10.5" vs 14.5" vs 16".... Am I going to notice a difference?

fenceline said:
Buy/build a lower to suit... buy 3 uppers in each and have at er!!!!!! :dancingbanana:
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^^^^This probably the best advice. Get a rifle with an upper that provides a barrel length and optic that suits best for what you will do most with it. As your interests change/expand, you collection of uppers can too.

Say for three gun maybe go with the 10.5 inch and some form of red-dot or low mag optic.

For dedicated shooting a couple of hundred yards - get a 20 inch. They just friggin' work.

If I wanted/needed to go with a compromise - 14.5 or 16 inch. Doesn't really matter which IMO. Mid-length gas system is supposed to be more gentle and reliable? than carbine. Carbine works though.

I personally use my 14.5 inch for ORA CQB and am planning to use a 20 inch for SR this season. If I only had the 14.5 I would still use it for SR. Better to shoot with an "imperfect" rifle than to not shoot at all.:)
 
There is practically no difference between 14.5 and 16. If you like the "look" of 10.5, I don't see the problem either.
 
Im running a 14.5" with a mid length gas system and I love it. It runs smoother and is easier on your brass if you reload than a CAR gas length.

Im am finding with my CAR length upper the extractor digs into the rim, raising a little burr making it a little sticky getting it on and off a shell holder.

Adjustable gas block should help but I havnt tried that yet.

GC
 
Thanks for all the replies!

What do you mean when you say a mid length system though?

I went and fondled a couple yesterday, and the 10.5 was easier to acquire targets when moving fast, less weight made a difference, but the 14.5 wasn't far off. The 16 felt heavy though.

If it doesn't really make a difference I'll probably just get the 10.5, I'm an optics guy, so something simple will be on it rather than irons.
I like the look of all of them really, as long as they aren't tacticooled up.
 
You still need to tell us what your plans with it are. If your planning on shooting SR with it I'd highly recommend a 16-20 inch barrel if you want you rounds to land where you are aiming instead of somewhere on the target.
 
Jeff000 said:
Thanks for all the replies!

What do you mean when you say a mid length system though?


If it doesn't really make a difference I'll probably just get the 10.5, I'm an optics guy, so something simple will be on it rather than irons.
I like the look of all of them really, as long as they aren't tacticooled up.
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Mid length system means mid length gas. There are 3 primary gas length systems, rifle, mid and carbine. These equate (generally) to 20" barrels for rifle length, 16" for mid and 14.5" or less using carbine. They are for discussion purposes 12, 10 and 7"s long . I am generalizing but hopefully you get the idea.

I run the same lower with a 10.5" carbine length gas system for SR CQB and will be running a 20" rifle length system for SR this year for the long shots. Different lengths for different needs. If you could run only one 16 inch with a mid length gas system would be my call.

These can be harder to find as many 16" rifles are running the shorter carbine length gas system which run a bit harder given the additional dwell time for the gases.
 
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