Longer is better 16" or 20" barrel

[ignaciom184 0]

I have a Saiga 223 with a 20" barrel. I personally would have preferred the 16" barrel, because of the ergonomics. However the 20" barrel in my opinion provides excellent accuracy and higher muzzle velocity. So what do you have and what do you prefer.

 

In retrospect I would have gone with the 16" barrel, but when I bought the rifle I was new to this hobby and had hardly any knowledge. I remember purchasing the rifle like it was yesterday. I said to the arms dealer "what do you have in the 500 range, i was looking for a kal tec 223 if you had any available" Arms dealer responded, " we don't have any Kal tec, the only thing i got in this price range was this saiga 223" I thought to my self what the hell is a saiga, ugly ass rifle. I asked the arms dealer if I can see it it, I then picked up the rifle closely inspected it, and i said "Is this an AK!?" he said "yeah, ak variant from Russia." My heart skipped a beat, it was an instant purchase at that point.

 

The point of the story, if i had known what to buy I would have went with a shorter barrel, but im stuck with my 20" barrel and very satisfied. I will purchase a 16" barrel saiga, but it will in the near future.

[vulcan16 971]

I have both, and the 20 is a much better range gun.

Installed a Romanian side folder on the 16 to make it more fun to shoot.

The 20 is still my favorite of the two.

[GregM1 241]

i like the 20" 223 better also. the round was designed to fire from a 20" barrel, but does work well in the shorter.

[wpflgun 3]

Mine is the 16" barrel, and likes everything I feed it, all bullet weights. Recoil is mild and muzzle rise not bad either. Of course, I shoot a lot of carbine length rifles in .308, 7.62x54R, 8mm Mauser, etc.

[555JM 10]

I have both and prefer the 20" as a shooter. OTOH, the more compact 16" is better as a car or truck gun.

[liberty -r- death 1,445]

At 100 yards how do the groups compare between the two?

[ignaciom184 0]

Im getting 1-2 inch group at 100 yards (Iron sights) Saiga 20"

[GregM1 241]

from what i have seen, its a very similar grouping range between the two sizes. there are to many factors on an ak's accuracy. First theres the shooter, then the gun, then the ammo choice. Some handloaders get the best accuracy and some out the box are just better.