AR-10 owners help me out to pick a barrel size

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Alright so I just recently got an AR-10T brand new and am now looking into options for barrel size.

Its got a 20 SS barrel on it right now however what I want to make it into is a carbine effective out to 300-400 kind of like a battle rifle setup but more compact

Im hearing a lot of mixed reviews, some guys state the 12.5 barrel size has feeding problems, while other people are telling me that the effective range your gonna get out of a barrel size lower then 18 is 300 or less.

I want to get as short as possible (Noveske Leonidas) but i'm not sure if im willing to risk feeding issues from improper gas supply.

The 16" seems to be a safer bet however I've been told that the range on it just plains sucks (300 or less)


So if some of the AR-10 owners out there with the various barrel sizes could chime in (DPMS guys please put your input in too) and give a guy new to this rifle some tips on barrel size to help him make a decision on what kind of barrel to get.
 
I've shot my 16" SR-25 out way past 1200m

The 16" barrel is an easy 700-800m system.

Past that any .308 is not the idea round regardless of barrel length.
 
I've shot my 16" SR-25 out way past 1200m

The 16" barrel is an easy 700-800m system.

Past that any .308 is not the idea round regardless of barrel length.

Roger, so stick with the 16 inch then?

Cool thats pretty much what I was going with just making sure.

You got any thoughts on the .308 ACOG, the TA01B and how it relates to zeroing for a 16 inch barrel as its meant for a 20 inch barrel? The trijicon site says it shouldnt make much of a difference so I still ordered one.
 
The eye relief on the TA01 series is going to make you regret it...

IF I where putting a ACOG (shudder) on a .308 gun, I'd go with the 3.5x ones as they have much more generous eye relief.

.308's below 16" give up way to much to be worthwhile - the flash and blast being 'impressive' to say the least. Ballistically you end up with a large heavy 30-30 with viscious concusion. Terminally you end up needing exotic (read expensive) ammo to get performance.

Frankly the short 7.62NATO crowd would be better served by a 6.8 system. Less recoil, less flash and cheaper.
 
I've had a few Trijicon ACOG sights, and for what you're wanting, a good 1-4x or 1-6x scope with target turrets and mil-dot (or similar) reticule may fit better. I replaced the ACOG on my Classic Green with a Vortex Razor HD a while ago and am very happy with it. Apart from the weight, IMO it is a better scope for the gun, and what I want to do with it.

I'll also add that 300-400m isn't pushing it at all. A .223 can easily perform very well at those ranges and beyond, as we're talking about punching holes in paper.
 
I wonder if putting a muzzle break on the 16 inch will calm it down enough so that it wont buck too much and hit me in the face cause of the eye relief.

I had a TA01 mounted on my ar-15 (before I traded it) and I love the TA31F so im definitely familiar with the eye relief, but again that was out of 5.56 we'll see if I hate it for the .308.

Anywho thanks a lot for the advice Kev, i'm definitely gonna go with a 16 inch barrel, and if your right about the TA01 i'll send you a PM saying you were right lol.
 
A good brake will tame it from muzzle flip, getting a 12 to 14" barrel to operate reliably is a problem. The 16" plus seem to be far more reliable as the gas system is better suited to that length. The shorties seem to run well when clean but are not as forgiving once the gas system gets a bit fouled up.
 
Keep it 20" and do more arm curls.

Pretty much my view on it as well.

I don't really like less than 20" for 308.

My LMT MWS came with a 16" barrel. I swapped the 20" SS barrel onto it.

I would keep the AR10T in it's current form (congrats on that rifle by the way) and then save up for one of the others LMT, PWS etc that offer a 16" barreled version if that's the way you want to go.
 
A good brake will tame it from muzzle flip, getting a 12 to 14" barrel to operate reliably is a problem. The 16" plus seem to be far more reliable as the gas system is better suited to that length. The shorties seem to run well when clean but are not as forgiving once the gas system gets a bit fouled up.

If I get rich i'm going to by one of these and put a huge muzzle break on it. Just to piss off the old pharts at the range :)

PWS MK212

pws-mk214-762-fde_2.jpg


I'll just buy it just to do five round mag dumps

Video: http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=O08x7fHk8xc
 
Pretty much my view on it as well.

I don't really like less than 20" for 308.

My LMT MWS came with a 16" barrel. I swapped the 20" SS barrel onto it.

I would keep the AR10T in it's current form (congrats on that rifle by the way) and then save up for one of the others LMT, PWS etc that offer a 16" barreled version if that's the way you want to go.

Well I was considering buying an upper isntead of changing the barrel, I mean it costs more but at least I dont mess with a good thing
 
Well I was considering buying an upper isntead of changing the barrel, I mean it costs more but at least I dont mess with a good thing

Probably a good decision. For me though I know this eventually leads to a new lower as well. :p
 
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