I am expecting to recieve my first ar-15 from DPMS arms in a couple of weeks. I order the Panther M4, 16" barrel, telestock (fake), Detachable Carry Handle rear sight.

My Question: How far can I safely expect my rifle to reach out and hit the target, with accuracy?

[newbie] [@:D]

                 [-=(_)=-]

A more correct phrasing might be "What is the effective range for an M4".  That said, are you referring to area or point targets?  With a 16" bbl, you can expect similar ballistics to a 20" bbl; which, if I remember, is about 200-300m for point targets and 600-700m for area targets.  Someone correct me on this if I'm wrong.

[size=4]WRONG![/size=4]

Consider yourself corrected.

This battle site gives you accuracy up to 300m for the M4.

[url]http://communities.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite&naventryid=113[/url]

M.

Thanks for the info and the website. I am heading there now to check it out.

It depends on a number of factors.

With the right ammo, such a setup could be effective at 500 or 600 yards. Assuming the shooter is capable.

If you really are interested in long range shooting with the AR, my suggestion is to get the 20" standard model, and [b]shoot in NRA Highpower[/b]. All else being equal, the 20" barrel will probably be less accuarte than the 16", but this isn't a relevent issue in Highpower, where sight radius is a bigger issue.

Ok, I stand corrected.
What then is the actual loss of velocity between a 20 and a 16?  And what does this do to the effective range?

[b]TM9-1005-319-10 Operators Manual[/b]  [url]http://old.ar15.com/books/TM9-1005-319-10.pdf[/url]

Max Effective range

500 meters (individual/point targets)
600 meters (area targets)

See [url]http://communities.msn.com/TheMarylandAR15ShootersSite&naventryid=145[/url] for the velocity differences with the popular types of military ammo.

Effective range for 5.56mm really means range at which it will reliably fragment.  

Barrel Length vs. Velocity & Fragmentation

20" - M193 - 135yd/190yd, M855 - 125yd/190yd
16" - M193 - 105yd/160yd, M855 - 90yd/155yd

(1st number is @2700fps, 2nd is @2500fps, where it MAY fragment)

>>16" more accurate than a 20"<<.... this sounds VERY DUBIOUS as a general statement...

A 16" barrel will produce significantly less MV than a 20"...the actual difference depending on powder, projectile and condition of the barrel.... The military projectiles depend on high MV to produce the catastrophic bullet failure which makes the round highly effective, so the 16" bbl firing military rounds will probably not be "devastating" out past a 100 yards or so...

That said, I wouldn't want an experienced shooter firing a 16" AR with a short sight radius at me at any distance...lethal hits are possible, if somewhat unlikely, at 1000 yards...

Generally speaking, I would think that a "prudent soldier" intending to attack an armed enemy soldier might want to hold off until the target is less than 400 yards away....

You can, of course, determine your own effective range by simply trying to shoot a target at a given range... results may vary

The above posts that claim that the 5.56 is only devistating at close range are correct. However, penetration (in soft tissue) is actually greater at lower velocity, when the bullet stays in one piece.

The 5.56 round will kill from as far away as it can penetrate deep enough to destroy vital organs. It will have poor "stopping power" at these distances, but most likely, that's a moot point.

Certainly, short barreled 5.56 carbines are not an ideal choice for long range. There are some circumstances where they might be best used at long range, however. For example, if being persued by a larger group that you probably can't outrun, the ability to hurt them from a distance could be advantageous.

A real world example: during our incursion into Mexico during the early 1900s, some US troops were being chased by the Mexican military. One American popped a Mexican off of his horse with one shot from about 800 yards, with his 1903 Springfield. The chase ended there.