For a long time, it seemed like 10.5 to 12.5" bbl ARs were the go for tactical LE and SOF units, as well as those who wanted a SHTF rifle. However, I was wondering if these shorter barrels are falling out of favor for general purpose now due the increase of LPVO use, the increased rail length options on 14.5-16" barrelled rifles, better velocity, etc? Or is compactness still winning the day?
Are short barrel ARs on their way out for general purpose rifle?
No.
I would also agree that they are not on the way out. I would not want a general purpose rifle shorter than 14.5." With that said I do have two AR pistols (8.5" 5.56 and 11" 7.62x39) and both are fun.
I think it has to do with intended use of the rifle. For home defense and out to 250-300yrds (repeatable accuracy w/ red dot). However, for a “GP” or “Recce” rifle with a capability of 500yrds +, then a 14.5-16" with an LPVO is obviously preferred. This is why the 13.7" and 13.9"'s are becoming more and more popular, Red dot or Eotechs with magnifiers helping to bridge the gap. The real answer is that there is no perfect setup, and that there will always be positives and negatives to certain setup for certain situations.
I can’t say whether they are on their way “out” in general. Probably not. But I do feel like I’ve been coming to prefer my longer guns over my SBRs. 20” ARs are currently just about my favorite thing to shoot. Maybe because I’m getting older and “high speed” tactical CQB stuff now seems much less “cool” to me so I prioritize stand-off capability over compactness?
My GP rifle is a 12.5”, so no, they are not on the way out, for me.
What is “short”? and what is “general purpose”? Seems like that could vary as widely as the opinions to come.
They are all tools in the tool box, I would classify the short barrels as specialty tools not general purpose. So for room clearing, vehicle use, back pack carry, passive aiming under NOD’s a short barrel with a red dot works best. Bouncing around the desert a longer barrel with magnified optic is going to work better, not that the short barrel won’t work, just that a different tool will work better.
I’m interpreting GP to be the weekly beater, rather than something I shoot/train with periodically, or mainly pull out for specific or specialized purposes. The US Army considers the M4a1 carbine a GP gun.
So not LE or SOF, so can’t speak for those currently in those roles. But I say no.
The arguements for shorter barrel length on a general purpose carbine remain unchanged. The environment of deployment and use of the weapon remains unchanged. The advantage of longer barrels in specific criteria has always been true and their use will no doubt continue in those applications where they have an advantage.
Mission and operational environment drives the gear.
11.5 is probably one of the most common barrel lengths at this point. If companies would get off their ass and start producing a variety of 12.5 options, that’d probably see a huge spike in usage. Of course, pistol braces and all that BS will always play a role in limiting commonality.
I assume most people are aware but some of SOCOM is transitioning to 11.5s following the USASOC URGI program.
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That’s kinda where I’m leaning. But going beyond the length… Are irons GP? RDS? Suppressor?
When we toss a carbine in the back of the truck to paint steel. An RDS and Suppressor are nice in a GP gun that you might fire at unknown desert threats.
That’s kind of a GP gun that can shoot anything from contact to 3 to 4 hundred yards.
A lot of folks jumped into the AR pistol with the advent of the pistol brace. Those could definitely fall out of favor depending on how that upcoming ruling goes.
I think the novelty, exploration phase, and rapid expansion in hardware availability is no longer happening because that market is now somewhat more saturated overall… and that people have figured out that a lightweight 14.X carbine equipped similarly can do a lot of the same things.
Not a dead concept, it’s still absolutely solid… just one that isn’t experiencing the growth it was a few years ago because those final answers ended up being quite useful, but supply finally caught up with demand and now it’s mostly saturated.
And also if other companies would get off their asses and make 11”-11.5” handguards.
And yeah, 11.5” URGIs are a thing. I won’t call the Mk18 dead or obsolete, but the new 11.5” guns are better, IMO. I wish we’d have gone KAC, though.
For me, thats a 12.5” with a dot and a magnifier, with a K-can, sling, IR and white light devices.
That works.
I have a 12.5" Criterion Core on a “pistol” build that I like quite a bit, but my general purpose AR has 16" and LPVO, it is backed up by a 14.5"
Not according to our sales data.
We’re selling (out) nearly equal numbers of 11.5 , 12.5 and 14.5 HF CL barrels.
In had heard that they were using 12.5" and 14.5" for the most part. For those of us not in the know about USASOC URGI program…what is it?
If you follow Instagram trends and reddit, yes they are.
If you follow reality, no, they’re not going anywhere.
Mission drives the gear train, or it should. Look at the world you live in, what are realistic engagement distances for you? What is the most likely engagement scenario that you may face? What are your skills and training? Once you answer those questions to yourself truthfully, pick a barrel length that works best for you and the environment you live in.