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Posted: 1/3/2025 11:58:18 PM EDT
[Last Edit: RRPlainsman][Edited]
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Hi all! Im looking at building a 12.5” barreled pistol in 5.56/.223 and see there arent manybthat length readily available. What do you know of and what would you recommend? (Please refrain from other barrel lengths as I have others and am specifically looking for 12.5”.) Thank you! |
| I have a KAK 12.5” mid length that I have really started to like. I don’t have a ton of rounds through it yet but it’s functioned great and shoots soft and accurate. |
-"The truth does not require your belief in it to function."
-Genuine science is about gathering evidence and testing the veracity of theories, not cheerleading for a particular ideology.
-Genuine science is about gathering evidence and testing the veracity of theories, not cheerleading for a particular ideology.
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I have a G$ CHF/CL, Criterion hybrid CL, and a SOLGW V2 CHF in 12.5, all are carbine length gas. All 3 shoot really well. The Criterion hybrid is the heaviest of the 3, the SOLGW V2 is the best balanced with a chunk of weight around the chamber area. I’d go with whichever one I could get the best deal on. |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
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I had a 12.5 inch A.R. 15 performance barrel with mid length gas that was very accurate and shot most loads 100 feet slower than my 16 inch barrels. It ran great with my suppressor, but without the suppressor The BCG needed to be kept well lubricated. I now have a B.A.12.3 inch carbine gas barrel. It is slower which I don’t like but has a little more gas, which I prefer. |
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For the money - Here I have one. It balances beautifully with an mcmr handguard. Even with a can. |
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Originally Posted By Stowe: For the money - Here I have one. It balances beautifully with an mcmr handguard. Even with a can. Wow! Had I seen those at that price when I was shopping for a 12.5” I would have jumped on it. I went with a Ballistic Advantage carbine gas barrel. Not many rounds through it yet, but it works just fine and seems to be gassed well. Works well suppressed or not. |
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Originally Posted By Stowe: For the money - Here I have one. It balances beautifully with an mcmr handguard. Even with a can. I don’t really need a 4th 12.5” but at that price….. |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
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My 12.5 turned out to be the rig that I grab the most. It's the perfect size and weight for me to serve as a general purpose setup. Having run a bunch of different barrels, including many of the brands listed already, I wanted a hard use barrel that would maintain accuracy for long strings of fire. I went with a Criterion Hybrid profile barrel. |
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PA, USA
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Originally Posted By RRPlainsman: I see finding a handguard online for a 12.5” barrel isnt straight forward. I am going to use an A2 birdcage, so will a 12.8” handguard end up being too long? If I go with a shorter handguard, will an 11” or 11.5” be appropriate? Thanks! Here some examples for reference. 12.5” Criterion hybrid barrel and 11.5” MI combat rail Attached File 12.5” SOLGW CHF barrel and 12” Q Honey Badger handguard Attached File 12.5” Geissele CHF barrel and 11.5” CMT DRT handguard Attached File |
“Necessary? Is it necessary for me to drink my own urine? No, but I do it anyway because it’s sterile and I like the taste.” -Patches O’Houlihan
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
2023/24 Arfcom FPL Champion
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Originally Posted By RRPlainsman: Hi all! Im looking at building a 12.5" barreled pistol in 5.56/.223 and see there arent manybthat length readily available. What do you know of and what would you recommend? (Please refrain from other barrel lengths as I have others and am specifically looking for 12.5".) Thank you!  
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Joined:
Jan 2023
Posts:
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EE: 0% (0)
IN, USA
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KAK has a 12.5 mid upper on sale https://kakindustry.com/memorial-sale-upper-1-5-56-12-5-mid-1-7-with-knt/ I don't have a can , probably will have one eventually. Anybody have good luck with one of these unsuppressed? |
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Originally Posted By FloridaMan11b: Just buy a complete 12.5in super duty mod1 upper. Hard to argue with this advice. Complete uppers currently on sale at Midway. Geissele also has a couple of big sales every year and sometimes sells blemished uppers for a nice discount. BCM also has a nice selection of 12.5" uppers for under $800. And if you've got the budget an LMT Specwar upper is pretty damn nice. And with LMT you can switch out barrel and convert your upper to 300 BO, longer barrel etc, which is a nice option. But no one has ever said LMT is a cheap option. |
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Originally Posted By polishkebasa: KAK has a 12.5 mid upper on sale https://kakindustry.com/memorial-sale-upper-1-5-56-12-5-mid-1-7-with-knt/ I don't have a can , probably will have one eventually. Anybody have good luck with one of these unsuppressed? I have the KAK barrel and it has worked well unsuppressed and suppressed. |
-"The truth does not require your belief in it to function."
-Genuine science is about gathering evidence and testing the veracity of theories, not cheerleading for a particular ideology.
-Genuine science is about gathering evidence and testing the veracity of theories, not cheerleading for a particular ideology.
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