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Posted: 9/9/2014 10:06:29 PM EDT
I'm wanting to finally take the plunge and build my first SBR. Of course, the great state of Lincoln won't allow a silencer so we're foregoing the can. Just building a noise making SBR to enhance the collection, what's my best option?
I'm kind of at a loss even though I've done some research. Lots of guys claim 8.5" 300BLK is the way to go, while others are claiming 10.5" 5.56. I'd prefer not to have to adopt another caliber so am leaning towards the 10.5" 5.56 despite its compromises. Already ordered the lower and waiting on it to go to the CLEO with paperwork, but need to determine caliber/length for first build. What say those in the know? |
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I absolutely love my CQBR clone. 10.3" 5.56 and never so much as a hiccup performance-wise. As far as buying the 5.56 vs the 300blk, if you're not going to suppress it then 5.56 all the way.
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Since I built my 7.5" 5.56, my other ARs hardly ever get to come out and play.... |
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12" IDF / KISS carbine.
It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. DSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. |
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Honestly knowing that I wouldn't have a can coming or the ability to have a can I'd opt for a 12.5''.
I have an 11.5'' and I feel as though it's the awkward in-between. And what I mean by that is that I'd like to have a 10.5'' (now that they run reliably) with a can and then a 12.5'' without. The 11.5'' with a can is just a tad longer, and without I wish it were a little longer so as to increase velocity and decrease the concussion/unburnt powder. Do some research on this one for sure. The 10.5's are all the cool-guy-gun rage but you said it yourself "adding a noise maker"... I think the 12.5'' is a hell of a lot more than just a noise maker... not saying the 10.5 won't be lethal as well though the 12.5'' I'd say would be more pleasant and possibly more controllable. |
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11.5".
If I was doing a 12.5" I'd just go ahead and do a 14.5" John Noveske stated if he only had two AR's, it would be a 12.5" and an 18", or so I was told. Dave N |
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I absolutely love my CQBR clone. 10.3" 5.56 and never so much as a hiccup performance-wise. As far as buying the 5.56 vs the 300blk, if you're not going to suppress it then 5.56 all the way. View Quote FPNI |
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12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. <a href="https://flic.kr/p/ouA31R" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpg</a>DSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote Looks damn good. I'd like to build a couple like this for truck guns |
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I love my 11.5" A1 in 5.56. Light, handy, easy to hit with, noticeably less muzzle blast than my 10.5". I shoot the 10.5" suppressed and the 11.5" unsuppressed, and if I hadn't simply found the right 11.5" upper on the EE I probably would have built one in 12.5".
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11.5" for me only because I love the KAC 10.75" rails but, I would also suggest considering a 12.5" also.
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Skip the SBR.
10.5" .300 AAC. KAK receiver extension. Sig Brace. If you go the tax stamp route, I still recommend .300 in a 10.5 as that is the shortest length from which you will make use of the powder. Less means less powder burnt. There are some who claim 9" is the least, but I go with DD on this. Plus you can put a 9" rail on it along with a can and still be at a typical carbine length. IMHO, Noveske is right. Less that 12" on a 5.56 causes you to waste powder, which in turn really reduces your velocity and the effectiveness of that tiny bullet. A 7.5 in 5.56 does look cool though. I have never built one but always though some sort of pigtail to lengthen the gas tube would be advisable. Post up what you end up building. Like anything else, jump in and see what works for your application after you do copious amounts of research, and have fun! |
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I started out with a 10.5". It was a great gun and I never had one issue with a few thousand rounds through it. It was a real blast machine though. Then I got a 9" 300 BLK. That is an awesome little gun. Those that say the Blackout is only for suppressors with sub sonics are really missing out. That is a better gun to have if you reload. Then I dumped the 10.5 for a 12.5. I feel the 11.5 is just dumb. Only slightly better than a 10.5, but not as good as the 12.5... I just finished building my Zastava M92 into a rifle. A 10" AK with side folder is awesome. A heavy bitch, but awesome. If I had to choose one, it would be the 12.5" hands down... My second choice would be the 9" 300BLK. There is a lot of power in a small light package with the Blackout.
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I'd stick with common calibers, 5.56, 7.62x39, or 9mm.
The 5.56 7.5" upper is freakin cool, but the ballistics are questionable. You can get good ballistics with expensive ammo (several threads going in pistol and ammo forum on that topic) 5.56 10.5" I really like this and is it was a duty weapon or for home defense/hunting I would choose this over the 7.5". I want to get the 10.5" pencil barrel that JT Dist. sells. Another option I have wanted to build is the 7.62x39 7.5". Radical firearms sells a really cheap upper. Soviets have been useing Krinks in this barrel length/caliber for decades. Proven lethality! |
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Quoted: 12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpgDSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote I really, really, really love that gun.
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11.5" full profile heavy, with standard KAC rails and stock FSB, 1/9 is my favorite for shorty without suppressor. This is the setup I used in Afg before the MK18 uppers became standard issue for us.To me the additional weight makes it balance a bit better, and even if I did add a can it wasn't too terribly long.
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Quoted: 12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpgDSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote My 12.5" is a BCM Kino and I really like it, but since I only use iron sights, I kind of wish I would have gone with an IDF clone. Oh well. I don' feel like I'm missing out, but I would like an A1/A2 upper with plastic handguards.
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12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpgDSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote I really, really, really love that gun. View Quote It will have its own (non painted) lower once my eform gets approved. |
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12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpgDSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote My 12.5" is a BCM Kino and I really like it, but since I only use iron sights, I kind of wish I would have gone with an IDF clone. Oh well. I don' feel like I'm missing out, but I would like an A1/A2 upper with plastic handguards. View Quote There is a way my friend - mine is a flattop upper..... Click me - email Justin and see what the availability is, he makes them in batches every couple of months IIRC. |
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I was going with a 10.5, but what Paul (BCM) said about them made me go with 11.5
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If I could only have one SBR, and without a can, it'd be an 11.5" for sure.
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Now I want to assemble a 12.5 Kino with that A1 handle. It would be bitching with some Middy Triangular guards like Nodak used to sell........
Thanks Finslayer, I'll mention you and your tits as hell IDF gun as an accomplice when the divorce goes down. |
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I am leaning towards my 11.5, but I have been loving the 12.5s
My teeth rattling 10.3 needs a can ASAP It would not be my choice for my one and only SBR, unsupressed |
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I am leaning towards my 11.5, but I have been loving the 12.5s My teeth rattling 10.3 needs a can ASAP It would not be my choice for my one and only SBR, unsupressed View Quote As someone who has an 11.5 I want both a 12.5 and a 10.5.. It's real bad.. And threads like this don't do much to stop the want... |
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If it was going to be your everything/ only ar I'd go 12.5 kino from bcm. Perfect balance of compactness and capability considering what I feel comfortable doin with a 5.56. Ymmv
If it was going to be an sbr and you have a 14.5 or longer bbl ar in the safe, then I'd go 11.5". I went 11.5 bcm w/ sig brace and aim point micro. It has turned into my do all carbine. I only ever reach for my 20" when I know I will be shooting at the 400m range. I'd go 10.5 or 10.3 only if I was going to suppress it or build a mk18 clone |
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I really like the 11.5" BCM KMR LW upper paired with a pistol/SB15 configured lower.
Paired with a good Aimpoint micro red dot, you have a lightweight, accurate, extremely portable package that can be broken down and carried in a standard backpack. Can't get much better than that IMHO. |
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I am leaning towards my 11.5, but I have been loving the 12.5s My teeth rattling 10.3 needs a can ASAP It would not be my choice for my one and only SBR, unsupressed View Quote As someone who has an 11.5 I want both a 12.5 and a 10.5.. It's real bad.. And threads like this don't do much to stop the want... View Quote I really really like my 11.5, but I love my 12" more. I don't think its so much the barrel length, but the fact its a simple lightweight iron sighted gun. Something about it is just fun to shoot. With that said, I have another 11.5" that is also KISS, but in a different flavor.... DSC_2747 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr |
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Why are people recommending pistol braces when the OP wants an SBR?
Sure, the Sig brace has made leaps and bounds improvements for the usability of an AR pistol, but there is no substitution for an SBR. |
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9mm. This was one of three I got stamps for at the same time, along with an SBS.
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Now I want to assemble a 12.5 Kino with that A1 handle. It would be bitching with some Middy Triangular guards like Nodak used to sell........ Thanks Finslayer, I'll mention you and your tits as hell IDF gun as an accomplice when the divorce goes down. View Quote Dude, go skinny http://i1107.photobucket.com/albums/h385/alaskaLTZ/IMG_2060_zpsf58a329c.jpg View Quote skinny is where it's at. |
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get your sbr stamp.. build for 11.5" 5.56.. then get 8+" 300blk out
300blk out is a soft shooting caliber i like very much.. and if you don't go subsonic.. you are looking at 50cents a shot,, which is not bad.. but you need to have 5.56 nato just in case. |
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Where are you guys even getting A1 uppers? View Quote I got mine from the Great Blue Couch |
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Where are you guys even getting A1 uppers? View Quote I saw one on the EE yesterday. And not technically A1 but DPMS sells c7 uppers |
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Where are you guys even getting A1 uppers? View Quote Dpms has them on sale for $75, but they are c7 style. I also found several on the E.E. last night. |
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So pretty much no true A1 uppers anywhere.
Off topic, but I'd love a 20" A1.
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12" IDF / KISS carbine. It is really light and handy and becoming one of my favorite rifles. Plus 12/12.5" still provides decent velocity. <a href="https://flic.kr/p/ouA31R" target="_blank">https://farm6.staticflickr.com/5568/14763351369_759eabb48e_b.jpg</a>DSC_4299 by The Dorsal Fin, on Flickr I have a YHM phantom 5.56 can that is on my 11.5", but have decided to leave this one unsuppressed (won't get a QD mount for it) as it will mess up balance. View Quote Put a fiberlite stock on it & it'll be really light & handy. |
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Snag a CNC A1 carry handle and make any flat top a quasi A1.
What I did. |
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I was going with a 10.5, but what Paul (BCM) said about them made me go with 11.5 View Quote Same for me. Dwell time for reliability plus fragmentation with M193 within self-defense range. So, even with a can that would be the minimum length for me. |
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Quoted: So pretty much no true A1 uppers anywhere. View Quote Off topic, but I'd love a 20" A1. |
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I was going with a 10.5, but what Paul (BCM) said about them made me go with 11.5 View Quote Same Here, went with a 11.5' Standerd BCM upper! |
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True A1 uppers pop up all the time on EE. I got mine plus the Colt SBR'd lower I just took off my CQBR (it got a SOCOM lower) so now all I am on the hunt for is a good 12.5" FSB barrel so that I can complete this: [url=https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tilJhjiAlLM/U1gmOWrbiSI/AAAAAAAA4-A/Xm-pO_9fMwI/w895-h1209-no/IMG_20140423_164418.jpg]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tilJhjiAlLM/U1gmOWrbiSI/AAAAAAAA4-A/Xm-pO_9fMwI/w895-h1209-no/IMG_20140423_164418. View Quote Just send that one to ADCO, brother. They will chop it up just right |
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Quoted: Quoted: True A1 uppers pop up all the time on EE. I got mine plus the Colt SBR'd lower I just took off my CQBR (it got a SOCOM lower) so now all I am on the hunt for is a good 12.5" FSB barrel so that I can complete this: [url=https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tilJhjiAlLM/U1gmOWrbiSI/AAAAAAAA4-A/Xm-pO_9fMwI/w895-h1209-no/IMG_20140423_164418.jpg]https://lh4.googleusercontent.com/-tilJhjiAlLM/U1gmOWrbiSI/AAAAAAAA4-A/Xm-pO_9fMwI/w895-h1209-no/IMG_20140423_164418. View Quote Just send that one to ADCO, brother. They will chop it up just right View Quote I know but if I send them them this LW barrel, they won't be able to get the "shoulder" milled right behind the muzzle device. I'm looking at a Noveske CHF 12.5" w/FSB right now so I may have something in the works! Here is the part I am concerned with: |
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