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The neat thing about time and technology is that they change. While originally they used M16s (referring to all variants), which have the 20 inch barrel, they have M4s which also uses the 5.56 cartridge. The M4 (referring to all variants), if I can remember correctly, has a 14.5 inch barrel (14 something anyways). The SR-25, which also uses the 5.56 cartridge, has an 18 inch barrel.You are aware, I hope, that the 5.56mm cartridge was originally designed to be shot in a 20 inch barrel?
There's also the K2 rifle which is made in South Korea, 18 inch barrel I think. Wish I had one, it's a reliable rifle that also uses 5.56.
I'm sorry, is this all blasphemy? Do those of us who prefer shorter barrels, for whatever reason, need to repent from our "sins" and conform to using a 20 inch barrel? Not trying to be offensive, but just because the 5.56 was originally used by the M16, with a 20 inch barrel, doesn't mean it has to be used in a 20 inch barrel only. Shorter lengths are also valid for use. Unless I'm misreading what you said, if that's the case then you should work on wording.
Now to go on about barrel lengths... Even though this has probably been beat around the bush to hades and back.
The quality of the barrel would actually matter more than the length. If your 20 inch barrel is bubblegum, but the 16 inch barrel is of better quality, I'm sorry but that 16 inch barrel would still be better.
Downsides of shorter barrels: Drop in velocity and shorter sight radius. The drop in velocity is somewhat negligible. Hopefully that doesn't open up a can of worms, but if it does I apologize ahead of time.
Downsides of a longer barrel: More harmonics comes into play. You might think "oh only one downside? The longer barrel is better than!" However... I'll get to that later on in this post, you'll see.
Pros of a short barrel: Less barrel harmonics. Oh look it is coming to play here. Due to the shorter barrel having to deal with less barrel harmonics, it'll have more potential for accuracy than the longer barrel. The shorter barrel is also lighter and more compact.
Pros of a longer barrel: You get more velocity so there will be less bullet drop. The bullet will also have more energy behind it. Longer sight radius, which helps you actually aim when using iron sights since it allows you to see more errors than you could with a shorter sight radius. Though the use of optics makes this negligible, unless you have back up iron sights (which I recommend anyways).
This is providing that bother barrels are the same in everything but length.
Conclusion: Honestly, if you can't decide you can compromise and get an 18 inch barrel, or you know, get two uppers with a 20 inch barrel and whatever length you want for the other one. Ultimately it is up to the person to decide what they want.
Long post I know, I apologize.