I was dead set on a 20" but after seeing all the awesome SPR rifles on here I am re- thinking. The longest shot I would be trying for would be 500 yards. Would a 18" do the job or should I get the 20"? It would be strictly long range rifle.

I like the 20" for everything, personally.

Only you can determine what barrel best suits your needs.

Me too. I'm not a cop or a soldier and don't pretend to be one either.

I'm a soldier. We use 20" barrels.

It all depends on your needs. If you're shooting from a bench, velocity isn't much of a concern (wind drift aside). A 7.5" barrel will send a bullet 500 yards.

If you ever plan on using this rifle outside of prone supported (maybe hunting or just unsupported shooting), I'd go with 18". You don't get much more velocity out of a 20".

If you are shooting 55gr bullets, the difference in velocity between 18 and 20in is 18fps, if I recall correctly.  With 77gr bullets the dif in velocity is around 50fps.

Can't find Wes's chart at the moment, but those are roughly the numbers.  My spr is 18in

+1 for 18" SPRs.   The Mark 12 Mod 1 (and Mod 0) are built to be effective out to 800 meters with 77 gr. SMK bullets.  (MK 262 ammo type.)  You can get this stuff from

Black Hills Ammo.



I have an A2, 20" and a Mark 12 Mod 1 and while it IS true that the A2 is more accurate at shorter ranges (100 to 200 yards, anyway) due to its National Match Bushmaster

heavy barrel, which is a FINE pipe,  the Mark 12 is very nearly as accurate at shorter ranges but comes into its own after 300 yards.   For these longer shots,  it is unquestionably the better rifle, at least with the heavier bullet.



Worst case scenario,  the Mark 12 still beats 1 MOA, easily.  The A2 NM barrel can hit 1/4 MOA groups reliably but only at shorter range.  It opens up disproportionately beyond

300 yards as the lighter bullet slows down a lot and gets moved around by breezes pretty easily.   Or at least, that's what I'm seeing for myself.  YMMV.





I'd definitely put in a vote for an 18" SPR.  It'll do everything the A2 will, and stay effective at longer ranges, too.





CJ