What Is The Perfect AR-15 Barrel Length? 

Repeal the NFA. Abolish the ATF

The best way to beat the confusion is to own at least one AR in each barrel length!!

The NFA is unconstitutional. Change my mind.

11.5 works well for wide range of use

Get rid.of the ATF,No more NFA!

This is why I love the X95. 16" barrel and 27 oal.

Brother Clint you make this channel soo much better. I appreciate you’re sharing of knowledge

I like 12.5” in 5.56 for a “do all” rifle. I like the shorter barrel for CQB/maneuverability, while there is still enough length for maintaining velocity for 300y shots. It’s also short enough to put a can on the end without becoming unwieldy or overly heavy. Paired with an RDS (I prefer Aimpoint), and using 62 grain SP ammo, I have found it quite effective

I have my PSA 16-inch mid-length with a stainless steel barrel in 5.56 NATO. It has the classic M-4A3 look and it cost no more than little over $450 to build. I'm happy. It's my go-to, homeland defense rifle. 'Course, that was a little over two years ago.

Always a good subject on this channel. Thanks CFA!

Learned on a 20" A1 back in 78. Built a bunch over the years of different lengths. My favorite is a 16" pencil barrel with mid length gas. Sort of an A1.5.....😀 🍻🍕 in case I ever make it down to N.C.

A video about twist rate and bullet weights versus barrel length would be beneficial for determining the right tool for the task.

I have two ARs. One is 16 inch and the other is 18 inch. It is wild because only the 18 inch barrel makes the bullet visually splatter against steel at 100 yards. The few extra hundred fps must make a difference.

Like the video. First time on your channel. Just subbed! Thanks for making content!

Love The Accessory

14.5 is also about as short as you can go before you need to rework all the armory racks and vehicle mounts. Logistical nightmare trying to outfit units with the racks to secure and transport just to tinker with barrel length.

12.5 to 14.5 are great general purpose barrel lengths. 10.3 and 11.5 for cqb and 16 and 18 inch for longer range.

In my experience, for 62 grain 5.56, 16 inches seems to be the best do it all length for a general shtf rifle.

Yes please do a video on twist rate vs bullet weight vs barrel length. In ballistics gell that would be epic!

20 inch. It works. Cleared a lot of rooms with it back in the day, never had a problem. Don’t ever let someone tell you can’t CQB with a longer rifle. We did for years and won 🙂👍🇺🇸🦅 Follow up Shots faster as well. Less muzzle rise. The round was designed for it as well. 👍

If you want the “Do All” then 14.5 for the win! It won’t be the best at anything but it will be good at everything.

20 inch barrels are significantly quieter than a 16 inch. The other firearms with 10 or so inch barrel is very loud even with muffs.

For an all purpose combat rifle, RECCE rifle, a 16 inch barrel with 1 to 8 twist rate has proven ideal for me. The mission dictates the gear. A battle rifle configured in the above length, twist, and with mid length gas system yield a rifle running in the goldilocks zone for function, performance, and reliability.

Excellent video!

My 7.5 ar pistol still gets out pretty effectively. The like 20 inch .224 Valkyrie ar I have is great way out though

I'm about that 14.5" length, pinned muzzle. So jealous of you and your EOTECHs.

Sure! Another video about twist rates with barrel lengths would be pretty sweet. 👌🏽👍🏽

*12.5* , slightly less velocity than the 14.5, a nice bump from 11.5, and short enough to move around pretty well. Now they just need to optimize a gas system somewhere between carbine and mid length. Me personally I went with carbine and will throw a k can on it, can't be _too_ much harsher with the dwell time.

Yes please do a video on twist rate!!!

What do you think about a 13.7 inch barrel as an all around, for both cqb, vcqb and open field shooting? Would you recommend another length? Ps I live in Italy and we don’t have atf or any rifle, sbr or pistol classification for barrels

I have a 8.5 inch 5.56 pistol, works great never had a malfunction

Excellent vid bro

I’d personally love to see a video on the different twist rates and barrel lengths

I have 10.5 and 12.5” and love them both. The 12.5” just gives that extra 100-200 fps over the 10.5.

Everything from 10.5 to 18 has been called "do all rifle".

I'd say 14.5 is the best "do it all", but I honestly rock the 8.5 because I can run a suppressor and still have a great truck gun that can hit out to 300y and had lethal speeds at 100y.

Would love to hear about the same thing concepts but with bolt actions.... Barrel lengths, calibers, etc. Biased a bit. Love my shortie Rem 700 in 308, but also in market for a true longer barrel bolt in 6.5 Creedmoor. Keep up these informative vids coming 👍👏🤘🍻

Great video.

good job Clint

I’ve got a 16” .223wylde with HB and a 10.5” pistol. I find the 10.5 to be best. That’s really the shortest you can go and still maintain most of the energy down range. I shoot my 10.5” at 100 yards all the time .

Great video as always so informative, i want to buy a CZ Bren 2ms but i am not sure if a 14 inch compared to 16and half inch barrel will make much difference in 5.56x45 cartridge as to velocity, power etc , also considering the 7.62x39 cartridge as maybe better round for this firearm.

Your the best , thanks

I remember reading in an American Rifleman article that there was a study during Vietnam War on 223/556 barrel length. It showed that 11.5 was the shortest it could be and still achieve effective velocity. Granted ammo has changes a lot since then, but still a valid consideration.

What about 24" for hunting coyotes, varmints, and deer?

As if the additional tax wasn't enough of a hassle, the wait period for transferring the NFA items is excessive.

Dumps mag: there's gun owners out there WITHOUT ammo to waste. Lol good vid guys.

14.5 with a mini suppressor same length as 12.5 will full length suppressor but with more velocity.

Twist rate video, yes Clint do it!

I mean since the best way to defeat armor is with veleocity give me that 20” barrel and maybe someday we can finally have some m993/m995.

Outstanding 🇺🇸

14.5 , 18, 8.5 .300/silenced, 11.5/ silenced, 16. And maybe 20 for nostalgic reasons from basic one day. And 10.3 for the block 2 mk18 clone. Man, I need 3 more guns now that I think about it.

Great vid

Twist rate to barrel length to round

The AR 15 and ammunition design for it requires a 20 inch barrel this is per Eugene Stoner. Hey 16 inch barrel would be the bare minimum to obtain the velocity is needed for the projectile to actually perform the way it was intended to. I own both. Between several AR’s. I also have found that the mid length gas system on the 16 1/2 inch barrel worked very well. Almost making them last as long as the rifle length gas system on the 20 inch barrel. 5.56 mm is barrel length sensitive. The magic number is 2200 ft./s. Below that speed it’s basically a handgun rounds. That speed in above is where it was intended to function and it does that very very well at the higher speeds. I was clearing buildings from the top down and I ride with a 20 inch barrel M16A2/ A3. Combat military police. So it can be done. And as you well know the Marines have been doing it for quite a while with a 20 inch barrel even going back to the 20 inch barrel. Because, that little short piece of crap barrel just wasn’t good enough for the Marines. Damn right. They needed a real rifle. HOOAH!!! 108th MPCO, Ft. Bragg, NC

12.5’’ does it all

13.7-14.5” 1-7 twist with an aimpoint t2 for cqb 18 or 20”, 1-8 twist rifle length gas system with a vortex razor lpvo This is the way

Was waitn for the "right tool for the right job"

12.5 is a great one. Still retains decent velocity while being pretty compact.

A twist rate to barrel length video would be awesome!!

I like that twisted barrel looks nice

Twist rate video would be cool. Currently have a DD M4 V7...16inch 1/7 twist.

12.5" SBR. Too Sweet.

i might build ah 18in barrel ar-15. after watching this...] thanks

Can you do a video on the Grendal. The pistol is intriguing, i was considering my next build a 18" or 20" Grendal. But this idea of a pistol is awsome. What barrel length would be optimal? Great video, hope you put one out on the Grendal pistol soon.

The DD mk18’s made from mid 2017 and on are no longer over gassed. They have the correct crane spec .070” gas port and run beeeaaaautifully. Better than most full size carbines out there let alone other shorties. You should send yours back to DD and tell them it runs like shit and they will give you a new barrel that isn’t blown TF out

wasn't the caliber made with a 20" barrel in mind? I know it's unwieldy, but 20" seems like a good length for velocity, burning off all the powder, etc.

Keep learning

The hot new setup is prolly the the 12”-13” barrels .

9mm 9.5", 5.56 11.8", 7.62x51 14.5". Then you go longer for farther in 7.62 and larger PWS is the best AR Platform on the market. Our Opinion due to Piston System. Even in the 6.5 CM GOD BLESS AMERICA 🇺🇸

Best length for overall use would likely be the shortest without needing a tax stamp. Without any legal restrictions, 11.5 or 12.5 SBR and a can. 12.5 for the new guys, but I’d say that I’m not alone with all the other guys wanting to say that one inch doesn’t make a whole lot of difference lol, that and because rails for 11.5s are much more plentiful while the barrel itself being more prevalent while being slightly more ergonomic without a big hit in velocity. The 12.5s are the new hotness with it having more offerings on a mid length at the expense of less dwell time.

Twist rate/ barrel length video would be great

I wound up grabbing a DLD Econ Gen 2… 10.5 /5.56… waiting on the pickup so I can go hit the range and test her out…

I personally think 12,5 well isn't perfect per say but I think its the best trade off's still gives distance-ish and still wieldy enough to do close corridors but thats just me.

You didn't mention another reason to go 14.5 inch - 14.7 inch is because you can pin and weld a permanent muzzle device to bring the overall length to >=16 inches to meet legal requirements for a rifle.

!3.7 with a long muzzle device pinned & welded is what everyone seems to be doing around here. But i dont know why really. My pinned 14.5 is the same length as a pinned 13.7. Its getting ridiculous , lol. A 16'' rifle will run just great for most of us non door kickers.

If you add a suppressor, how does that affect the performance???

I like to keep the GOV out of my house and gun safes. I prefer a longer barrel just because of the accuracy and longer shot distances.

CF for the W!!

No mention of pinned/welded 14.5” non-sbr legal barrels?

This is a loosely connected questions to the topic of the video, but hoping you can provide some insight. The question is with the growth in popularity of AR Pistols and the fact that the 5.56 round needs a longer barrel to be effective, why can't 5.56 rounds be loaded with faster burning powder similar to what is used with 300 Blackout rounds so 10" and smaller barrels can still be effective? I am assuming that they pressure required to launch the 5.56 bullet from the round casing would not change so you would just achieve that pressure faster and therefore get the same velocity out of say a 10" barrel that you get from a 16" barrel.

The length of barrel depends on how far you want to reach out and touch something accurately.

I can’t decide if I want the 14.5 or 16 inch Geissele upper I’m not the biggest fan of the huxwrx muzzle device they use now at least with the 16 inch I can replace it although huxwrx came out with a adapter To run different types of suppressors on there muzzle device

it all depends on the distance to the target

NFA Tax is unconstitutional. Smh. Thanks for the info & Video 🙌🏼

Ive had multiple length barrels but the one i prefer the most is the 10.5 inch. Solid to 300 yards and super efficient when forced with a CQB situation.

5.56n 12.5" . Perfect for 300 yards and in . It also still compact for CQB.. 6.5G 12.5" . Perfect for taking deer or hogs out to 300 yards . Also still Super sonic out to 800 yards. If you could only afford 1 rig . This might be the best choice . CQB , Hunting and Long range all in 1 setup.. 300 BLACKOUT 9" . Wouldn't use this without a Can . 6mm ARC 16" . Still a very new cartridge . It's unknown what the best barrel length is or isn't. Hornady states the 6ARC Looses 30FPS per inch lost of barrel . I'm also trying out 13.5" 6ARC. If it performs well it might be my do all be all.. If I could only have 1 rig . It would be 12.5" 6.5G Pistol with SBA3 , PLX 1-8 GRIFFIN MIL ACSS , and YHM R2 Resonator K Suppressor.

Do a Twist Rate video

Im rocking a 5.56 16 upper also a 11.5 556 upper 11.5 is strictly home defense cqb and range built the 16in can do about everything for me its just a little bit more awkward in cqb

Nfa needs to be history

any length ar is better than no ar!

18.5 is the do-all so if you want it short you need an x95

Id be interested to hear about the twist rate video

im happy with my 13.9 and 12.5 pistol

So to dumb it down barney style for me, barrels under 16" have a $200 fee? Plus $200 on each specific accessory?

5.56 was designed for a 20" barrel. great video nice guns though. i want a 12.5" and NFA sucks

Has d on the thumbnail imma guess 5 in but I think that overall for everyone it would definitively be 14.5 in for an SBR

In Neww Jersey we do not have to worry as sbrs or suppressors are allowed.

5.56 Nato, 10.5" Barrel, Carbine gas system 1:7 twist .. A2\M4 muzzle compensator

Everytime i think that someone might say some thing good about a shorty ar (less than 10.3)

I often see on yutube videos of weapons that we in Italy with our restrictions only dream of (even having HP ammo can lead to years in prison) but I wonder why you use the 5.56 with 7-14inc barrels and 2-6x optics on a range of 25-50yards isn't a 9-40 / 45 and a red dot better?