Do 20 inch barrel AR-15's still have a place?

[M1A4ME]

What makes a gun your favorite?  Most of us just can't say, "16 inch is more practical so I'm getting rid of the 20" barreled rifles and sticking with the carbines."

Why?  Because there is just something about some guns.  Did you shoot really good groups with it?  Was it always super reliable?  Did you make a "fantastic" shot with it at some point?  Did you have it with you when something significant/dangerous happened to you?  Who gave it to you/left it to you?

All kinds of things cause you to get attached to a gun (besides a sling).  Hard to give up/get rid of something you have a(n irrational) tie to.  Is for me anyway.

[double-d]

Still have a place?  Yep, residing in a gun safe when not in use.

I absolutely prefer shooting my 20" Colt A2 HBAR over my carbine.

I have a number of 20” Colt A2 HBARs.
Have you ever seen the 20” 7.62x39 Colt HBAR?

Sorry for the late reply, I've never seen or shot a 7.62x39 AR. 

Mine is actually stamped Colt Sporter HBAR and manufactured with A-2 sites. I purchased it bnib right when Clinton's AWB was enacted......in its soldered on birdcage flashider, no bayonet lug, ten round magazines & large pin glory.
Never felt the need for a bayonet and the "permanent" hider doesn't effect me. 

The only thing I've done to mine was to drop a large pin Geissele trigger in it, use 30 round mags.......... and shoot it. 

[david s]

As others have mentioned how the rifles going to be used tends to set the requirements. I'm not much of an AR person. My main AR has a one inch diameter barrel that's 24 inch's long. Even with the heavy Magpul adjustable butt stock this rifles muzzle heavy. The rifles set up for gopher shooting so a good trigger and a 6-18X Nikon finish out the set up. It's not practical because of it's weight but it rides a set of shooting bags well and is accurate.

[MadDuner]

Still have a place?  Yep, residing in a gun safe when not in use.

I absolutely prefer shooting my 20" Colt A2 HBAR over my carbine.

I have a number of 20” Colt A2 HBARs.
Have you ever seen the 20” 7.62x39 Colt HBAR?

Sorry for the late reply, I've never seen or shot a 7.62x39 AR. 

Mine is actually stamped Colt Sporter HBAR and manufactured with A-2 sites. I purchased it bnib right when Clinton's AWB was enacted......in its soldered on birdcage flashider, no bayonet lug, ten round magazines & large pin glory.
Never felt the need for a bayonet and the "permanent" hider doesn't effect me. 

The only thing I've done to mine was to drop a large pin Geissele trigger in it, use 30 round mags.......... and shoot it.

[jwc007]

I have an AR15A2 I built decades ago, that I used for plinking, Target Shooting, and DCM/CMP Matches.  With the few modifications I've made to it, it's no longer CMP legal for Matches.
As the Rifle Range I used to shoot at closed down, I've not shot it much lately, but it's still a very good Rifle, accurate and reliable.  I do like the idea of having a 20 inch barrel to wring out as much energy as is possible with the 5.56/.223 Caliber.


I have had the itch to build a flat topped 16 inch free float barreled AR Carbine, but with no access to a Rifle Range, it's not been a priority.  Currently, my Ruger Mini-14 Scout, Egyptian Maadi AKM, and my much fussed over Century Vz2008/Vz58 serve as my go to Tactical Carbines.


AR15A2


Ruger Mini-14 Scout


CAI Vz2008/Vz58

[CARDIFF KID]

It depends. If you are going to be getting in and out of armored vehicles, you probably want to go with a short barrel. Same if you plan on engaging an adversary inside of a building. But, except for the Walter Mitty Commandos out there, a 20 inch barrel is pretty much the way to go. Higher velocity and better accuracy will be the benefits of going with a longer barrel. If the way you look is more important than how well you shoot, then go shorter.

[tripingram]

I love my 20 inch upper that I put together, the rifle length gas system helped smooth the recoil pulse. I shoot from the bench or ground with it and will run and gun with my 16 inch. Each has its purpose.

[Winston_Smith]

As I tend to use ARs at longer distances and in outdoor settings I prefer longer barrels for the added weight and velocity.  Think that if you are looking to shoot 200 yds or less the shorter barrel is probably just fine.  If you plan on engaging beyond that a few extra ounces and length are not a significant limitation.  Still waiting on my 22 inch Athris 6.5 Grendel, which will be my new General Purpose upper.  If I need to clear my house I have a Scorpion. 

Good luck on your choices.

JW

+1 on the Skorpion for home defense.  I have a Galil and Bren and would never think of using them as a home defense weapon (unless there is a Zombie Apocalypse or I see the Chinese People's Liberation Army on my doorstep, with neither scenario likely to happen).  If there was a home invasion robbery, I'd pull out the Skorpion.  Plenty accurate at the likely range, less noise, and no fear of a round going through walls and hitting the neighbors.