What is the most popular length barrel for a SBR? What length do you like and why? I know they are very loud, but does a 10.5 pop much louder than a 12.5? How much does the Noveske Pig help.
If I went the simple route and bought a BCM upper in the $500 range and put a Pig on it, what length do you think best?
if you want the shortest OAL you’re restricted to a few high quality barrels. if not, options widen a little bit.
First question is: Are you ever going to put a sound suppressor on this gun?
Pretty common question.
As said above first do you plan to ever add a suppressor?
Yes: 10.5" are good for that due to smaller OAL with the can, but velocities suffer slightly
No: 11.5" or 12.5" with the consensus being 12.5" being a bit better with velocities if you dont mind the extra inch.
I was originally going 10.5", following the “if you are going through the trouble of an SBR go as short as possible” mantra. However after being on the fence about suppression and being used to using 16" barrels the last 15 years I figured Id take Stickman and others advise and sent off the paperwork for a 12.5" barrel.
However in the meantime I have fallen in love with the looks of the OPS collars and great reviews of there suppressors, so looks like a can is in my future anyway. With a 15th can with a 12.5" Ill still be around 16" from what Ive been told.
12.5"
If you are considering the KX3 on a 10.5, you might as well get the 12.5" and have a “regular” muzzle device and get the extra velocity.
Rifles are all loud anyway. I tend to double up when shooting (plugs and muffs).
I have a Noveske N4 barreled 10.5 as well as the Noveske Crusader 12.5". The 12.5 is my favorite of all my AR’s and is my go to gun. If you plan on running a KX3 (I don’t on the 10.5) then you might as well go with a 12.5 with a traditional muzzle device. KX3’s make for a more pleasant shooting for those with you. Though I don’t believe them to be a necessity for 10.5" SBR’s as far a functionality.
12.5" seems to be the best compromise between velocity and compactness. The Noveske Crusader barrel has shown with certain loads to meet or exceed velocities of a 14.5" C/L barrel.
[QUOTE=m249saw;659971]Pretty common question.
As said above first do you plan to ever add a suppressor?
Yea, I may add a suppressor later. Sounds like the 12.5 might be the ticket. And if I get a second, I could make it a 10.5.
Thanks for the replies.
pb
A lot of first timers get a 10.5" upper first. I find them to be obnoxious. They are great for general range days when you want a lot of flash and bang for show and tell.
Today, I prefer a 12 to 13 inch barrel. I like the better ballistics and feel better about not sand blasting a suppressor with unburned powder. I’m not deploying my rifle under cover or out of a car so, the extra ~2 inches doesn’t really hurt the compactness IMHO. I do like the mid-length gas systems over the carbine gas system for normal range days so, a 14.5" mid-length gas system is nice.
The KX-3 is a nice range toy for me but, I find it to be too heavy and as others have noted will trade its weight and length for more barrel.
i got a 10.5, but was wondering if a can would work with 7.5 barrel.
thanks
Without the can, a 11.5" or 12.5" is going to be most comfortable.
If you plan on suppressing this upper down the road, but want to use it as-is, the 11.5" has an advantage, but the performance of the 12.5" is the best compromise ballistically.
Sid makes a good point - if you’re not working out of a confined space with it, a couple inches of OAL isn’t going to make a very significant difference. In a vehicle, and with a can hanging off the end, you’ll notice the weight more.
Yes but many silencers warranties are not covered if used on a barrel less than 10".
_ My 12.5" is my one and only SBR. Really like it.
I say go 10.5. If you are going short, you might as well go as short as you can reliably go. Much longer than that and I start thinking a 14.5 plus extended hider or 16 makes sense.
12.5 is the best. I have an LWRCi 12.7’’ gun. It’s amazing, especially suppressed. (You don’t notice the .2’'.)
I plan do on building an LWRCi M6 CQB-R 10.5’’ variant though, eventually.
I have an 11.5" and I shoot it suppressed/ unsuppressed. Perfect balance between a 10.5" and a 12.5". YMMV
7.5" is too short - barring an application where you’re trying to use it as a PDW, doesn’t make much sense. 5.56 isn’t very effective at that velocity, and even though OPS will cover cans on something that short, there’s so little to gain over a 10.5"
I’d say 10.5" makes sense for mostly suppressed only - that’s the route I’m going.
Like Iraqgunz mentioned, 11.5" is a great host for a QD can.
The strength of the 12.5" is the extended fragmentation range - but if you don’t need it, it’s hard to justify. That said, it’s just an inch, and without a can on it that difference is hard to notice.
Buy and try.
I started with a Noveske 10.5 w/pig in 5.56.
Than picked-up a 7.5 Noveske Diplomat w/pig in 6.8 (I’ve read ballisticlly you don’t want to go under 10" in 5.56).
I just picked-up a 12.5" BCM (Kino Configuration)
and added a Vortex FH. I like the longer handguards. Length is less than an inch longer than the 10.5 w/pig.
Here’s a good read:
Q: Why BCM chose the 11.5" SBR over the 10.5"
http://www.ar15.com/forums/topic.html?b=2&f=138&t=174764
12.5" BCM (Kino Configuration)
I have a 10" bbl. on my SBR with a SS YHM suppressor. A bit loud I think, but nicely balanced and it does handle well. I guess it depends on what application you’re looking for, etc. I know you can get a thousand different opinions here on what is best.
To put it in perspective, as a doctor, it would be asking me what antibiotic is best. It really depends on what you intend to treat!
Great feedback and a great read from the BCM guy. I’ll probably go the 11.5 or 12.5 route for my first SBR. Im also thinking a Vortex as opposed to the Pig. That Pig defeats the purpose of the SBR in general IMHO.
Iv you’re considering the Gemtech G5 at some point in time, there is an SEI Vortex that has mounts for the G5 as well.
Does anybody know what the dwell time difference is on a 12.5’’ vs. an 11.5’'?
If it derails the topic, PM me.
Thanks.
I think you need to back up a step and ask yourself a few basic questions, and once you’ve answered those questions your length issue will probably resolve itself.
[ol]
[li]Why do yo want an SBR?
[/li][li]What is the maximum distance at which you require you ammunition to perform as desired?
[/li][li]How Flexible is your ammunition selection (i.e. are you restricted to department or agency issued ammunition?)?
[/li][li]Do you intend to add a suppressor?
[/li][li]If so, do you know which suppressor you’ll be adding?
[/li][li]If so, is it a QD suppressor with a mount and what mount is it?
[/li][li]etc.
[/li][/ol]