AR Sponsor
Posted: 1/15/2005 8:03:48 AM EDT
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I got a bushy flat-topwith the 11.5" barrel and a 5.5" flash hider for christmas. I was hoping for a 1:7 barreled colt, but beggars can't be choosers. My question is, is the short barrel with flash hider combo ok, or do I need to try to find a 1:7 16" barrel. I already havea Springfield Scout squad for longer ranges, but I don't have a lot of experience with AR's. I have seen that Bushmaster no longer sells that model as a complete rifle, is that because it had issues or just didn't sell? Thanks in advance. |
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The shorter the barrel you use, the lower the muzzle velocity of the bullets will be. 5.56mm ammo is effective largely because of the high velocity it is capable of (and remember, 20" barrels were standard when it was decided that 5.56mm ammo was "good enough"). 11.5" barrels have a very short useful range, and require specific ammo to maximize their performance. They also significantly increase muzzle blast and flash, as the powder that would normally be pushing the bullet to add velocity is instead burned in the air. For all these reasons, 11.5" barrels are really only for highly specialized purposes (CQB/MOUT), and need special ammo to be really effective. They are poor "general purpose" weapons. However, they can be fine as a range toy, so if that's all you're looking for, then terminal ballistic performance isn't an issue. Given that you have to have over 16" of legal barrel length (muzzle devices count towards this as long as they are permanently attached), it only makes sense to make as much of this length be "usable barrel". A 14.5" barrel with a long flash suppressor (permanently attached) is the shortest I'd recommend. A 16" barrel with FS will be longer overall, but the FS doesn't have to be permanent, allowing you to replace the FS with other devices if you wish, and the longer barrel gives a bit more velocity. Please read the Ammo Oracle to learn more about ammo performance and how barrel length/velocity plays a large and important role. -Troy |
+1 unless you have an < 16in bbl and SBRed, then i would get a 16in bbl., unless you like the look of the 11.5bbl+5.5 FH |
The purpose of the 11.5" is extreme maneuverability at the price of ranged lethality. What you've got now is the loss of lethality but no additional maneuverability because you still have the same length of a carbine length AR15 rifle. If you have a 1:9 twist barrel you’ll be restricted to M193 and M855. Your barrel wont be able to stabilize the heavier stuff at all. So what does this all mean? Nothing, your rifle is just fine. Don’t let the talk of lethality and velocity and fragmentation worry you. You’ll still be able to plink out to 200 yards with some practice and odds are, heaven forbid, you had to shoot someone with your rifle for self defense, they’d be within 25 yards anyway, which is the maximum fragmentation range of an 11.5” barrel. Enjoy your toy |
How the hell can you say that? Have you shot heavier loads through his rifle? I've got 4 1:9 twist Bushmaster barrels and they ALL shoot 65 & 77gr ammo just fine. The only way you can tell if a 1:9 won't shoot the heavier stuff - is to shoot the heavier stuff through it and see. Other than that I'll +2 Troy's comments. |
+1 on this. i have shot heavy loads with with my 1x9. and bushmaster still offers the 11.5+5.5 as a complete rifle, i saw one the other day at the range/shop i frequent |
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I thought they didn't offer it as a complete rifle anymore because it is not listed on the website. But I have seen for sale NIB online labeled as a CAR15. I am going shooting this morning to try it out after I get off duty. I am thinking of maybe getting an LMT M4 upper if I can't find a replacement barrel. Anyone know of a source for 16" 1:7 barrels that's not backordered forever? It is nice to be able to shoot something that weighs almost 5 lbs less than my Scout Squad. And ATG told us to practice on AR's because our VBSS team is getting issued M4's for deployment to the gulf. Either way I think this little gun will be fun, but it's tempting to go the SBR route. Only problem is, as often as I transfer, it's not worth the hassle dealing with ATF. |
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Go out and shoot it you will love it. I love My 11.5 w/5.5 and plan to SBR it this year, CLEO willing. Those who describe it as a range toy neglect to say that M193 will still fragment out to 75 yards, sometimes as much as 100 yards, out of an 11.5" barrel. Not every rifle has to be effective out to 600 yards to be a serious weapon, do you consider the H&K MP5 a "range toy"? I think not. The 5.5" is very good at what it was designed for, good maneuverability and short range lethality. It can be SBR modified with a minimum of effort and cost once SBR approval is obtained, unlike a 16" barrel. When you hear people say the 11.5" is useless or a range toy, just remember there are 2 sides to every coin. I still have no takers on my offer to have someone stand at 100 yards while I take shots at them with my 11.5" range toy to see if it is really ineffective or not. This is a common point of discussion on this board. |
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