24" vs 20" AR-15

Michakav

What say the hive? I know the 24" is really not all that practical, but I have lusted after 1 for some time. I have had 20" HB before and loved them. Then I got into the shorter styles. Wanting to get a dedicated longer barrel upper for groundhogs. Seems that good (decent/cheaper) quality 24" are hard to find. Any ideas? Was looking at CBC Industries but then read some bad reviews. Mostly about very lacking customer service when dealing with issues.

Jayhawker

I've got a 24" AR with a fluted barrel...great shooter, very accurate, best used in a stand

My cousin has an AR with a 24" Full Bull...muzzle heavy as the sickens and a pain in the ass to lug around

All that being said
..my 20"ARs are just as accurate

Linefinder

I don't know much about modern day AR's (M16A1 is an entirely different matter....I know it better than I know my wife), but I'm pretty familiar with the .223 Rem chambering.

4" of barrel length will gain you, realistically 200 fps or there abouts. IME a gain of 200 fps doesn't make much of a difference until you cross 400 yards, and even then the advantage is more wind than elevation related.

I like longer barrels because they're heavier, and when benched ,shooting at small targets at long distance, heavier is better. But, unless shooting long, possibly combined with tough winds, 200 fps isn't going to make or break the bank.

JMHO.

Mike

Michakav

knitepoet said:

Well, comparing apples to apples, My RRA came with a 20" bull, I replaced it with a 23.5" Lilja Bull.
 Both are 0.932" barrels and the difference is quite noticeable and I WISH I'd bought another 20"

These responses are why I asked. 24" AR's look REALLY cool. I know I don't need one, but have always wanted one. I think need will win over want this go around. Not sure yet.

shotgunshooter3

If it were me, the extra weight and cumbersomeness wouldn't be worth it. With that said, you want one, get one. 

Zee

I’ve had most barrel lengths offered in the AR platform and my preference for field work in .223 Remington is 18-20” in length. 

Balances well and performs well. From gophers to pigs. 

Spk

If you have to satisfy that lust factor then go for it.

Twenty inch is all I care for but if you want a 24", who am I to tell you no.

Michakav

Anyone purchased from CBC?

N454casull

I have a 24inch that is a dedicated bench gun for sage rats. It’s very accurate and works awesome for longer range shots that can be very rapid fire. 

Outside of that I never use it, to long, clumsy, and heavy. For coyotes and any walking around it’s a shorter one. 

Michakav

N454casull said:

I have a 24inch that is a dedicated bench gun for sage rats. It’s very accurate and works awesome for longer range shots that can be very rapid fire. 

Outside of that I never use it, to long, clumsy, and heavy. For coyotes and any walking around it’s a shorter one. 

This will be a dedicated ground hog AR. Have a few others that fulfill other roles. Leaning towards a 20 HBAR just for practicality. 

Jayhawker

This is my 24"...the fluted barrel makes makes all the difference in being handy....currently on loan to my FiLin the U.P. for coyote eradication...

N454casull

Jayhawker said:

This is my 24"...the fluted barrel makes makes all the difference in being handy....currently on loan to my FiLin the U.P. for coyote eradication...

That looks just like the one I have. 

Michakav

Got a plan in the works thanks to a fellow forum member. Will be testing an older Eagle Arms/Armalite 24" Bull upper that he has had sitting around for a while. If I like it he is going to give me a great deal on it. Hard to find parts in stock from the same company to avoid excess shipping so I will be scavenging from other AR's for now. Not ideal, but a good enough test. To be continued.

Zee

Excellent!

Michakav

It has begun. Bipod and cantilever added. Switched out a CAR stock for an A2 on a donor lower that has a NB trigger and JP reduced springs that is super clean and around 3.5#. Had to level out the canted gas block. Hopefully the gas port still lines up. Timing looks good with the tube but it is only a set screw block. Searching for an "affordable" medium range optic now. 

Any suggestions? Was thinking 4-12 or 6-18. Around $2-250. 

If this works all I will need to recover is another BCG and an LPK for the donor AR.

Linefinder

My vote is 6-18X.

Mike

Michakav

Linefinder said:

My vote is 6-18X.

Mike

Suggestions in my price range?

Michakav

It weighs 11lb 6oz currently. I think it will plant quite nicely! And stay there.... 

Linefinder

Check out Bushnell Legend 6-18X at Cabela's. $160. It's a lot of scope for the money.

Mike

Jayhawker

Is it a bit muzzle heavy?

Michakav

Jayhawker said:

Is it a bit muzzle heavy?

Only if you shoulder it unsupported.....

Jayhawker

My cousin used to shoot his offhand....accurately...on running coyotes...the guy is a shooting machine...

Michakav

Jayhawker said:

My cousin used to shoot his offhand....accurately...on running coyotes...the guy is a shooting machine...

It's doable. I am used to heavy mil-surps, so this build is not too unexpectedly heavy. Was kind of the goal. Will be laying/sitting in the farm fields waiting for groundhogs to appear.

Linefinder

JerryBobCo is the best off-hand rifle shot at running game I've ever seen. If it's standing still, he might miss it, but if it's fleeing in terror, it's as good as in the freezer.

Mike

Jayhawker

My cousin and I were calling coyotes out West of the Smoky Hill Bombing range in Kansas and had four come in...I shot one and Cuz dropped the other three on the run with a bolt gun...some folks have a gift...

PFD

I suppose it would swing smoothly on running game 😁

I think the bipod is the way to go though.👍

Looks good for its purpose.

Michakav

Linefinder said:

Check out Bushnell Legend 6-18X at Cabela's. $160. It's a lot of scope for the money.

Mike

Ordered. Paid $135 shipped getting the card and a $10 code.

Linefinder

I think you're gonna like it. Though I sold the one I owned atop a Browning A-Bolt Varmint Stalker, in .223 Rem, I can tell  you I twisted those knobs uncounted thousands of times beforehand. Absolute repeatability, and if your rifle, loads, and skills are up to it....the scope won't let you down.

A 400 yard g'hog is going to  easy meat.

Mike

Michakav

Small update....Deducted that I actually have a PSA NiB 2 stage at 2.5# pull in the donor lower....BONUS....Scope should be here tommorow. 

I am knee deep in this now. I kidded myself that I was just going to scratch an itch on the cheap. I just found an excuse to buy a stock, bipod, grip, mount and scope. I HAD to replace the borrowed hardware from the donor....Had a lower, CAR stock and reduced power trigger sitting around. I like that they sell LPK without trigger components. I don't mind having 3 AR's (12th "built") though.. ....10.5, 16 and now 24....I have the collection I wanted.


Wife caught on a couple days ago with the various packages arriving and the AR sitting on the hutch....

Michakav

Mostly ready for testing....Weather supposed to be decent next week.... Scope looks high but it is perfect for me because of were I rest my cheek on the stock. 

Diver43

Let us know how it works for you.  Like the stock