Welcome to the Forum Farmer Dave! The longest barrel I would buy for an AR-15 is 22 especially if your not going to use a suppressor, muzzle brake or flash hider. I have a 20 Shilen barrel in 6.5 Grendel with no muzzle device and it is basically the same length as my 18 Faxon Group Buy Barrel with an A-2 Flash Hider.
The heart of any AR-15 is the barrel, good trigger and good optic. The Criterion barrels sold by Brownells get good reviews as do barrels by Lilja and Precision Firearms. There are good deals on the LaRue Tactical Ultimate upper with an 18 barrel. Alexander Arms barrels get pretty good reviews and usually have good Customer Service. The cheapest barrels Ive purchased have been the Monster Logo Group Buy barrels sold here on the forum. I have been satisfied with my Group Buy barrels but any rack grade barrels accuracy is luck of the draw.
If you think you might eventually shoot out to around 800 yards Id recommend a 20 MOA one piece scope mount so your optic will have enough elevation. I bought a few of the LaRue MBT-2S triggers and I think they are really good two stage trigger for the price.
The heart of any AR-15 is the barrel, good trigger and good optic. The Criterion barrels sold by Brownells get good reviews as do barrels by Lilja and Precision Firearms. There are good deals on the LaRue Tactical Ultimate upper with an 18 barrel. Alexander Arms barrels get pretty good reviews and usually have good Customer Service. The cheapest barrels Ive purchased have been the Monster Logo Group Buy barrels sold here on the forum. I have been satisfied with my Group Buy barrels but any rack grade barrels accuracy is luck of the draw.
If you think you might eventually shoot out to around 800 yards Id recommend a 20 MOA one piece scope mount so your optic will have enough elevation. I bought a few of the LaRue MBT-2S triggers and I think they are really good two stage trigger for the price.