20" AR-15 in 223

KnotRight

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Got some spare parts and lowers around and thinking what should I build. No barrel or rail.
I have a 7.5, 10.5 and 16" ARs but no 20".

Is it worth putting one together to plink with? If so, what twist rate would you be looking at to shoot 68 grn bullets.
 
Is it worth putting one together to plink with? If so, what twist rate would you be looking at to shoot 68 grn bullets.
IMO, yes. 1:7, and try some of the 77 grain bullets as well.
 
Minimal gain from 18 to 20" with rifle gas. I think its less than 100fps. Probably the reason i never built one longer.
 
Pretty good closeout prices on some 20 inch barrels on CDNN right now if you're looking for a cheap build. Can't speak to optimal twist for 68 grain.

$89.99 DPMS 1/9 match:
https://www.cdnnsports.com/ar15-223-barrel-24-1-9-match-sts-bull-target-dpms.html?___SID=U

$99.99 Bushmaster 1/9 heavy target with gas block:
https://www.cdnnsports.com/ar15-barrel-556-20-1-9-heavy-target-bushmaster.html?___SID=U

$119.99 DPMS 1/8 target fluted:
https://www.cdnnsports.com/ar15-barrel-223-20in-fluted-1-8-target-dpms.html?___SID=U
 
I have questions before I can answer. The quality of the barrel has more to do with the precision of it more so than the length, assuming we are talking about a barrel that is 14.5” or longer. A quality 16” barrel can get you the same precision results, albeit at a lower velocity, than a 20” barrel.

What are your current barrels like? Government/M4 profiled barrels, heavy barrels? Trying to figure out what we are working with here already

I’ve been shooting a 16” 223 Wylde barrel on the range and competitions out to 600yds easily. With 75gr Hornadys, my velocity is around 2615 but I’m not pushing them hard at all; I could hit 2700 with another powder pretty easily.


https://www.ballisticadvantage.com/18-inch-223-wylde-hanson-mid-ss-premium-barrel.html

Something like that BA barrel would offer you a great combination of quality, accuracy, etc without being too lengthy or heavy
 
11B CIB, I am not sure how much difference my 16" CMMG barrels would be over the BA 18" barrel.
The gun that I am thinking on putting together is more that a gun to play around out to 600 yards. I do not shoot any competition and the scope that I would put on it would be in the lower mid-price range. about 300-3250 dollars.
 
...and the scope that I would put on it would be in the lower mid-price range. about 300-3250 dollars.
That’s a pretty wide range for lower-mid pricing. :D
 
11B CIB, I am not sure how much difference my 16" CMMG barrels would be over the BA 18" barrel.
The gun that I am thinking on putting together is more that a gun to play around out to 600 yards. I do not shoot any competition and the scope that I would put on it would be in the lower mid-price range. about 300-3250 dollars.

I have a BA 18" SPR and its heave as hell FYI. More so then mt Mk12Mod0 real SPR barrel.

but it shoots very well
 

So to be dead honest with you I have 5 18" Ar-15's I only shoot a 18" if its not a SBR/Pistol. I love them. If you want what I think is the best barrel. Compass Lake Engineering is your best brand.

I have two uppers built by Frank. One I shoot in F-Class TR out to 1000yds and yes its a 17.9" 1/7 in 5.56mm

https://compasslake.com/

I have one Upper Frank did in 2007 and it still to this day smashes grapefruits @ 900yds with 77 SMK's

So its up to you.
 
I have a BA 18" SPR and its heave as hell FYI. More so then mt Mk12Mod0 real SPR barrel.

but it shoots very well

The one I linked to was the Hanson version which is an ounce lighter than their Mk12 profile 18”. It’s not quite the same profile as a regular HBAR or SPR

The 18” fluted premium .223 Wylde is 8oz lighter for only $40 more I think. Would be a good investment


@KnotRight for 600yds and in, youll be doing good with 69gr Match kings. 77s aren’t going to offer the performance jump at that range IMO versus the cost and speed you’ll get from the 69s

I’d also consider a Primary Arms ACSS 4-14x FFP .223 optic for your price range. Will make shooting out to 600 ridiculously easy
 
Faxon makes what you want in a gunner unless you planning on mag dumping every other magazine. I have the 18" 1-8 twist nato chamber and it stacks rounds at 100yds. Don't have anywhere to shoot further but I have confidence in that barrel.
They also make a 20". You would need a .625 gas block since that's how they reduce weight at the front. The profile starts out as a Gov't profile and ends up as a pencil. I consider it a 'sporter' profile. Both weigh less than 2lbs.
https://faxonfirearms.com/faxon-18-gunner-profile-ar15-barrel-5-56-nato-nitrided/

Those SPR barrels weigh more than some all-steel 1911s.
 
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Faxon makes what you want in a gunner unless you planning on mag dumping every other magazine. I have the 18" 1-8 twist nato chamber and it stacks rounds at 100yds. Don't have anywhere to shoot further but I have confidence in that barrel.
They also make a 20". You would need a .625 gas block since that's how they reduce weight at the front. The profile starts out as a Gov't profile and ends up as a pencil. I consider it a 'sporter' profile. Both weigh less than 2lbs.
https://faxonfirearms.com/faxon-18-gunner-profile-ar15-barrel-5-56-nato-nitrided/

Those SPR barrels weigh more than some all-steel 1911s.


That’s an interesting profile. Solid price also

7RnWgNA.jpg
 
I had the 18" Gunner profile. Got passed to a member here who still has it. Not sure I would go that way for precision rifle, but I loved it for it's weight and feel for everything else. With all that weight off the front, it's really great for practical/ action shooting. Just swings and points amazing. I have the same profile on a 14.5" mid length and it is my favorite gun and the one I shoot 90% of the time. It's just a great profile. A little stiffer than a pencil.
For a gun to carry around and "plink" or even shoot matches it would be great. They make it in 20" as well.

But for longer range I would use a heavier profile as the light one feels a bit squirrely to me, which is why I replaced mine with a Odin 3gun barrel. But I had the Gunner in 14.5 or I would have kept the 18. Still have mild regret I didn't hang onto that barrel. Just depends what you are looking for. Just my opinion.

Also would be cool to build a carry handle old school 20".
 
I have two 20" barrel ARs. First is a Colt AR15A4 with the 1/7" barrel and 3x Burris AR322 sight and the second is a Stag/Delton 1/9" heavy barrel with a 6x scope.

I don't shoot anything heavier than 69gr bullets and the 1/9 handles them just fine. I have only A2 type butt stocks on my ARs, even the 16" carbine. I've disliked the sliding GI stock from the first time I used one. I'm not going to war so the A2 stock is much steadier and comfortable for me. The only thing I did to the 2 20" barrel rifles besides the sights (and furniture on the Delton/Stag) was a RRA 2 stage trigger for each. A good trigger is worth almost as much as a premium barrel for good shooting.

V7Uzgwwl.jpg

Colt

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Delton/Stag (now has a 6x scope)

HVIQxzHl.jpg


Colt/Anderson 1/7". It now has a Burris AR 322 sight. I like A2 stocks.
 
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After rereading the post, it seams that more members are leaning towards the 18" barrel.
Those that have the 18 or 20 inch barrels, do you run a can on them? That is adding another 7-8 inches.
 
Of all the AR's I've owned, the majority have been either 20 inch rifles or 16 inch carbines, with two exceptions, my 11.5 inch pistol, and a LaRue Stealth uppered SPR with an 18 inch tube. The 18 inch barrel didn't really strike me as all that different from either the 16 or 20 inch setups I have.
I prefer a 20 inch rifle, though the 16's have been growing on me as of late, especially the mid-length gassed ones.
 
A 20 inch AR is a LONG gun, like M1 Garand long almost. I like mine but it doesn’t get much range time. It shoots nice but doesn’t really do much more for me than a 16 or 14.5 inch, other than be heavier.
 
Built a M16A4 clone with 20" FN barrel and upper. FFL just got my PSA M16A4 lower. He also has my M16A2 lower which I'll build into another clone. Both are 1:7 twist. I've shot both type of guns with irons and optics out to 600m. Good enough to win a case of Black Hills Mk262 77gr Match at the All Army Matches.

CD
 
A 20 inch AR is a LONG gun, like M1 Garand long almost. I like mine but it doesn’t get much range time. It shoots nice but doesn’t really do much more for me than a 16 or 14.5 inch, other than be heavier.

My son a former 11B calls the A2 'the musket'. His issued arm in Iraq was an M4/203 combo.
 
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Ref the stock

If you want that rifle length tube but would prefer an adjustable stock you could look into an A5 buffer system. The Magpul UBR gives you that solid cheek weld (saves the beard) with space for an A5 buffer. Collapses almost as short as the magpul carbine stocks but can adjust to an inch more than an A2 stock.

LOP, UBR Extended ~15.3 in.
LOP, M4 Extended ~14.9 in.

LOP, UBR Collapsed ~11.8 in.
LOP, M4 Collapsed ~11.6 in.

A2 Stock LOP 13.5"
Cavalry Arms A1 stock LOP 12.75"
 

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Ref the stock

If you want that rifle length tube but would prefer an adjustable stock you could look into an A5 buffer system. The Magpul UBR gives you that solid cheek weld (saves the beard) with space for an A5 buffer. Collapses almost as short as the magpul carbine stocks but can adjust to an inch more than an A2 stock.

LOP, UBR Extended ~15.3 in.
LOP, M4 Extended ~14.9 in.

LOP, UBR Collapsed ~11.8 in.
LOP, M4 Collapsed ~11.6 in.

A2 Stock LOP 13.5"
Cavalry Arms A1 stock LOP 12.75"
The VLTOR A5 Buffer System is basically a proprietary buffer and receiver extension tube that are intermediate in length. The buffer and the tube are both 3/4 of an inch longer than a standard carbine buffer set up. The system also utilizes a rifle action spring instead of a carbine spring.

It was the A6 buffer that was designed by the Army for a 20" barrel using a collapsible buttstock, receiver extension and carbine spring. However, not really needed unless you have a select fire receiver. H or H2 should work for semi only.
Here's two done by 1st AD in Kuwait in 15'
IMG_0733.JPG


Have another 20" bbl with a MagPul PRS Gen 3 stock using a A6 buffer in the office here in Afghanistan.
Side note I hate people calling the M16A2 a "Musket" Let me introduce you to a 3 band Pattern 1853 .577 Enfield Musket!

CD
 
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