16" or 18"

[Macko2000]

Getting my Grendel soon. First AR other than my duty weapon. I know an A2 is 20"barrel and it feels like a musket andand very cumbersome. The M4 is 14.5". Im looking for a good middle ground for all purpose use. Everything from target, plinking, hogs, coyotes, and cqb home defense.

[txgunner00]

Howdy & welcome. Good choice of caliber!

Just depends on the situations you think you will mostly be using it in, but 2" really doesn't make a huge difference. Unless you think you will be stretching it out on a regular basis I'd say go with the 16".

[Whelenon]

I have both a 16" and an 18" barrel and haven't decided which one to keep. Accuracy will be the deciding factor, I want to get them both out to the range, side be side and see which one shoots better. Unfortunately, that little project is temporarily on hold. Either way you can't go wrong, but for what you described I'd lean toward the 16".

Welcome to the Horde.

[hm2 clark]

I have both a 16 (14"+2"flash hider) and 18 inch upper. I like the 16 inch better. One is as accurate as the other-out to 400 yards anyway. I say go with the 16 it just points better.

[icanhithimman]

I cant make up my mind either why dont you pic for both of us

[JASmith]

The velocity starts to drop off more quickly as the barrel lenth goes below 16 or 18 inches.

You can calculate variations here: http://shootersnotes.com/calculator/velocity-estimator/

Factors to consider:

1). How important is convenient handling?

2). What ranges your plan to shoot over?

3). How important to you is keeping wind age and elevation corrections to a minimum?

Run your loads through the estimator and then run a good trajectory program. You'll probably discover there isn't a huge difference in the barrel lengths!

[Deezil]

I love my 16" The FPS doesnt increase much with the longer barrels to make it worth carrying a super long gun around, to me... If your a bench shooter then it doesnt matter, but trapsing around the forest, or trying to swing it out of the truck really fast, the 16" rocks

[smith]

Hey Guys,

Had to get in the conversation. I have a AA 14.5 (+2 flash hider) that I am turning into my deer gun. What is max. effective kill range (400 yards?) and what would you guys suggest for optics in that range? Thanks!

[Deezil]

2-7 or 3-9 would be plenty for short range like that.

[hm2 clark]

My deer rifle (14+2) 16inch barrel using 120gr or 130gr hunting bullets. Deer <250lbs. Effective range is farther then the 300 yard shots I take, probably out to 600 yards or so. Iron sights are fine out to 75 yards- I mount a 2-7 scope; Anything over 250 yards I like a 3-9x. Longer range to me means a biger heavier scope which kinda negates the idea of a short, light rifle barrel.

[BjornF16]

I think Warped shot a Whitetail at 400+ yards with his 14.5" Grendel...Warped, you still here?

[Deezil]

Guy on a local forum to me took a deer at 493 yards with a 16" Grendel with a complete pass though the lungs and a 120gr ballistic tip