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

[Metal Wonder Nine Guy]

So here’s yet another random question from me. Do you folks still think there is a place for the 20-inch barrel AR15? I've only shot one 20 inch AR once, and that was more of a bench rest gun if anything. How do the longer barreled AR’s handle then? Yeah, the ubiquitous 16-inch AR15 carbine is here to stay, and many shooters are gravitating towards the shorter barreled AR’s nowadays. But there’s something classic about a 20-inch barrel AR.

You also see guys like Paul Harrell rocking the older A1 style AR’s with pretty good accuracy and ballistic results. And a couple years back, there also seemed to be a resurgence with the older style AR's with the Brownell's retro series that recreated the various prototype AR’s.

To top this question off, I was watching this video about Clint Smith talk about the evolution of the AR15. He felt that at least for 5.56/223 AR15's, the optimal barrel length is 20 inches. Timestamped clip is below.

https://youtu.be/uXGnq1iKrUU?t=481

[Hammer Time]

I think a lot of it comes down to intended usage. If you primarily plan to use your AR as a longer-distance rifle, shooting from static positions, the longer barrel makes sense. If you're prioritizing mobility, esp. in tighter quarters shorter is going to be much better - you may be sacrificing some ballistics, but at closer distances it really doesn't matter. A 16" barrel offers a good middle ground between the two extremes - still able to 'reach out' easily, but more maneuverable than a 20"

[gifbohane]

It is funny that you should bring this up but I have one barrel at 20 and another at 16 inches.  For the reasons mentioned. I plan on buying another lower.

[Europe]

I have both 16" and  20" barrels at my ARs. I prefer the "20 barrel due to accuracy. It irritates me if I cannot shoot a 1moa 5-shot group at 100 meters which is the case with 16" barrel. If  I were  into banging steel and 3gunm then I would go with a 16" or less.

[alp3367]

 They certainly have a place, as do barrels longer than 20" and shorter than 16". It really just depends on the intended use (if any) of any particular rifle, pick the best for your application. It's nice to have options.

[Classic12]

I like them all. And a 20” no frills A1 or A2 is still a very lightweight and manoeuvrable weapon imo.   

[Fuzzy Sights]

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

[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. 

[skin]

 I've  a 16,18 and 20 inch.  The 16 inch is a good truck gun. The 18 doesn't have a flash hider and is the same length as the 16 inch. I don't care if the animal see a flash before bullet impact. All are used for hunting.

[M1A4ME]

What will it be used for?

How far can you see/shoot where you live?

How far will you carry it?

How much weight are you willing to carry?

I've built some strictly for hunting.  But I don't hunt.  So those never go to the range anymore.  I think about shooting them, sometime, but never get around to it.  I do shoot and carry (road trips, weekends out of state, etc. a 16" or 18" barreled AR15, but I'm not going hunting when I get there.)

Around here, it's about 100 yds., or less.  Gotta go find a farm field to see farther than 100 yds. and I don't hunt so, again, the longer barrled guns stay in the safe.

I don't plan to carry it very far at all.  But, if something really bad were to happen I might have to head into the woods (again, short ranges) or up the side of a tree covered mountain (again, short ranges) so the shorter barreled guns go on the road with me.

Somehow, even some of the shorter barreled guns end up heavy.  My favorite (most expensive) 16" carbine still ended up over 10 lbs. and it has a darn pencil profile barrel under the quad rail (yeah, old build from back when quad rails were the thing).  It's only add ons are a light, which is quick/easy to take off, and the optic and sling.  Never weighed it without those on it because without the sling and optic it's unusable by me anyway.

AR15's are like kayaks.  You find the one that looks perfect and buy it.  Then you use it for awhile.  And you find that it's not quite right for you, so you find another one that seems to fit you better and you buy that one.  And you use it for awhile.  Till you find it doesn't quite do everything as well as you'd like.  So you start looking at something different.

Then you have to consider things like caliber, magazines, ammo commonality with those you live/travel/likely to be with if you need it for more than just punching holes in paper.  I like my GII (small frame DPMS .308 AR) a lot.  Barely bigger than a .223 version, only a little heavier and so much more PUNCH on the muzzle end.  But my wife carries her .223 on road trips, so I carry a .223 also.

Don't forget parts.  Yeah, AR15 parts are everywhere - unless you pick/build an oddball that requires certain parts to fit if you have to make repairs.

[newageroman]

20" 6mmARC barrel works great! I used to hate ARs. They are just boring until now. fits in ar mag and shoots to 1k - I'll take it all day.
I sold all my 223 loading stuff and will most likely never shoot my 223 AR again.

http://brassbucket.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/03/20210324_134341-scaled.jpg

http://brassbucket.net/wp-content/uploads/2021/04/skyline200.jpg

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=zjgycnxhAAQ

https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=4JP6oCPFmmc

[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?

[newageroman]

Yeah, I'd send that back to ATN.

I have one of the old gen 1's and it's been a tank.

Yeah, I'm gonna run it this weekend but after that its going back. Wish I had just gone thermal clip on.

[larryflew]

Had a 20 that was dead on at longer range. As my eyes and body got older I sold it as I rarely do over 100 yards nowadays and have used my (2) 300 blackout AR's more as of late.

[BCHINOC]

I have many lengths and I think 20" is best for a bench type rifle.  Barrel profile makes at least as much difference in the handling of 16" guns.  I prefer the lighter barrels over an M4 profile.

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