Little off topic but looking for advice...

[4P93]

Originally posted in policeone.com , but responses are a bit slow there and I tend to love my fellow bowhunter's input... so I thought I'd post here to see what ou think...

I currently carry a M4A3 patrol rifle with a 16.5" barrel... looking at going to a shorter barrel, and looking for some advice.

I am looking at 10.5" or 11.5" chrome lined with a 1/9 twist ration... pros and cons?

I will be adding a Yankee Hill suppressor as well...

Input is appreciated

[kfd82]

Black Rifles are EVIL!! Sell it!

(really cheap)

Sorry, no real help but there are some AR gurus on here. Personally, I think the longer the barrel the more accurate it would be.
If you are a cop, and you are planning to use this to save yourself or others I think it should be as accurate as possible. JMHO

[sledge437]

I have both and have carried both on patrol. Rural setting=16.5" where as Urban/more building clearing=shorty.....my findings were the muzzle of the shorty was much easier to control in close quarters...my 16" was more accurate at longer distances as one might encounter more often in rural areas....again just my personal opinion.

[xman59]

going to loose a good bit of velocity which is what makes the .223 expand so well, should still work but maybe not as explosive, going to gain a whole bunch of muzzle blast, will be very quick handling plenty accurate for in close, but will also give up extended range accuracy.. no right or wrong answer just creats a lot of variables,, good luck and have fun with it

[4P93]

Yeah...black guns for hunting are evil... I agreee...

But...at work, it is a neccessary evil...

Mostly it is in raid / building clearing situations (have EOTECH 557 for long shots)...

The 16" barrel tends to get in way at times...is there a significant trade off between 10.5 and 11.5" barrels when using a suppressor?

I work mostly in suburban areas and a lot of gang-infested areas.. so long range shots aren't too big of a deal...when long range comes in, I use a scoped 308

Long story short... hunting for game...bow...hunting for humans...whatever keeps me alive

[sledge437]

There will be very little difference that you'll notice. But, if youre going to go short, go short. The whole advantage to the shorty is quick handling and less interference in tight quarters. So why not go short as possible if youre giving up the 16" anyway? Remeber, your adding the supressor so, it could be another reason to go shorter. Me? I'd go with the shorter barrel. And the caveat: "just my humble opinion". Either way its a great set up. Another consideration though: We do a lot of two man and three man stacks for entries where I work. With a shorter barrel, you have to really watch "lasering" your partners in high-low set ups. If youre not positioned right up on your partner's 6 and youre high man, if something goes wrong (aka lack of communication), a shorter barrel will allow your partner to stand up in front of your muzzle. Longer barrel may put the muzzle further out past your partners noggin. Just food for thought. Hope it helps.

[kfd82]

Yeah...black guns for hunting are evil... I agreee...

But...at work, it is a neccessary evil...

I was kidding about them being evil...note the sell it cheap and smiley

I think there are a LOT of folks here that will disagree with your comment about them being bad for hunting. Several of the people here hog hunt with them and I know one guy who hunts yotes with one quite a bit.

(Unless you were saying "evil for hunting" in the sense that one should only use a bow)