G17fan Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Hello all, I am beginning to get into USPSA rifle matches. No Milti-gun but pistol and rifle and rifle only. Question is what is the best barrel length? 16? 20? Thanks. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
bikerburgess Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Best rifle configuration is very match dependant. Lots of long range with very small targets longer and heavier may be a better fit, lots of closeness ge open hoser targets you may be better of with a short light weight one. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted April 20, 2015 Share Posted April 20, 2015 Oh great, another what is bestest question... "Best" is what works for you. "Best" would be to do a search and read the hundreds of posts on this very subject... jj Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
G17fan Posted April 21, 2015 Author Share Posted April 21, 2015 ^^^ RiggerJJ, I am asking as to what is best for these type of matches. I can do a search and read through hundreds of topics/posts and spend 8hrs doing it. Frankly I have more value to my time so I asked a question. I received the answer I was looking for from the first reply. Yours.... Well.... I'll leave it at that. Bikerburgess, thanks! Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RangerTrace Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 Hello all, I am beginning to get into USPSA rifle matches. No Milti-gun but pistol and rifle and rifle only. Question is what is the best barrel length? 16? 20? Thanks. I read a lot and asked these questions a few years ago. I ended up with a JP15, 18" barrel with a rifle length gas system. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
rushingbc Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I have found, for me anyway, that the length of the barrel isn't as important as the balance of the rifle itself. If the rifle is to forward heavy or the weight is to far aft it won't swing as well. I run a 16" heavy barrel with a Troy 15" Alpha rail and a Magpul CTR. My balance point is just forward of the magwell which is the ticket for me. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
EkuJustice Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 A good general use gun look at a 18in midweight profile barrel with a rifle preferred or maybe a midlength gas system. It's usually a good middle ground for the longer range matches as well as the close bay matches. Just don't go super heavy on the handguard as it's not much benefit going very heavy there. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RiggerJJ Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 (edited) again, best is what works for YOU... for action rifle matches, anything from 10 inches to 22 inches will work and work well, unless you are using iron sights and use the full length of the barrel for sight radius, then longer is preferred. IMHO, the notion that longer is better for long ranges is a myth. 16s in 223 work well out to and beyond 600, and I have seen both shorter and longer work well. Its a question that has NO perfect answer. and to tell us that you are too busy to do any research/reading of past posts is, well, I will just leave it at that... jj Edited April 21, 2015 by RiggerJJ Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug H. Posted April 21, 2015 Share Posted April 21, 2015 I like my JP 20" but that is me,YMMV. Typically these questions have no answer, only opinions which is one reason for JJ's frustration. People like to ask questions, get tons of advise, then ignore it and then buy what every they want. Search functions and engines are your friend, use them early and often. Doug Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Scooter567 Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 For fastest follow up shots, make sure you start with a rifle length gas system. Anything else and you will be chasing your tail trying to reduce felt recoil. I just watched something that said the new trend in 3gun is to go from 20" which has been the standard, to 18" which is the new standard for the top shooters in the sport. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
grouse Posted September 5, 2015 Share Posted September 5, 2015 I just built a 14.5 with Titan brake. So far so good Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Glockinator Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) I wanted something shorter for a all around carbine. I just ordered a AR Stoner medium profile 16 inch fluted stainless barrel in 223 Wylde with a intermediate gas system to try with the AR Stoner comp. It seemed like a good middle of the road barrel and there have been some good reviews on it. I'm pairing it with a rifle length hand guard and a low profile gas block. It was available in 18 inch as well but I wanted something a little handier. My last AR years ago was a 20 inch and I always wanted a shorter barrel. I just shot my Son in Laws AR's in 14.5 inch and 16 inch before I made my decision. Edited September 14, 2015 by Glockinator Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
armydad Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 I have an 18" JP and love it. My kid shoots a 16" JP and can kick my butt... I went with the 18" after a lot of research. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Deerhunter9790 Posted September 14, 2015 Share Posted September 14, 2015 (edited) I am using an 18" JP15. Used it yesterday on a longer range stage, then turned around and did two very confined shoot houses. Worked great and the rifle rocks! Edited September 14, 2015 by Deerhunter9790 Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
SCAR Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 18 or a 20 Criterion. I personality would want the extra velocity for medium range. I'm seriously contemplating running a 20" barrel next season for 3gun. We deal with a lot of medium range targets where I shoot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
TonytheTiger Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 18 or a 20 Criterion. I personality would want the extra velocity for medium range. I'm seriously contemplating running a 20" barrel next season for 3gun. We deal with a lot of medium range targets where I shoot.What does this extra velocity do for you at medium ranges? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Garmil Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Lightweight 18" with rifle gas is my vote. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
oak hill Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 Overall weight and balance are key factors when deciding on a barrel Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Neomet Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 I'm a middle of the pack shooter. I started off with a 14.5 with carbine gas and a really good brake on the end. I just got a bad ass 18". I can routinely hit targets out to 500 with the 14.5 if I do my part and did better than my buddies with 18s on the long range stage at Nats this year. The 18 is not unwieldy so far but I haven't shot it out of a car yet. I have less movement of the dot with the 18 and prefer the recoil impulse. I think the reason there is such debate about which is better is because the differences are fairly subtle and to individual tastes. There is no one right answer. As a general observation though I mainly see 16" with intermediate length gas or 18" rifles. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Stlhead Posted September 26, 2015 Share Posted September 26, 2015 ^^^ RiggerJJ, I am asking as to what is best for these type of matches. I can do a search and read through hundreds of topics/posts and spend 8hrs doing it. Frankly I have more value to my time so I asked a question. I received the answer I was looking for from the first reply. Yours.... Well.... I'll leave it at that. Bikerburgess, thanks! I am so happy that you have decided that your time is so much more valuable than those that you expect to cater to you. You respect the opinion of a group of people who you do not know, but don't consider their time to be as valuable as your own. This tells me that no matter what information you get you are going to most likely ignore it. The answer you seek was posted in this thread somewhere, too bad you don't know who's information is correct. How about you join the community and get to know the people, learn who is knowledgable and has practical experience, and who is full of shit or just trying to sell you something. Lazy dickheads who don't respect others will never get the opportunity to fully enjoy the sport. Don't be a lazy dickhead. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Doug H. Posted September 27, 2015 Share Posted September 27, 2015 (edited) Ouch! I think the only way to decide what barrel is best for you is to buy one of each and shoot them for a while. Each person will come up with a different answer which is why a question like the OP posted is pretty worthless. I have 16, 18 and 20 inch ARs in the safe but I always come back to the 20 for serious matches. Doug Edited September 27, 2015 by Doug H. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
3gNinja Posted November 2, 2015 Share Posted November 2, 2015 I'd say to try a variety. I shot an 18" for the longest time ans swore by it. I have just converted to an Armalite with a 13.5" and pinned tunable comp. I don't know how i dealt with the 18" for so long. I have been able to take my 13.5" out to 500 yards and maintained a near 1/2 MOA accuracy. The tunable comp makes it so the gun barely moves for in close fast shooting as well. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
T Bacus Posted November 3, 2015 Share Posted November 3, 2015 There is no perfect answer, but a 16" rifle gas is a pretty good answer. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
adamge Posted November 4, 2015 Share Posted November 4, 2015 Bacus, 16" rifle gas? You sure about that? I've never even seen one for sale. I do own a 16.5" rifle gas, however, and like it a lot. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Daft Posted December 1, 2015 Share Posted December 1, 2015 Not that I know much, but assuming you buy one rifle, then pick one that fits the ranges you will be shooting at. The longer out the targets the longer the barrel. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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