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Posted: 10/21/2008 5:48:26 AM EDT
[#1]
The 20" will obviously produce greater muzzle velocity. MilSpec hardball ammo depends on fragmentation for effective neutralization of targets (badguys). If a FMJ bullet is not traveling fast enough to fragment, it will bore a hole through-and-through the target, not dumping energy into it. I'm not sure of the exact number but you will lose effective range with a sub-20"er. This is why the USMC stayed with 20" M16s.
All of this is really a non-issue for civilians. |
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Posted: 10/21/2008 8:34:39 AM EDT
[#2]
Yes, thank you. I understand that. I was not clear. Let me rephrase the question. What is the difference in muzzle velocity with a 16 and a 20 inch barrel (all else being equal) in terms of the reach of the rifle? In other words, what is the effective range of a 16" barrel and what is the effective range of a 20" barrel (again, with all else being the same.) |
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Posted: 10/21/2008 8:55:06 AM EDT
[#3]
I've shot at 500 and 600 yards with a 16" barrel. A 20" barrel with the right bullet might be good to 1000. According to the military the effective range of the M16A2 is something like 550 meters. |
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Posted: 10/21/2008 10:21:24 AM EDT
[#4]
You are correct, 87. I think the OP wants terminal ballistics for the same round out of a 16" and a 20" |
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Posted: 10/21/2008 10:22:55 AM EDT
[#5]
In that case, it is something like 93m vs 150m. |
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Posted: 10/21/2008 10:54:28 AM EDT
[#6]
16~18" is optimal for fragmentation range vs. barrel length IIRC. You lose a lot going from 16" to 14.5" (which is why my next upper will be midlength instead of 14.5" M4 I bought for cool-factor
 ). 16" to 18" gain is tangible and after that it is marginally better.
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Posted: 10/21/2008 12:21:41 PM EDT
[#7]
Dis might help:
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Posted: 10/21/2008 6:14:32 PM EDT
[#8]
The .223 round (55 grain FMJ) and AR-15 platform was designed around a 20" barrel
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Posted: 10/22/2008 1:43:46 AM EDT
[#9]
Depends on ammo. 5.56 TAP in my 12" barrel will beat 93m, a 14.5" will beat 150m. |
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Posted: 10/22/2008 1:47:42 AM EDT
[#10]
I think 12" is optimal for fragmentation if you are looking at self defense. The idea youd ever use a self defense round past 100m is kind of ridiculous and if you did any decent hit at that would eliminate that target as a threat. The only reason people say 16" is ideal is because that is as short as they can get without going SBR and its a nice way to mentally reassure one's self there is a reason to have that barrel length a rifle gets stuck with and they actually have a "need" for all that extra length... which they dont IMO. |
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Posted: 10/22/2008 2:21:04 AM EDT
[#11]
No. The AR is literally a scaled down AR10. The AR10 that Armalite offers, ironically, is a scaled up AR15. As a result, the gas system and barrel length of the AR15 are reflective of the AR10 and it's 147 grain ball ammunition, not the M193 that was adopted. To further complicate matters, the military now issues M855, a 62 grain bullet that was designed around the 18 inch barrel of the SAW. |
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Posted: 10/22/2008 2:21:44 AM EDT
[#12]
Oh, yeah. Fragmentation is nice... but I'm not going to worry about it, especially at distance.
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