Thread: 14.5" barrel for service rifle - is this going to be long enough?

Title says it all - is a 14.5" M4 suitable for service rifle or will it have too much bullet drop down range due to the velocity drop off?

You will be fine. You might suffer a bit in strong wind at 500-600m with 55gn projectiles, go for the 62gn instead.

I often shoot a 14.5" .22lr at 100m, but use 16" or my newer 20" .223/5.56 rifles at 300m-600m.

Go for it... exactly what was said above.
I've shot a 16" barrel at 500 yards a lot with good groups.
I would however say a 20" rifle length barrel (M16A3/A4 copy) or the 16" free float mid length (LMT or LMT clone) will ultimately be better for SR Service class in the long run...

Thanks guys. I have a 20" but was thinking of getting a 14.5" M4 to have something different to shoot as well, an LMT would be awesome but at the moment it looks like you have to import them yourself as no dealer has them

unless you want to attach a bayonet, why bother with a 14.5 ?

get the 16 and you it will help you when you shoot longer ranges (300, 500)

If you have a 16 with a mid-length gas system, you already have a barrel if you decide to go the LMT route...

Simply cause I would like to have something shorter and lighter to shoot as well just for a bit of difference. 16" didn't feel too different to my 20" but a 14.5" felt a lot different to me when I held it. I am just asking if it is feasible to shoot 14.5" at service rifle.

Originally Posted by ebf

unless you want to attach a bayonet, why bother with a 14.5 ?

get the 16 and you it will help you when you shoot longer ranges (300, 500)

If you have a 16 with a mid-length gas system, you already have a barrel if you decide to go the LMT route...

For what it's worth, the current national champ uses a 16" barrel

Originally Posted by grunzter

Go for it... exactly what was said above.
I've shot a 16" barrel at 500 yards a lot with good groups.
I would however say a 20" rifle length barrel (M16A3/A4 copy) or the 16" free float mid length (LMT or LMT clone) will ultimately be better for SR Service class in the long run...

We used R5 rifles in the South Africa Police, they had 13 inch barrels in comparison to the Armies R4 rifle with 18 inch barrel.
Penetration and range was seriously compromised with the 13'' barrel in 5.56 x 45.