AR Sponsor
Posted: 3/2/2010 7:26:00 PM EDT
| I'm purchasing my first AR. I'm a pistol and shotgun gun guy and don't know much about the ARs. It will be used for police work and at the range for fun. I work in a rural area and I have an 870 for most of my close work. I want the rifle for everything outside shotgun distance. I do general patrol work but I also do game warden type work in the back country. I was planning on putting some sort of optic on it and back up iron sights. The department I work for requires it to be an AR design and in 5.56. this rifle s replacing my issued rifle an M16A1 as the issued one is pretty worn out. My question is I have heard barrels shorter than the 20" have problems because of loss of velocity resulting in poor terminal performance? When ordering it they asked if I wanted a 1:7 or 1:9 barrel. I was wondering what would work best for my purposes. I am ordering from Yankee Hill. Since I’m in MA I have to have a fixed stock and no flash suppressor. My questions are 20 inch vs 16 inch, 1:7 vs 1:9, Red dot vs eotech vs acog? |
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Barrels shorter than 20" have no problems and although they create less pressure / muzzle velocity it in no way results in 'poor terminal performance'.
If you're using it primarily for patrol I wouldn't go longer than 16" as a 20" rifle is a handicap deploying from inside a vehicle. Either 1/7 or 1/9 would fit your needs with 1/7 being my choice. Red dot, either Aimpoint or Eotech as apposed to any magnified glass which includes an Acog however irons are fine if you know how to use them. Whats more important than a red dot is a light. |
| I'd stick with a 20" gov't profile upper for your described situation. You already have a 20" A1, and doing warden work range and terminal performance could come into play and regardless of the trend toward M4geries it does make a difference. I personally like the ACOG, but you would be fine with an EOTech or Aimpoint as well. Tryo to get the 1/7 barrel because it will give you more ammo options. Anything 55gr-80gr should be fine for you whereas a 1/9 is limited to like 45gr-65gr. |
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