You have an 11.5''.. do you build a 10.5'' or a 12.5''

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[ARCHIVED THREAD] - You have an 11.5''.. do you build a 10.5'' or a 12.5''

Posted: 9/14/2014 7:31:16 PM EDT

Whats it going to be gents.

Posted: 9/14/2014 7:33:42 PM EDT

[#1]

I love my 11.5". I feel like it is one of the best lengths for a short barrel, as far as size and maneuverability, while maintaining the velocity and muzzle energy of the 556. If i was to do a different one i would go with 12.5 instead of shorter.

Posted: 9/14/2014 7:35:30 PM EDT

[#2]

Eta wrong thread

Posted: 9/14/2014 8:10:17 PM EDT

[#3]

I have a 11.5 pistol, neither the 12.5 or 10.5 really interest me: if I was to build another it would be 7.5"

Posted: 9/14/2014 8:25:03 PM EDT

[#4]

I built a suppressed 11.5" AR and liked it, so I built another one that's identical. They're both still about as long as an unsuppressed 16" AR, so I built a 10.5" unsuppressed. No need for me to go longer and 7.5" (while fun to shoot) is ballistically inferior, whereas 10.5" can still be useful for shooting things other than paper, with the correct ammo. Only go shorter than 10.5" if it's something other than 5.56mm.

Posted: 9/14/2014 9:09:24 PM EDT

[#5]

In true arf fashion you must have all three. I do. My 12.5 is my "long range" gun as it is the longest barreled AR I own.

Posted: 9/14/2014 9:18:10 PM EDT

[#6]

I had a 10.5'' but since I couldn't afford to go the GD way and build another, I sold it and went with a 12'' barrel because I am more comfortable with the ballistics.

Posted: 9/14/2014 10:37:41 PM EDT

[#7]

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Quoted:
In true arf fashion you must have all three. I do. My 12.5 is my "long range" gun as it is the longest barreled AR I own.

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Oh my, I simply cannot do all 3. I would be liquidating or at least selling off the barrel of my 14.5'' which I don't really care for to use all of the guts for the 10.5''/12.5''.

Posted: 9/14/2014 11:19:24 PM EDT

[#8]

I use my 12.5" as my DMR type rifle with an ACOG. My 11.5" is my HD gun with an Aimpoint. 10.5" 5.56 guns don't interest me with their many negatives.

Posted: 9/15/2014 12:03:36 AM EDT

[#9]

I love my 11.5" LW. Can you mount a M203 on a 12.5" M4 cut-down? If so, do that.

Posted: 9/15/2014 12:32:23 AM EDT

[#10]

While I hate to be "that guy," I vote neither. I have a 11.5" and if I was to build another SBR in 5.56, it would be 14.5". +/- 1" in length and little change in velocity isn't worth the effort IMO.

Posted: 9/15/2014 1:00:42 AM EDT

[#11]

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While I hate to be "that guy," I vote neither.

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I vote 20" rifle if you don't already have one.

Posted: 9/15/2014 7:55:40 AM EDT

[#12]

I have a 11.5 and it is perfect so I don't need anymore 5.56 builds. And I have no interest in a 10.5 or 12.5. I am going with a 10.2 300 blackout build next.

Posted: 9/15/2014 10:46:11 AM EDT

[#13]

10.5 because you can attach a silencer to it and have an OAL less than a 16" rifle with a birdcage.

John Noveske mentioned to Stickman once that if he could only have 1 AR, it would be a 12.5 since it is a good combination of velocity, length, accuracy, and I tend to agree with him.

But I'd imagine an 11.5" rifle of equal pedigree would be able to do the same in the hands of an equally trained shooter. Even Bill Alexander of Alexander Arms has used a 10.5" in 6.5 Grendel and successfully downed Larue Sniper targets at 600y.

Since you have the 11.5, look at doing a MK18 of some sort for a future project.

I have 2 10.5" uppers and my 7.5" 300BLK and I'm going to do another shorty but probably in 11.5 since I just bought a Centurion Arms 10" C4 from a friend of mine. It may become a 10.5 if I find my suppressor mount clears it. The 11.5 I have brewing in my mind may end up being made with a URX4 10.75 rail.

Posted: 9/15/2014 11:01:22 AM EDT

[#14]

Quote History

Quoted:
I love my 11.5". I feel like it is one of the best lengths for a short barrel, as far as size and maneuverability, while maintaining the velocity and muzzle energy of the 556. If i was to do a different one i would go with 12.5 instead of shorter.

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I concur.

Posted: 9/15/2014 11:28:52 AM EDT

[#15]

Quote History

Quoted:
While I hate to be "that guy," I vote neither. I have a 11.5" and if I was to build another SBR in 5.56, it would be 14.5". +/- 1" in length and little change in velocity isn't worth the effort IMO.

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Posted: 9/15/2014 5:30:21 PM EDT

[#16]

I just got my second stamp back last week, and it will be my second 11.5" as I believe that length is as close to perfect as it gets. If there were no more 11.5" barrels ever I would go 12.5, then 14.5" before I went 10.5"

Posted: 9/15/2014 5:35:08 PM EDT

[#17]

Sell the 11.5 and get both a 10.3 and 12.5. 11 is a silly middle ground; you don't have the minimal shortness of a 10.3 or the ballistic advantage of a 12.5.

Posted: 9/15/2014 7:41:20 PM EDT

[#18]

I have both an 11.5 and 12.

The 12 / 12.5 is the perfect carbine length IMO.

Great for 5-300 yards.

Posted: 9/15/2014 9:10:23 PM EDT

[#19]

I have a Sig 556 SBR (10" barrel) and I also had an 11.5" AR. I didn't see the point in having two so close, so I sold the 11.5" upper and bought a BCM Kino. 12.5" is definitely my favorite length. It is still plenty short and it suppresses noticeably better than a 10.5" barrel.

Posted: 9/16/2014 3:47:49 PM EDT

[#20]

I got a 20" for my "dmr" and an 11.5 as my do all carbine.

I feel no need for any other length ar

Posted: 9/16/2014 5:39:53 PM EDT

[#21]

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Quoted:

Quoted:
While I hate to be "that guy," I vote neither. I have a 11.5" and if I was to build another SBR in 5.56, it would be 14.5". +/- 1" in length and little change in velocity isn't worth the effort IMO.

This is what I did. 10.5 dedicated suppressed, 14.5 dedicated lightweight, 20 dedicated marksman.

Posted: 9/16/2014 8:09:25 PM EDT

[#22]

What role do you want the next gun to fill? If you're going for something really compact and light I would probably do the 10.5" with an Aimpoint micro. On the other hand, if that's not what you're after then I'd probably opt for the 12.5" gun with a stainless steel barrel and 1-4x or 1-6x variable optic.

Posted: 9/16/2014 9:12:00 PM EDT

[#23]

I've had several 10.5" uppers that have all been reliable. To me the only negative is the lower MV but with good soft point ammo, I'm ok with that aspect too.

[ARCHIVED THREAD] - You have an 11.5''.. do you build a 10.5'' or a 12.5''

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