Considering one of two carbines

[SteyrAUG]

This post caused a light to go off in my mind: The Colt, then replace the barrel with an aftermarket one that is very accurate.

I know stainless is the way to go for best accuracy, though they don't last as long as carbon ones. I would need to look into just how much more accurate a stainless barrel is compared to carbon, as well as how much less longevity it provides. Then make a decision.

With an aftermarket barrel, I can always keep the stock one as a spare, or sell it.

This isn't my first AR. I have a budget one.

I'd like the rifle to be both robust and accurate. I'd like it to be reliable if many rounds need to go through it and I'd like it to be accurate at distance for target shooting and if I wanted to use it for hunting.

I'm glad I started this thread even if it became a bit messy. I certainly learned from it. It also reminded me I can be a little obsessive over details.

Yep, kirkland actually had a nice solution. I was gonna recommend a complete custom build, but that would probably get out of your price range quickly. I'd just snag a 6920 or a OEM stripped Colt and then find and buy the barrel that meets your needs. You can probably end up with a really nice stick that would cost you twice as much if somebody else made it.

[SteyrAUG]

No one cares what you buy. Buy something and quit asking what should I buy. The end.

This forum really needs a Newb corner where it's safe to ask the same basic questions. Not everyone knows everything about everything. A lot of the stuff I know is only because somebody took the time to get me sorted out.

[1168]

This forum really needs a Newb corner where it's safe to ask the same basic questions. Not everyone knows everything about everything. A lot of the stuff I know is only because somebody took the time to get me sorted out.

Agreed.

OP, to what standard do you wish to shoot 700+yd targets? Like, what target size?

[Waylander]

Colt SOCOM barrels are heavy enough and plenty accurate.

[CrowCommand]

Colt SOCOM barrels are heavy enough and plenty accurate.

^This #socombarrelmasterrace.

Where is Firefly when you need him? He’d have some wacky anecdote to go with the inevitable “Buy a 6920 and get a life”

[grizzman]

Rack grade ARs aren't a very good choice for precision work at 800 plus yards, but the SOCOM would certainly make it possible. Precision ARs with 18" medium to heavy profile barrels and heavy stocks aren't a very good choice for CQB and run and gun shooting.

How long a barrel will deliver the necessary accuracy is completely dependent on what accuracy standard is needed, so it's not as simple a question as likely anticipated. If 1.5 MOA is acceptable, then the service life will be a lot longer than if sub .75 MOA is required.

It's pretty well known that Criterion's chrome lined 4150 heavy profile 18" barrel is among the best choices for a non-stainless precision barrel. The Criterion's $330 price is likely more than is willing to be spent on a barrel.

There are many more options for stainless barrels. rainier Arms' Ultra Match is pretty highly regarded, but they're $400. Their Match is only $260. I've had no experience with Rainer's barrels, but have read many positive comments about them.

A stiff free-float handguard is a lot more important on a precision AR than it is on a short range blaster, so that should be considered in the project price.....as well as a good optic.

It's really easy to spend your entire budget (or twice or three times your budget) on an optic.

The short answer is that there's basically nothing cheap in long-ish range shooting if you don't want the equipment to hold you back.

[shadowspirit]

Agreed.

OP, to what standard do you wish to shoot 700+yd targets? Like, what target size?

I actually didn't have a particular target size in mind.

[shadowspirit]

Colt SOCOM barrels are heavy enough and plenty accurate.

Yes, but they are 14.5". There is a velocity difference. 16" is the shortest I will go. No shorter!

[shadowspirit]

Rack grade ARs aren't a very good choice for precision work at 800 plus yards, but the SOCOM would certainly make it possible. Precision ARs with 18" medium to heavy profile barrels and heavy stocks aren't a very good choice for CQB and run and gun shooting.

How long a barrel will deliver the necessary accuracy is completely dependent on what accuracy standard is needed, so it's not as simple a question as likely anticipated. If 1.5 MOA is acceptable, then the service life will be a lot longer than if sub .75 MOA is required.

It's pretty well known that Criterion's chrome lined 4150 heavy profile 18" barrel is among the best choices for a non-stainless precision barrel. The Criterion's $330 price is likely more than is willing to be spent on a barrel.

There are many more options for stainless barrels. rainier Arms' Ultra Match is pretty highly regarded, but they're $400. Their Match is only $260. I've had no experience with Rainer's barrels, but have read many positive comments about them.

A stiff free-float handguard is a lot more important on a precision AR than it is on a short range blaster, so that should be considered in the project price.....as well as a good optic.

It's really easy to spend your entire budget (or twice or three times your budget) on an optic.

The short answer is that there's basically nothing cheap in long-ish range shooting if you don't want the equipment to hold you back.

Thanks for the generous post.

Referring to the first bolded part above, maybe 18" or 16" medium profile barrels and medium weight stocks are good for CQB and run and gun shooting.

As for the prices for optics, if one hasn't read about the latest ones, there's some good stuff out there for not a huge amount of money. A new Bushnell seemed to shock one reviewer for what you get for your money. The part that apparently turns off some people with good optics for not a lot of money is they are made in China.

[SteyrAUG]

Thanks for the generous post.

Referring to the first bolded part above, maybe 18" or 16" medium profile barrels and medium weight stocks are good for CQB and run and gun shooting.

As for the prices for optics, if one hasn't read about the latest ones, there's some good stuff out there for not a huge amount of money. A new Bushnell seemed to shock one reviewer for what you get for your money. The part that apparently turns off some people with good optics for not a lot of money is they are made in China.

So here is what I've learned over the years I've been shooting.

The guys on the net going "these [insert name of budget optics] are great, they do the same job as [insert name of high end optics] for half the money" have never actually owned any of those high end optics. They guys raving about their Springfield Armory, Rock Island Arsenal, Auto Ordnance $500 1911s have never shot anything better so they have nothing to compare it to so obviously theirs are awesome.

When somebody comes along that says "I've owned Nightforce, Zeiss and Swarovski but they just aren't as good as my Bushnell" then I'll consider listening. Now if Bushnell is all you can afford right now, that is what you are using and a budget scope you have now is better than the wonder scope you hope to buy one day but don't actually have. So keep that in mind when you talk about "got great online reviews", "passed online torture test" or any other similar metric.

Most people here have shot and owned just about everything out there. If an entry level Bushnell did everything a Vortex will do, we'd all be running Bushnells. We spend the money on higher end stuff because we've seen the "budget brands" fail enough times to know we don't want to bet on them.