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Posted: 5/10/2012 6:35:46 PM EDT
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I'm ordering my first upper tomorrow. I decided to go with Rock River Arms.
It will be a Varmint A4 Upper Half with 1:8 Twist Barrel. The barrel is cryo treated. Chambered in .223 Wylde (which, thanks to posters here, I now understand). So it's all down to barrel length now. I don't really need a tactical rifle, truth be told. I'm not going to repel down the side of a building with it. I don't have what it takes to be a mall ninja. I want to go shoot at my local outdoor range (100yds max) and, every once in a blue moon, go shoot at Oroville, which maxes at 650yds or so. If I find a 1000yd range, I would like to be able to shoot there without embarrassment. I should also add, I pretty much only bench shoot (rifle). My understanding is that each inch you drop costs you 50fps. If so, the difference between 24 and 16 is 400fps. So... 1. Am I right about the 50fps/1"? 2. Do I want to round to go faster... will it be more stable/accurate? 3. Is there some sweet spot? Is 20" the best for target shooting? 4. Is there anything else I'm missing? And... I suppose... 5. Is there any possibility that this might become a 1 hole group gun? I doubt #5 is a yes... but I figured I'd ask. |
| Sure to get lots of responses on this question. I say split the difference and go for a 20 inch. I think that pretty much gets the most out of the 5.56 round velocity-wise which will make it the flattest shooting you need for that 650 yard range. The fact that you're mainly a bench shooter renders the argument for a 16 inch rifle useless. Everyone says that 16 inch is as accurate as 20 inch if you're using a scope, but at 650 yards, you want all the velocity you can get. The SPR (special purpose rifle) is usually spec'd with an 18 inch stainless steel barrel. |
| I'd stick with the 20". I've got a friend who had the 24 RR varmint and it's just a beast for heavy. Also your 50 fps is actually more like 30-40. I doubt that between the 20 and 24 there's much more than a 100-120 fps gain. The 20" barrel will be just as accurate and yes, with the right ammo the RR varmint barrels can give you ragged hole groups. You might even check out their predator or predator pursuit barrels, they're a lighter profile and damned accurate. |
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