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Google “why BCM chose 11.5”

I have an 11.5, it just make sense.

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10.4 was good enough for Delta Force to take out Bin Laden with.  Worked better than their helicopter did.

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Yes I've read their reasoning about it and seen the numbers. But i'm basically asking, if someone where to give you a 11.5 and a 10.3/5, and doesn't tell you which one is which and you shoot both - will you notice a difference? I know GarandThumb from YT says he feels a difference, but...

1. he shoots a ton so every little thing he might notice
2. he's the type of guy to tell you the trigger weight by just feeling it

I'm talking about the average (or below avg) user that shoots occasionally - will they be able to notice a difference between the two?

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If they were both set up the same with I would say no, you wouldn't be able to tell the difference.

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Thanks all - so now my dilemma is BCM standard barrel vs DD CHF for all purpose uses.. but i'll save that for another thread if I can't find answers in the archives

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Thanks all - so now my dilemma is BCM standard barrel vs DD CHF for all purpose uses.. but i'll save that for another thread if I can't find answers in the archives

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Most likely 10.3 yeah. As for HG I'm not sure yet would a 10 inch HG work with a 10.3 barrel?

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You won't regret going with 10.3" - my 10.3s are by far my favorite ARs and the ones I shoot the most. The difference between 10.3" and 11.5" is relatively minor, and the 100fps difference in velocity will be more or less meaningless at 200 yards and under. With the proper ammo, you can still get reliable expansion out to around 300 yards with a 10.3.

The only 10.3"  barrels I would really recommend would be DD or Colt (or government contract FN if you can find one); all three will be ported correctly with a .070" gas port. My first choice would be a DD. Their barrels are excellent - the chamber is always smooth and perfect, the feed ramps fully polished; they're very accurate and they will stand up to a ton of abuse. I recently replaced one of my DD 10.3s after getting 17k out of it before it started keyholing - that was shooting suppressed with Wolf steel case almost exclusively (14k out of 17k). Those shooting traditional FMJ typically get 20-25k out of them (obviously, that's heavily dependent on firing schedule). DD's customer service is also fantastic.

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Okay how about this... Colt FBI HRT Barrel or DD CHF Barrel?

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I don't really notice a difference between the two. But there are a whole host of variables when you're talking about recoil impulse and blast. Have flash hiders on all of my short barreled ARs. Don't find any to be overly concussive. But, I do my shooting outdoors.

Between the two, I'd go with the 10.3 length. Personally, any short barreled ARs I have planned for the future will all have 12.5" barrels. Don't see enough benefit in ballistics from the added inch between 10" and 11". Jumping to a 12.5" (IMHO) is much more convincing from a cost/benefit perspective. 11" barrels basically have the same appeal to me as a .40 cal pistol. Perhaps even less so.

If I had to pick from the brands you're entertaining, I'd say DD. BCM wouldn't ever be on my list of options, and I'm not a fan of Colt.

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I don’t really notice a difference between the two. But there are a whole host of variables when you’re talking about recoil impulse and blast. Have flash hiders on all of my short barreled ARs. Don’t find any to be overly concussive. But, I do my shooting outdoors.

Between the two, I’d go with the 10.3 length. Personally, any short barreled ARs I have planned for the future will all have 12.5” barrels. Don’t see enough benefit in ballistics from the added inch between 10” and 11”. Jumping to a 12.5” (IMHO) is much more convincing from a cost/benefit perspective. 11” barrels basically have the same appeal to me as a .40 cal pistol. Perhaps even less so.

If I had to pick from the brands you’re entertaining, I’d say DD. BCM wouldn’t ever be on my list of options, and I’m not a fan of Colt.

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I have a 10.5” and an 11.5” and there is no substantial difference between the two.

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Honestly I don't shoot too often, maybe ~1k/year if that, nor do I shoot that far (maybe ~200yd at most?) so transitioning from 14.5 to a 10.3 doesn't feel all too different to me. Maybe if I shot more often I would be able to differentiate the little nuances from both. *Off topic note: I do feel a difference when using a muzzle brake/compensator vs a fh though and hate the extra concussion from the brake/comp muzzle devices, but if there were any noticeable recoil differences from a shorter barrel then I guess I don't mind since I don't notice.

My reason for wanting 10.3 is because I want the most maneuverable but still reliable carbine as I live near the city with lots of possibly tight spaces.

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I have a 10.5” and an 11.5” and there is no substantial difference between the two.

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Sooooooooooooooo much couch commando...

Use case defines relative "need".

If you're hunting people or critters you want velocity for reliable expansion based upon averages.  Most hunters have a pretty good idea what their weapon system is capable of and will plan around that, ie they are aware of the average distance that they may shoot at.  They know their minimum and they know their maximum, ie the limitations of their gear.

Most long range, large game hunters are not hunting with .223/5.56 weapons.

From a self defense standpoint, no one here is taking a 200 yard shot.  No one here is taking a 150 yard shot.  I would hazard a guess to say that no one is taking a 100 yard shot and at most, probably a fifty yard shot is what would be considered reasonable in a self defense shooting.

Let's throw all of that reality out of the window for a minute and say that one of the internet Delta guys actually shoots someone at two hundred yards.  Do you guys really think that the difference between a 10.5 inch barrel and an 11.5 inch barrel with PROPER ammo selection is actually going to make a difference? I would say no, absolutely not.




God Darn. That was some typing

Lets inject some reality back into this.  For 99.9999999999% of the shooting that you're going to be doing, ammo means nothing as 99% of us shoot bulk range ammo.  The one percent of us that hand load and develop accurate loads are not developing these loads for a 10.5 inch barrel, or even an 11.5 inch barrel.  IF they are, those people are probably well aware of the limitations of that barrel length and will plan accordingly by choosing the proper powder and bullet selection for maximum performance out of that barrel length.

On paper, an 11.5 inch barrel is "better" because of the increase in dwell time.

History has shown that 10.3 and 10.5 inch barrels can be made to run reliably with proper gas port selection, buffer, bcg and spring weight.

I know its a discussion forum but why do we keep having discussions about things that are based purely in fantasy land?  It's a good thing to talk about this stuff as if there was never any discussion about it none of this information would ever be disseminated.  Still, the academia of it all is sooooo far removed from the average shooters reality.

Buy what makes you happy bud.

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This may not be a concern, but an 11.5" barrel normally puts the overall length of the weapon from end of buffer tube to end of barrel threads at just a hair over 26". Sometimes it may actually be a hair under, but usually 11.5" puts it right over.

Which allows you to legally put a forward grip on it. I really like stuff like Magpul's and BCM's short VFGs, so that matters somewhat to me.