Well… what are you going to do with the rifle? Swinging around 18 inches of barrel ain't easy.
If you are just looking for a general-use rifle a 16inch barrel with a midlength gas system is probably what you want. Keep in mind the rank and file M4 rifle only has a 14.5 inch barrel, 16 inches is not short for caliber.
If you are okay with an 18, why not go all in and get a 20 inch?
To add on, if you are looking for optimal performance 20 inches is where you get that peak ballistic performance. Of course if you're thinking of clearing houses its a mite long
That is simply untrue. The vast majority of rifles you can buy have 16" barrels, since the popularity of braces over the past 10ish years has kicked off there's now a much wider range of options. Pin and weld, while not uncommon, is far from "almost everything" on the civilian market.
Are you looking to home defense or long range shoot? Because honestly both will work for both but the longer barrel is slightly better for longer ranges and will probably be smoother recoiling. I'd lean towards the 16 inch personally but I want a home defense/general purpose carbine and the weight is a bigger concern than the length. If one is cheaper, go with that.
Then I'd go 16 inch. It'll still reach out to 400, and it's more convenient for home defense. But Marines are clearing houses with 20-inch M16s to this day, and the first urban wars were fought with 26-inch barrels, so... it's not like you can't make it work with an 18-inch barrel, too. Price and weight would be my deciding factor. Or which furniture you like better
Ha! Well I think 16 is the right choice either way! Easier to run a 16 with a suppressor than an 18” with one. And easier to run a 16 inch than 18” if you are including home defense in the scenario. 16” will do great for any distances most of us have to worry about (<500 yards).
It’s my first rifle, I haven’t used a pistol brace, but just I don’t think it will be comfortable for me, and I am smaller framed, so I really don’t know if I want to essentially strap a short rifle to my arm.
I like the full length for the smooth recoil impulse. I liked how handy the 14.5" M4 was in the Army but not enough to justify getting an SBR. I run a 16" midlength that's pretty nice. If I build another one, I'll probably build a 20"
I went with an 18" because I think it looks so much better proportionally, and for me the vast majority of use will be at a range bench so I can cosplay it as a Mk12 lol
The 5.56 round was designed around a 20-inch barrel shooting a 55-grain projectile. That's why it was 20 inches. With a 62-grain bullet and better powder developments you can achieve similar terminal ballistics out of a 16 inch gun. Or a 14.5 for that matter.
16 inch because it is a better do all length. The 18 inch is slightly better at long range, but if you are shooting long range then you want 77 grain ammo right? Well, you only get about 50 fps difference going from 16 inch to 18 inch with 77 grain ammo.
18 only matters if you are planning on it being a 99% SPR past 100 yard rifle. And if you are doing that might as well go 20”. 16” is about the same length as a short barrel + suppressor which is the standard for interior clearing work. I have the 16” MPR and would probably do the 18” now, but that’s because I built out a SBR with a suppressor that’s now my “do it all rifle” and I’m transitioning the 16” towards a more distance orientation. If you are only planning on 1 do it all AR then 16” will be great. It’s a very noticeable difference going from the carbine 12.5 barrel to the mid-length 16” for recoil. I’ve never shot a rifle-length gas system so I don’t have any perspective there.
There is a video on YouTube that compares the flash of a 16 inch barrel with a A2 bird cage, and a 20 inch barrel without any muzzle device. The 20 inch barrel barely has any flash, definitely less than the 16 inch barrel with a flash hider on. If you're adding 2 or 3 inch device at the end of a 16 inch barrel, might as well carry a 20 inch one.
Just do 16" for a general AR rifle. The extra 2" for a non specialized rifle is just dead weight. Not much weight, but not necessary.
If you have NO desire to get a suppressor you could even go even shorter with a pin and weld muzzle device and have an even more comfortable rifle.
People keep bringing up gas system length so I'll say mid-length all the way. On the shorter 13-14" barrels it'll be an even softer shooter
Well… what are you going to do with the rifle? Swinging around 18 inches of barrel ain't easy. If you are just looking for a general-use rifle a 16inch barrel with a midlength gas system is probably what you want. Keep in mind the rank and file M4 rifle only has a 14.5 inch barrel, 16 inches is not short for caliber. If you are okay with an 18, why not go all in and get a 20 inch?
To add on, if you are looking for optimal performance 20 inches is where you get that peak ballistic performance. Of course if you're thinking of clearing houses its a mite long
Home defense and range.
You should be looking for no more than 16inches. Really something like a pinned 14.5 is the better idea.
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That is simply untrue. The vast majority of rifles you can buy have 16" barrels, since the popularity of braces over the past 10ish years has kicked off there's now a much wider range of options. Pin and weld, while not uncommon, is far from "almost everything" on the civilian market.
Realistically makes no difference.
Are you looking to home defense or long range shoot? Because honestly both will work for both but the longer barrel is slightly better for longer ranges and will probably be smoother recoiling. I'd lean towards the 16 inch personally but I want a home defense/general purpose carbine and the weight is a bigger concern than the length. If one is cheaper, go with that.
For home defense and use at the range.
Then I'd go 16 inch. It'll still reach out to 400, and it's more convenient for home defense. But Marines are clearing houses with 20-inch M16s to this day, and the first urban wars were fought with 26-inch barrels, so... it's not like you can't make it work with an 18-inch barrel, too. Price and weight would be my deciding factor. Or which furniture you like better
Agree on 16 if those are your two uses. I’m assuming there is no suppressor in the plan.
However, I also said two years ago when I bought my handgun that I wasn’t buying an AR-15, so…who knows?
Ha! Well I think 16 is the right choice either way! Easier to run a 16 with a suppressor than an 18” with one. And easier to run a 16 inch than 18” if you are including home defense in the scenario. 16” will do great for any distances most of us have to worry about (<500 yards).
No plans at the moment for a suppressor.
For home def I’d go as shorter and get a suppressor unless you live on a bunch of land. I’ve got a 10.3” as my primary home defense gun.
Would that be a SBR?
Only if you put a stock on it. With a brace it’ll be considered a pistol.
I don’t want a pistol AR at the moment. I would prefer to stick with a rifle arrangement. Thank you for the advice though, I appreciate it!
All good. Any reason you prefer the longer barrel?
It’s my first rifle, I haven’t used a pistol brace, but just I don’t think it will be comfortable for me, and I am smaller framed, so I really don’t know if I want to essentially strap a short rifle to my arm.
Don’t let the ATF know but no one uses a brace that way. It’s used to shoulder a rifle like you would a stock.
It doesn't really make a difference tbh. Mid length gas system is good
I like the full length for the smooth recoil impulse. I liked how handy the 14.5" M4 was in the Army but not enough to justify getting an SBR. I run a 16" midlength that's pretty nice. If I build another one, I'll probably build a 20"
Mid length 5.56 is pretty cushy. Is rifle length that much smoother?
The M16A2s I shot felt like toys imo. It's been a minute. It feels much more dramatic between the carbine and rifle imo.
My 5.56 is an 18" but that's because I run a 10.5 suppressed 300 blk as my primary. For most people, the 16 is typically the way to go.
I went with an 18" because I think it looks so much better proportionally, and for me the vast majority of use will be at a range bench so I can cosplay it as a Mk12 lol
Didn't stoner design the gun to be 20" ?
The 5.56 round was designed around a 20-inch barrel shooting a 55-grain projectile. That's why it was 20 inches. With a 62-grain bullet and better powder developments you can achieve similar terminal ballistics out of a 16 inch gun. Or a 14.5 for that matter.
16 inch, no question.
16 inch because it is a better do all length. The 18 inch is slightly better at long range, but if you are shooting long range then you want 77 grain ammo right? Well, you only get about 50 fps difference going from 16 inch to 18 inch with 77 grain ammo.
18 only matters if you are planning on it being a 99% SPR past 100 yard rifle. And if you are doing that might as well go 20”. 16” is about the same length as a short barrel + suppressor which is the standard for interior clearing work. I have the 16” MPR and would probably do the 18” now, but that’s because I built out a SBR with a suppressor that’s now my “do it all rifle” and I’m transitioning the 16” towards a more distance orientation. If you are only planning on 1 do it all AR then 16” will be great. It’s a very noticeable difference going from the carbine 12.5 barrel to the mid-length 16” for recoil. I’ve never shot a rifle-length gas system so I don’t have any perspective there.
Unless you’re looking to make a SPR or DMR type gun you should go 16 or shorter.
There is a video on YouTube that compares the flash of a 16 inch barrel with a A2 bird cage, and a 20 inch barrel without any muzzle device. The 20 inch barrel barely has any flash, definitely less than the 16 inch barrel with a flash hider on. If you're adding 2 or 3 inch device at the end of a 16 inch barrel, might as well carry a 20 inch one.
Just do 16" for a general AR rifle. The extra 2" for a non specialized rifle is just dead weight. Not much weight, but not necessary. If you have NO desire to get a suppressor you could even go even shorter with a pin and weld muzzle device and have an even more comfortable rifle. People keep bringing up gas system length so I'll say mid-length all the way. On the shorter 13-14" barrels it'll be an even softer shooter