Thoughts on AR's for long range

[Okiewhitetail]

I have 2 ar15's one in 5.56 and the other in 5.45 russian. Both are 16" barrels the 5.56 is fluted. Most ballistics charts i look at use 24" barrels for testing. Which one if either would you feel would reach the furthest? Im looking for a 500 yard yote killer im trying to decide if i can scope one of these and put my acog on the other for home defense or if i should acog one and sell the other for cash to buy a 24" bull barrel in one of 3 calibers 223, 5.45 or 204 ruger. Just looking for opinions and experience. Thanks yall.

 

[grwd]

know your dope and it doesnt matter what length barrel.

 

[Okiewhitetail]

know your dope and it doesnt matter what length barrel.

Agreed but where do you get dope on a 16" barrel?

 

[ripnbst]

Agreed but where do you get dope on a 16" barrel?

Spend time on the rifle butt. I would sell one and get a 24" barrel for the .223 anyway. Whats the REAL need for 2 AR's?

Having the 24" barrel couldn't hurt a 600yd shot.

 

[338Shooter]

Can't shoot a .223 past 600. Under 600 yards is medium range not long range.

 

[Okiewhitetail]

Can't shoot a .223 past 600. Under 600 yards is medium range not long range.

If you wanna get technical. Gotta admit 500 with a 223 is long range though. Im not looking to get any where near 600 with the small calibers if i get to 600 the 173 gr rounds from my 308 become more efficient and make less of a mess than they did at 100 yards. Im thinking of selling the 5.56 upper and getting a 5.56 bull barrel in 24" fluted.

 

[henschman]

The 5.56 will give you more options as far as bullet weight and bullet design goes. That is good, because you will want some of the heavier rounds for a clean kill at that range. I would go with 77 grainers. For those, you will need a barrel with a 1/8 or 1/7 twist rate though... what twist rate is your 5.56 rifle?

A longer barrel would definitely make for more ballistic effectiveness at 500 yards... the 5.56 relies on velocity for it's wounding potential. If your 5.56 is a 1/9 twist, I would sell it and buy something with a longer barrel in 1/8 or 1/7 for killing coyotes. If you already have a 1/7, it can get the job done if you know your come-ups for that distance with your particular load.

I wouldn't use a 5.45 for a yote rifle. It would be a better choice for a home defense rifle... surplus 5.45 with the air pocket produces some really nasty wounds at close range and won't penetrate walls very badly, though it will still penetrate soft body armor.

 

[grwd]

Agreed but where do you get dope on a 16" barrel?

you shoot them at the various ranges and record the groups.; or at the very least chrono the load and extrapolate it off of ballistic tables.

 

[Wormydog1724]

Here's my coyote rifle.
18" 1:9 twist sending 55 grain Hornady V-Max's
[Broken External Image]
Most... Scratch that. ALL of my shots are WELL within 200.
Why the HELL are you wanting to shoot a coyote at 500? Can't get them called in any closer?

 

[338Shooter]

If you wanna get technical. Gotta admit 500 with a 223 is long range though. Im not looking to get any where near 600 with the small calibers if i get to 600 the 173 gr rounds from my 308 become more efficient and make less of a mess than they did at 100 yards. Im thinking of selling the 5.56 upper and getting a 5.56 bull barrel in 24" fluted.

I wasn't trying to get technical. 600 yards isn't long range. Pretty simple.