so I've seen threads seeking advice on 16" barrels, and have looked at those companies mentioned.  I'm wondering about 24" barrels.  Anybody have any advice/experience with such barrels?  Thanks

I'm playing with a bench 24" rifle I built right now. A barrel from Bear Creek Arsenal that I picked up about 4 months ago. Seeing what shelf ammos it likes as I don't reload. Only been out a couple times testing, while still breaking in the barrel as it's only parkarized, but the steel is 4150 and w/concave target crown and is a .875 bull 223/5.56.

Right now I'm trying all the different 223 ammo I have then moving to all the different 5.56 I have before testing any higher priced, store available target ammos.

If you decide to go this route be prepared it makes for a heavy beast. Seriously not made to hunt with and only for bench in my opinion. Mine weighs in at 13#'s with 15" free float handguard, A2 buttstock, bipod, 6-20x50w/AO scope sitting on extended length 1/2" riser along with using high scope rings, 2-stage trigger.

I really don't have the property to see what it will do, but at the short 55yds I have set up, I enjoy shooting it for my testing.

Thank you

Surely there are lighter 24" bbls to be had?

Good assessment.  I have a 20" bull barrel, and it's a bear to lug around.

Regarding finding the right ammo, reloading for a 24" barrel is a hobby in itself.  With most factory ammo the jump in velocity from a 20" barrel to a 24" barrel is not very high.  Try out slower burning powders to optimize in-barrel burn time.

I bought a 24" WOA upper for my son a couple years ago and we have shot it probably 3 times, but not with any ammo optimized to the rifle.

WOA recommended R15 for 77gr SMK.  I have to load up a ladder and hit the range soon when I'm not buried with work.

I have several and they are not really much different than a 16 inch, just gassed and balanced differently.  I use rifle length gas and longer forends, the MI 18" G3 KM and ML both being my favorite, and fixed Mag Pul MOE rifle stocks with standard rifle buffers and springs.  

That said, only one is in 5.56.  The others are in .470 Rhino, .358 HDH (both LR-.308), .375 SOCOM (18" & 24"), .358 SOCOM, .30 HRT (16" & 24") and 5.56 x 42mm.  16" or 24", there is really little difference.  Gas it correctly and it works as well as any other length.

Come again?  5.56x42mm?

6.8 necked down to .22 and trimmed back to 42mm instead of full length of 43mm.  It was done by He we cannot mention and is the forerunner of the 5.56 x 6.8 (BHW) and the .22 Nosler.  The reason for shortening the case was to make it a better fit with the Hornady 75 gr. A-Max.  
It does everything the Nosler will do with cheap 6.8 brass and is ballistically the same as the BHW 5.56x43mm but fits the 75 gr. A-Max better.

I built this thing a couple years ago and love it:



I have since added a PRS stock to it.  It's built around a 24" White Oak Armament barrel.  Heavy as hell, but I love the way it looks and it's very pleasant to shoot from a bench (off-hand not so much).

For extreme benchrest precision in a 24" (23" as finished) drop in barrel.  Fluted to save weight

http://riflebarrels.com/shop/drop-in-barrels/223-8-ar24-fluted/