Thinking of going with a AR 15 2O inch barrel.

[Varminterror]

It is interesting, many of the comments here about 20" barreled AR-15 is they are a "new" or "unusual" thing.

I share this sentiment. The world has changed around us. 20” Rifle AR’s, despite being the “OG design,” are becoming less and less common - the boom of the M4-gery after Sandy Hook, then the evolution of the “MSR” to improve upon the M4-gery with float tubes and better triggers in the years thereafter has really left the 20” Rifle behind. It’s a frustrating situation for me, as I’ve been RE-building 16” carbines into “more useful rifles” for customers for a long time - MOST of my modification business over the last 20yrs has been rebuilding customer 16” or 14.5” P&W carbines, or building new uppers, which folks bought because they were cheap and plentiful, but found they weren’t really all that useful. I’ve shared hundreds of times that I tend to find the 18-20” AR with a mid weight to DCM contour to be the most broadly useful, most readily adaptable configuration. Short enough and light enough to be handy enough up close, but long enough and stable enough to be handy down range too. But the vast majority of customers no longer hunt, so that utility opportunity has largely evaporated, and the popularity of braced pistols and “PDW’s” and “PCC’s” has really solidified the market towards shorter barrels. It never even occurs to folks to consider a longer barrel, even when they’re considering larger AR-15 length cartridges which really benefit from a bit more barrel - as backwards as it seems, it’s still almost difficult to convince customers they really want a barrel longer than 20” even when they call about building long range dedicated 6 ARC’s…

I don’t ever recommend 1:9” AR barrels any more, at any length, but 1:7” or 1:8” 20” Rifle barrels are very capable, good handling barrels. My personal “using” AR’s in 5.56/.223 are a 10.5” SBR with 1:7” and a 20” Rifle with 1:8”. Some days I wish it had a 1:7” so it would be more capable for High Power competition again, but it holds its own, and if I ever got serious about Service Rifle again, it’s only ~$300 away from an ideal twist (sucks pulling off the brake too, but I get it).

 

[Robert]

My 20" rifle wears a 15" float tube, a Magpul grip, stock, and a 4x ACOG. That's it. I've never felt it was unwieldy or too long. While I'd love an SBR, my 20" works just fine.

 

[C-grunt]

Like others have pointed out, a properly built 20 inch gun does have benefits. Reduced port pressure causes less stress on the BCG and slows the action down a bit. In *general* the full size rifle will be more reliable than the carbines. Plus the added 100-200 FPS over the standatd 16 inch gun doesn't hurt.

 

[gunmechanic]

The 20"bbl is one of my favorites,you cant go wrong rifle length gas system is great.It makes a nice do all rifle!

 

[Charlie98]

The world has changed around us. 20” Rifle AR’s, despite being the “OG design,” are becoming less and less common - the boom of the M4-gery

Like others have pointed out, a properly built 20 inch gun does have benefits.

I think much of the popularity of the short-barreled AR's is a combination of TV and Hollywood, and the fact that our military left the 20" barrel behind. Everyone wants what the Army has (etc...) There is no denying that an M4-type AR is far handier than a fixed-stock 20" AR, and particularly when you are getting into and out of a vehicle, let alone carrying it afield (for whatever purpose.) We now have an entire generation of people who think the M4/short barreled AR's are the norm... and the 20" is the crazy old grandpa.

 

[Riomouse911]

I think much of the popularity of the short-barreled AR's is a combination of TV and Hollywood, and the fact that our military left the 20" barrel behind. Everyone wants what the Army has (etc...) There is no denying that an M4-type AR is far handier than a fixed-stock 20" AR, and particularly when you are getting into and out of a vehicle, let alone carrying it afield (for whatever purpose.) We now have an entire generation of people who think the M4/short barreled AR's are the norm... and the 20" is the crazy old grandpa.

Indeed. Go look on the shelves and in the ads, any solid stocked AR-15’s (A2 style) are much rarer than the collapsible stocked guns. Buyers seem to want the “short and handy” rifles for their AR rather than the fixed stock, longer barreled versions.

My first AR (1993) was a 16” Colt with the collapsible stock, my second AR was a “Colt Accurized Rifle,” which had no sights on the the 24” stainless bull barrel, aluminum free float tube with two swivel studs, and an A2 stock with a pie-piece shaped weight in the butt. I added a 6x24x50 scope, Harris bipod and a target pistol grip later.

This, way back then, was a 180-degree departure from the AR-15’s that everyone was buying. With the explosion in popularity of SBR’s, AR pistols wearing “stabilizing braces”, etc., it hasn’t changed much over the 30 years since.

(Internet photo)



Oh well, those of us with a grandpa gun or two will keep on enjoying the versatility they offer.

Stay safe.

 

[AlexanderA]

All my AR's, except one, have 20" barrels. That's the original configuration. The short-barreled versions, starting with the XM177, were a bit of a kludge. The fact that they went mainstream is something of a mystery.

 

[mavracer]

IDK I just don't see a big advantage of a 20" 5.56 unless you're shooting some competition that requires 5.56 and shooting 600 yards like service match.
I have an old Colt 20" A2 that's set up for service match with irons. My only other 20" is a 224 Valkyrie.

 

[jmorris]

I have them from 8.5” to 26”, never have had a receiver battering issue with any of them.

 

[12Bravo20]

I haven't had a 1-9 twist 223 barrel since getting rid of my H&R Handi Rifle. All of mine are either 1-7 or 1-8 twist. the few 16" barrels I have are 1-7 as is all of my 20" barrels. I do have one barrel with a 223 Wylde chamber that is 1-8. I have used the M16A1 and A2 along with the XM177E2 while in the service. My preference for barrel length is 18 to 20 inches. While shorter barrels are nice when you are mounted (in and out of vehicles) and for clearing ops, the 20" barrel is better for making longer shots.

Just my opinion but the 1-9 twist is more of a compromise for those that want to shoot both light varmint bullets below 55 grains and heavier bullets up to 69 grains in the same rifle.

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I got tracking for mine. Saturday it's do in. Im going to the range this after. I need to shoot some ammo. So i have the brass to load the 62 grain bullets.

 

[Ignition Override]

With iron sights?

The sight distance on a friend’s 1985 “Green Box” (extra ‘ATF pin’’?) classic Colt is the main reason I like his gun.- or any other similar AR.

 

[Mosin Bubba]

I've got a 16" stock-standard carbine and a 20" A1 replica with a carry handle. I like the 16" a lot better.

The 20" rifles aren't heavy, but they are bulkier than you think. Like another poster said, the AR has a pretty tall action, and the 20" rifles get tall and long. They're still light weight, but they're big.

I think 18" is a good spot to stop at for ARs, personally. You get rifle gas and a little more velocity, but still stay at a proper "carbine" length. I wouldn't go to 20" or beyond unless you needed the velocity.

 

[12Bravo20]

A 20" AR or M16A1/A2 is not heavy or cumbersome when compared to the M60. The M60 was my primary weapon for most of my time as an E1 through E4. The A1/A2 is also lighter and shorter than the M1 Garand and M14.

 

[LiveLife]

Thinking of going with a AR 15 2O inch barrel

Think again and consider 18" .223 Wylde 1:8 twist heavy barrel

I no longer build 20" ARs as 18" .223 Wylde (Midlength gas tube) 1:8 twist heavy barrel outshoots (MOA/sub MOA) my 20" Bushmaster 1:9 HBAR.

Here's 18" .223 Wylde shooting milk jugs at 1200/1500 yards (Not me ... Jump to 3:15/10:00 minute of video)

 

[CoalCrackerAl]

I already ordered it. Just got updated shipping. It will be here tomorrow. And wow nice shooting on the 1200 and 1500 yards.
Here is the one im getting. Glad i ordered it when i did. I paid 239.00
https://www.bearcreekarsenal.com/5-...st-rifle-15-mlok-nrail-dual-charge-upper.html

 

[Ignition Override]

Long rifles --also-- can look cool.

This (plus worldwide combat use) helped the FAL become my favorite gun.

 

[Charlie98]

While shorter barrels are nice when you are mounted (in and out of vehicles) and for clearing ops, the 20" barrel is better for making longer shots.

Getting in and out of a 5-ton tractor with an A1 was a pain in the rear, and our trucks didn't have clips for the rifles, so they were flying all over the cab. Even a 20" rifle with a collapsible stock would have been better.

Truth be told, unless I was a door kicker, I'd be perfectly happy with an A1/A2 type rifle as an issue rifle, again.

 

[DMW1116]

I got mine specifically for the longer sight radius for use with iron sights. I also like it for a less harsh report. Putting the blast a little further from my face is nice.

 

[12Bravo20]

Getting in and out of a 5-ton tractor with an A1 was a pain in the rear, and our trucks didn't have clips for the rifles, so they were flying all over the cab. Even a 20" rifle with a collapsible stock would have been better.

Truth be told, unless I was a door kicker, I'd be perfectly happy with an A1/A2 type rifle as an issue rifle, again.

When I wasn't operating or TC'ing the M88 or 5 ton wrecker, I drove the 5 ton M944A1 machine shop or a 5 ton bobtail.

 

[jmorris]

I think 18" is a good spot to stop at for ARs, personally.

It’s all personal choices for sure. I’ll go ahead and add that my really short AR’s are only that short so they are not as long as pool sticks with cans on them.

A 10.5” barrel may not sound very long but once you have a can on it, it’s like having a 16” barrel just without the same blast when fired.



The only 18” barrel I have is on my 3 gun rifle and it’s been pretty good for that use.

 

[cfullgraf]

I don’t ever recommend 1:9” AR barrels any more, at any length, but 1:7” or 1:8” 20” Rifle barrels are very capable, good handling barrels. My personal “using” AR’s in 5.56/.223 are a 10.5” SBR with 1:7” and a 20” Rifle with 1:8”. Some days I wish it had a 1:7” so it would be more capable for High Power competition again, but it holds its own, and if I ever got serious about Service Rifle again, it’s only ~$300 away from an ideal twist (sucks pulling off the brake too, but I get it).

My first AR-15 is a Colt Match Target, A2 configuration with a 1:7 barrel. It shot well in Service rifle matches. I later bought a CMP Compass Lake A2 Service rifle.

I learned to like the nominal 1:7 twist barrels.

I built a 24” 223 Rem AR-15 with a 1:9 twist Shilen barrel. It shoots well but with the bullet weight limitation of the 1:9 barrel it just does not have the flexibility of higher twist barrels.

I have rifles chambered in 22 Hornet and 221 Rem Fireball and they work well with lighter weight bullets. This leaves the heavier weight bullets at the faster twist rates foe 223 Rem.

On of the reason my main prairie dog rifle is chambered in 204 Ruger. 39-40 grain 204 Ruger shots flatter out to a bit longer distance than 223 Rem loads. 204 Ruger gets another 100 yards or at reasonable drop over 223 Rem. It makes for easier site adjustments at longer ranges.

Not the obscene longe ranges hits some get with specislized cartridges, but long enough for me.

 

[Varminterror]

There is no denying that an M4-type AR is far handier than a fixed-stock

The fixed stock game is played out, and has been for years, even on 20"+ rifles, and especially the A2 stock. I'd hazard a guess that out of something around 150-200 new ground-up rifle builds I've had commissioned and lowers I've restocked in the last ~15yrs, I've only installed 2 or 3 A2 stocks on rifles which weren't on purist clone builds, and one of those came back for a carbine tube within a year. Alternatively, I've removed and replaced DOZENS of A2 stocks and rifle tubes with carbine stocks. I've built a lot of precision AR's in this time with fixed stock options like the Luth-AR, Magpul PRS, XLR, etc, and I had a few folks use the Magpul MOE fixie when it first came out (and I built several rifles with the old DoubleStar ACE skeletonized fixie), but the era of the fixed stock, especially A2's on anything but precision rifles and clones is largely over. Even for Service Rifle shooters, I've not had A2 orders any more - the Magpul UBR Gen1 was a hit for that game, although I'm kind of sad they messed up the "strike plate" for the Gen2 which makes it less suitable for slinging up tight. I built a LOT of rifles on A2's during the ban era, and shortly thereafter, but the market shifted around 2007-2010, grossly accelerated by Sandy Hook in '12, and ever since, the fixed A2, and fixed stocks in general, are a specialty market, not the standard fare any more. Outside of PRS/Luth-AR/XLR multi-adjust stocks, I don't recall any orders for other fixies in the last 5yrs, in fact.

I will admit, "there's a lot more salesmanship than science" in the whole argument that carbine stocks are easier to maneuver than fixies. And the gap has shrank even further now that A5's are becoming so popular - they're only about 1 1/8" shorter than A2's when fully collapsed. A2's are always too long for me, so I've been using carbine stocks since the days when we still had to pin them in place, indexed 1-2 stops shorter than full length (depending on 4, 6, 8, or 9 stop tubes). So I don't shoot A2's whenever I can avoid it, and ever since I quit shooting Service Rifle, and Service Rifle changed their rules to allow carbine stocks, BUT I did end up playing with a Mk12 clone I built on an A2 stock a couple of years ago, it handles in and out of vehicles almost exactly the same as my SBR uppers on a collapsible UBR or carbine stocks.

 

[Varminterror]

my second AR was a “Colt Accurized Rifle,” which had no sights on the the 24” stainless bull barrel, aluminum free float tube with two swivel studs, and an A2 stock

I always thought, at the time, how interesting it was that so many manufacturers (of the small number in the market at that time) all made virtually this same rifle. I have a nearly identical Bushmaster Varmint Special Stainless. It’s my one and only remaining A2 stock, and one of two remaining 1:9” twist AR’s I have (the other another Bushmaster M4 Hbar-gery with A2 sights). My VSS is on its second barrel, an original from Bushmaster just before the Windham relo, and it shoots 50’s, 69’s, and 77’s lights out.

 

[Charlie98]

I've only installed 2 or 3 A2 stocks on rifles which weren't on purist clone builds, and one of those came back for a carbine tube within a year.

My first carbine build, I installed an RRA 'shorty' stock on it... a fixed A2-type stock, but shorter, to accommodate body armor and such. It was pretty darned handy, and very solid, if not a little heavy (I also had a 1" recoil pad/spacer on it to get the length right for me.) At the end of the day, however, I pulled it off for a carbine stock.

Then...



...and now...



The rifle to the right has a UBR (Gen2, I believe...) that I really like, but it's heavy... understandably so.