I'm trying to decide if my next AR should be a civilian copy of the SPR rifle "the boys" are using in Afghanistan (see Pinco Pallos thread if yer not familar)

Questions:

1. Is .223 a legitimate sniper caliber?
2. Is suppression really a good idea on a sniper rifle?
3. Should it be a 20" or 24" barrel? (current SPR is 20" suppressed)


What other considerations should I be thinking of????

Try to talk me into, or out of doing this one.

Now that's over when do you think it will be finished??

Quoted: Questions: 1. Is .223 a legitimate sniper caliber? 2. Is suppression really a good idea on a sniper rifle? 3. Should it be a 20" or 24" barrel? (current SPR is 20" suppressed)

1. Yes, but more so for the military than police. A military sniper only has to kill the enemy. Doesnt really matter if he dies immediately, after 30 secs, or a week later. as long as he dies its all good. A LE sniper has to have instant kills every time. Anything less and a hostage/good guy dies.

2. I have no idea.

3. The SPR has an 18" Brl. a 24" Brl (I have one) makes for a damn heavy rifle. Whatever the length, make sure it has at least a 1:"9 twist, preferably a 1:8 or 1:7. The correct ammo for an SPR is 75 to 100Gn.

Go for it!  Here is one of mine which is still a work in progress:



This is built on a KAC SR15M4.  I intend to put a Krieger barrel on it eventually.  Right now it has a Harris 20" 1/8 SS barrel that I got from Tommy at GPSS.  It has a KAC 600m BUIS, a KAC flipup front sight, a KAC full length FF RAS, a KAC low profile gas block and a Harris bipod.  I did the barrel break in and sighting with Black Hills 75g.  My last 10 shots were with Hornady 75g BTHP at 100yards with iron sights and I had two tight groups of two within the bullseye.  The rest were flyers.  I have a Tasco Super Sniper that I am going to use with this rifle next time once I am fully recovered from my surgery.  I intend to build a preban SPR version on a Colt with The PRI FF tube and front sight.  All I need is the barrel and the front sight.

Quoted: ...as long as he dies its all good.

     
CLASSIC line; I like it!

Why not start with an AR10A4 ss as base?  

"Pretty" is not the main criteria for a sniper rifle.
Any number of rifles could be adequate as a "sniper" rifle, although I wouldn't choose the .223 for any range  beyond 300 meters.
The fieldcraft involved in sniper work is a lot more important than the "stick" used.

Yeah..What WofWof said! That's what I'm doing, I just hope by the time that I'm done, someone will make a FF rail for the AR-10.