AR best SBR barrel length?

Just about to send my paperwork in for my SBR AR. I originally was set on an LMT 10.5" upper, but now I'm wondering if I should look for a Bravo Company upper in 11.5" or 12.5"? I'm mostly wondering about a longer barrel length because I've heard that 10.5" barrels beat the hell out of suppressors. But, I doubt I'm going to be purchasing a suppressor in the next 1-2 years, so I'm not sure that it matters much right now?

What are your thoughts?

I'm a fan of 11.5" barrels since they are reliable and still plenty compact enough. The 10.5' barrels can be reliable, but sometimes require tinkering. The 12.5" barrel just feels like the weapon is getting too long for my tastes.

I feel like an 11.5 is pretty optimal. 12.5" only if you're running a reflex can and if you do 10.5/3", get it built by a pro or buy a factory upper unless you are ok with the possibility of having to tweak it.

I was planning on a 7.5inch upper. That to short?

Check this post from BCM, it's a good read. http://www.ar15.com/forums/t_2_138/174764__Q__Why_BCM_chose_the_11_5_SBR_over_the_10_5_.html

Anything is good once you get your stamp. Run 50 different short uppers if you want to.



















And get the 10.5 since you will suppress it one day. 11.5 plus can is almost as long as an A2.

My 12.5" with an SDN6 is maybe an inch longer (I'd have to measure to be exact) than my 16" carbine with a 51T flashhider.

This is with both having the same stock extended or collapsed to the same point.

Thanks for the replies. The upper will definitely be a factory upper. I guess I'll go 10.5".

Interesting in that link that a bunch of people were glad they got rid of their 10.5" LMT uppers.

My 10.5" LMT is my favorite SBR. It required no tweaking whatsoever

11.5-12.5" is my prefered length(s)

Well I have an RRA 7.5" .223 A2 upper with iron sights that I purchased several years ago as a complete upper from RRA. I have never had one problem with it. No problem hitting silhouette targets at 100 meters all day long. Of course I'm not cutting out the bullseye at that distance but good hits with decent groups. At 25 and 50 meters you can cut the center out of the target without a problem.

I'm familiar with the loss of velocity and bullet expansion issues at long distances but I don't plan to use it in a defensive situation at 100 yards or anything that far. At best, in a defensive situation it would be a CQC encounter and I'm very confident with the accuracy and stopping power at those distances.

I've been very pleased with this setup and have never had to do any tweeking.

Good Luck!!!

I love my 10.5 sbr. Took about 3 months of tinkering to get it to cycle with & without my suppressor.

I wouldnt go any other length

The interesting thing to me is that you are going for a 10.5" after reading the BCM data showing the 11.5" is a better choice for reliability based on dwell time, and combine that with your comment above to really get things going

Either way, 10.5 or 11.5 is a blast to shoot. I've got a few 11.5" and they are great.

Looking at dwell times has always seemed like splitting hairs to me. I've heard that my 16" carbine length gas system upper is going to run in reliably, and beat its self to death because it has too long of a dwell time compared to the mid length gas system. Yet my rifle has never had a problem in the 5 years I've owned it.

Very good read! Thank you sir

3 months of tinkering?
That sounds like a good reason NOT to love the 10.5"
Awaiting tax stamp, I have assembled an 11.5" pistol, worked perfect first time, every time, never has missed a beat.

I went with a 12.5" so I could run a SPR/M4. Now that the SPR/M4s are discontinued I purchased a 762-SDN-6. I'm seriously thinking about sending my barrel off to ADCO to have it chopped down to 11.5" but not sure if its worth the time or hassle for just an inch of difference.

I just bought a LMT 10.5" Upper on the EE for my (stamp pending) SBR. I've got the lower in pistol configuration at the moment so I can use the upper when it arrives. the 10.5" is the shortest I want to go, no real interest in the ultra-short 5.56mm rifles (9x19mm or .300 BLK is another story). I don't have any plans to suppress the 5.56mm right now, when I shoot suppressors I want them to be quiet, not less loud, so I stick to suppressing subsonic cartridges.

I had a Model 1 10.5" upper that I got on the EE for a song and eventually sold off. It worked perfectly from day one on my pistol set up lower. If Model 1 can make a reliable 10.5" upper, I sure hope LMT can. I guess I will get to find out in a week or so.

I saw that EE ad. Good deal you got. I have that same upper config. Mine works great, lots of fun to shoot.

So much depends upon how you intend to use this upper. If vehicular transport/deployment is a part of it, go shortest possible, if multi-use and fun gun, it is all what appeals to your mindset.

Not if you choose a reflex mounted can! Then it's way more like a 16" carbine that speaks quietly.

Yep.



And yep.

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