I voted for 16"
I guess it really depends on how hard the S is HTF... the shortest .223 in my collect has a 17" barrel, but I also have a .308 with a 16.25" barrel that normally wears a suppressor.
Accuracy hack
Comments found on Facebook M14/M1A groups.
"Can attest to this when I installed a ultimak rail. Gun was always a solid 2moa rifle but groups shrunk closer to 1.5ish.
The ultimak gets HOT though. I was expecting some vertical stringing because the barrel and aluminum rail expand...
The iron sights on a standard length M14/M1A are outstanding.
When it comes to optics, I prefer an Aimpoint with a 2 MOA dot or an EOTech with a 1 a MOA center dot.
The nearest thing to an AR-15 in my possession is a Daewoo K1A1... it uses a DI gas system without a buffer tube. I would like to buy another one of these locally.