My AR is for mostly fun shooting. Maybe deer and hogs. If I get serious, I go to my M1a. I know it's good out to 1,000 yards. And anything in between. Accurizing the AR... it gets a trigger, free floating handguard, good scope and mount and hours of trigger time. While my AR is very accurate, it won't keep up with my M1a. Or my bolt guns. On the subject of short barrels, I had a Remington Mohawk in 243. I don't know the exact barrel length but it was short. I have a 5 shot group that measures .01" CTC tacked on my reloading bench. I wish I had that rifle back.