best barrel lengh for AR

I am wondering what is the best barrel length for all around, longer distance, and 3 gun competition? I am looking to purchase an AR and wonder what length barrel I should look at getting.

Thanks


Tim

I'd suggest a 16" if you're going to do 3 gun.

long range, 20"

One lower, two uppers.
Problem solved.

I agree with 7idl, for 3-gun, 16"

If you plan to shoot down in Pueblo, I think 18" - 20" is your best-bet. Expect targets out to 425yds.

Anywhere else I've been, 16" - 18" is fine.

My current rifle is 20", but I'm planning to move to an 18" with rifle-length gas system.

Don't underestimate the value of a good brake and minimizing the recoil impulse.

Mike

For 3-gun a carbine length gas system and its associated 16 inch barrel are a poor choice. Go with a rifle length or mid length gas system and a 17-20 inch, mid weight barrel.

Given your criteria (assuming your version of long distance is 400-600 yards) I would say get a 20.

I use a 11.5" for 3 gun and I have only shot clear creek. (A whole 2 times now) [Tooth]

I can only assume that the reason for a longer barrel is to reduce muzzle climb which = faster follow up shots and a better score. The distance at clear creek sure is not an issue.

Tom knows what he is talking about and I am sure if my assumption is wrong he will correct me.

My advice is to just suck it up and go shoot I have always had a good time. I suck but hey the last match I did not come in dead last in my class tactical I came in second from last. overall I came in 3rd from last.

My first match I came in last in my class tactical and second from last overall.......I guess I am getting better.[Tooth]

Just go shoot it is a great time.[Beer]

Longer barrel = more velocity = flatter shooting = easier to get hits at unknown distances.

Rifle-length gas = less disruption of your sight-picture so you can compensate when you do miss.

Again, for Pueblo, I tend to like a 20". I'd also like to think that velocity translates into a little more energy for knocking down the distant Larue target.

For something like SMM3Gun, where a lot of the targets are within spitting-distance and there's a lot of running through a maze / shoot-house kind of stuff I keep thinking shorter barrel is better.

From what I've read, 18" barrels with a rifle-length gas-system are a good "best of both worlds" compromise.

Mike

The guns are designed to work best with an 18 to twenty in. Barrels accuracy is the same for both assuming you have a quality barrel the question is are you shooting open sights or not and how good are your eyes. With this rifle the sight raidius is short meaning eye strain from hell if you are shooting open I would go with a rifle length gas system to get that front sight out there as far as posible. If you are using optics it whont really matter your M-4 with a 16'' barrel is good out too 600 yards.
pitsburge police competed in the international sniper compatition as did prety well for cops using an 11'' m-4 carbine to engage targets out to a grand.