded ss 24” formlioe $140 or something if you go the cheap route like I did.

 

[JamieZ]

Wouldn't buy a bull barrel in 20 or 24 inch unless it was strictly a bench gun. Couple a months ago I sold a 16 inch bull barrel upper because it was to .heavy to carry chucking.

 

[timboy]

A 16" bull AR with optics is a tank,I can't imagine a 24" would be fun to lug around.

 

[STS556]

I agree with the others here. A 24" SS bull barrel is HEAVY. I had a straight contour 24" bull barrel many years ago for coyote hunting. We would walk about a mile into the woods to a hill overlooking a field where we would hunt. I mostly used a bipod but would sometimes stand up and shoot and it was a chore to hold it up for a few minutes. Now I have a 20" RRA varmint barrel and its much lighter and more manageable to carry around.

If you are set on a 24" barrel, I believe a fluted varmint barrel would be a little lighter. Varmint barrels can have a tapered contour and with the fluting can save about a pound of weight. But a fluted barrel may be a little more expensive.

 

[Chicken Shoot]

What do you want it for?

I have a 24” SS and it is absolute crap. It’s so heavy and unwieldy, I hate it and will be getting a 16.5 for that gun in the future.

Longer barrel will give a slight increase to velocity but nothing more.

Midwayusa sells a nonthreaded ss 24” formlioe $140 or something if you go the cheap route like I did.

This is why I asked. I want it for accuracy, some reduction in noise and coyote hunting. I can read ALLLLLLL of the crap on the internet and not get real world answers. I don't mind the weight. I actually prefer heavier rifles BUT I'm now starting to see that maybe I should just stick to the 20" as I'm not seeing a ton of improvement beyond that in both speed and accuracy. Anyone here put a 20" vs a 22" vs a 24" to see for themselves what happens?

 

[Eddie Gunks]

accuracy is not a function of barrel Length.

Velocity is a function of barrel Length.

Edit to add: if you want noise reduction use a suppressor.......or at the very least, ear plugs.

 

[Chicken Shoot]

accuracy is not a function of barrel Length.

Velocity is a function of barrel Length.

That's what I've been reading but then I think about say an old 40X .22 where the barrel is very long and was done so to "control" the push of the bullet which results in better accuracy. Maybe not really applicable to this because of the speed?

 

[BDinPutnam]

Assuming we're talking .223/5.56.

My understanding is you don't get much more usable velocity above 20" anyway ETA: depending on what you are loading and your bullets ETA2 AND what you are trying to do with it LOL. OTOH I think a lot of 'yote set-ups are 20" - and above - for the aforementioned boosts in velocity.

Now I shall go pop some popcorn and wait for someone with more first hand experience and different info to school me.

 

[JamieZ]

What Eddie said,,,length doesnt determine accuracy just velocity. I have this exact 20" barrel on my 204 and the weight is nothing compared to the 16" bull barrel upper I sold.

.204 Ruger 11-Twist AR740 - Lilja

 

[Mosinitis]

You can get higher velocity from barrels longer then 20".
24", 26" and even 28" barrels are commonly used in match rifles. How useful longer barrels are will depend on the distances you are planning to shoot.
20" is a standard service rifle barrel.

 

[JamieZ]

 

[BDinPutnam]

Dammit you just made me edit a second time.

PS consider this- it weighs nearly four and a half pounds. On top of everything else that will be on and in that rifle.

WILSON 24" BULL 223 WYLDE 1X8 SS FLUTED STR

 

[Chicken Shoot]

Well that's that. LOL Definitely something different than I was thinking but I was basing everything on a small bore rifle as that's more of what I've been into. Very interesting to see that some actually improved then a drop in speed. Hmmmm .... lots of thinking to do before dropping what cash I have on something. You guys all kick ass!!

 

[Chicken Shoot]

Dammit you just made me edit a second time.

PS consider this- it weighs nearly four and a half pounds. On top of everything else that will be on and in that rifle.

WILSON 24" BULL 223 WYLDE 1X8 SS FLUTED STR

Yeah ... I see the weight there but it's not scaring me away from something like that YET. Maybe I should take a walk in this crappy snow with a 11lb rifle and see what I think then.

 

[Mosinitis]

My rifle weighs 17lb. I have buttstock compartment full of lead, also lead in the lower hanguard plus heavy match barrel.
First you need to decide what you are planning to do with the rifle, or what you are planning to do the most. Then build the rifle accordingly.

 

[Dantheman]

I have an upper that was built by JSE. It has an 18" bull barrel made by Wilson. That barrel takes forever to heat up and with select handloads or Federal Match ammo will keep 10 rounds in an inch square at 100 yds. Crap ammo still groups...well, like crap.

Dan

 

[ryguy]

I have a 20" Noveske, and it was actually the first AR I ever purchased. As much as the rifle holds a sentimental value with me, I honestly have a hard time finding a purpose for it. I do enjoy shooting it, and I have shot some of the best groups of my life with it... but that's about it. For the very limited range distances I have access to shoot on, i'm not really taking advantage of the added velocity. Every year I tell myself i'm going to take it out deer hunting, however when it comes down to it I end up taking the the 11.5" AR pistol.

Good luck with your purchase, and update us with what you pull the trigger on!

 

[Chicken Shoot]

My rifle weighs 17lb. I have buttstock compartment full of lead, also lead in the lower hanguard plus heavy match barrel.
First you need to decide what you are planning to do with the rifle, or what you are planning to do the most. Then build the rifle accordingly.

It's mostly going to be for shooting paper BUT I want it to be useful for coyote hunting as well. I know with the Bushmaster 16.5" barrel on it, it can do both but I really want alittle more precision out of it at 200yds+. I see the groupings start opening at about 100yds now. When I say opening, I mean they will be about 1"+ whereas inside of 80yds, the grouping is much better.

 

[ryguy]

Barrel length is not going to affect accuracy. Go with a 16” tube.

 

[Bill in Willyville]

I agree w many that it fully depends on what your usage plans are for the rifle. I have a 20 inch heavy barrel and use it exclusively for target. At 20 inches it does the job VERY WELL and it is not terrible to walk with.

 

[Bill in Willyville]

CBC industries from Charleston sc makes decent economy bulls ($115 for a non fluted heavy). FAXON in my opinion has a very high quality level for the pricepoint

 

[Bill in Willyville]

AR-15 Barrel – 20″ / .223 WYLDE / 1:8 / Bull Barrel / 110524 | CBC Precision AR's

Here is the CBC 20 inch chambered in 223 wylde 1/8 twist target crown nitrided. With 75 grain hornady bthp it has been consistently sub moa at 100 off a bench. Not too shabby for a $120 barrel

 

[nortatoga]

AR-15 Barrel – 20″ / .223 WYLDE / 1:8 / Bull Barrel / 110524 | CBC Precision AR's

Here is the CBC 20 inch chambered in 223 wylde 1/8 twist target crown nitrided. With 75 grain hornady bthp it has been consistently sub moa at 100 off a bench. Not too shabby for a $120 barrel

Wish they had that in a 16" barrel. I'd like to change the skinny barrel on my SCR.

 

[Eddie Gunks]

. I know with the Bushmaster 16.5" barrel on it, it can do both but I really want alittle more precision out of it at 200yds+.

Why not just practice more?

 

[SomeSoldier]

You should be able to get decent groups at 200 yards with that 16.5 barrel.

 

[repete]

If your equating more speed with better accuracy then you need to study up some more. No insult intended. Do you reload your own ammo? If so you should see that when you push a bullet up to a certain point (could be pretty slow) that's the best it will do after that it could just suffer a bit of yaw or wobble or it could be like A.O.C. and go bat shit crazy! Before laying out the green for a new barrel have you tried different bullet brands and possibly powders? Finding the right combo can be a bitch but can also be fun.

 

[Phauxtoe]

Rifle weight is a good thing for accuracy and precision.
I like a 20" bull barrel, but i like a butt stock counter weight so the rifle balances in my hands.
guys who shoot standing, sitting and in prone usually have 20" or more.

i guess it depends on your end use.

 

[Chicken Shoot]

If your equating more speed with better accuracy then you need to study up some more. No insult intended. Do you reload your own ammo? If so you should see that when you push a bullet up to a certain point (could be pretty slow) that's the best it will do after that it could just suffer a bit of yaw or wobble or it could be like A.O.C. and go bat shit crazy! Before laying out the green for a new barrel have you tried different bullet brands and possibly powders? Finding the right combo can be a bitch but can also be fun.

I'm equating heavier gun + longer barrel = greater accuracy. I don't see people using 3" snub nose to hunt at 200+yds. LOL I get what you're saying, but I don't reload and I have tried a few different selections of ammo. I'm thinking now that 20-22" will be the max barrel I'll really need. (or want)

 

[Chicken Shoot]

Why not just practice more?

You're funny!! ..... but looks aren't everything.