Re: AR10 barrel length ?
I am conducting an experiment that is outside the box. I am using a 14.5" barrel, on a piston driven AR (the horror)... and it's not even free floating.
What I intended to do was to use a very short platform, and see if I could get acceptable accuracy out of it, to be deployable as a Law Enforcement Precision Rifle.
I am findinig out, that the rifle does everything I ask it to do, with applomb.
With a 14.5" barrel, and a precision rifle compensator, I get an average velocity at the muzzle of 2540 fps with Federal Gold Medal Match 168 Grain SMK.
I have consistently hit 12" steel at 800 yards and in with it, and in real life "deployment" distances... I am able to make T Zone shots with it at 200 to 250 yards and in.
The rifle is more accurate than I am. That's for sure.
The only thing I am worried about, that I have not done yet, is intermediate barrier testing... vehicle windshields, etc...
I would second the masses here. For most practical shooting, I would suggest an 18" AR-10... no more than a 20".
Best of luck with your choices Brother... there are tons of people on here that know their way around an AR-10 platform.
Cheers!