I really want an integrally suppressed 10.5 inch upper.
Seems like the perfect walking around in my woods gun.
I don’t have any intent to use a suppressor on anything else I have (would make them wayyyyy too long to be useful) so I really only need the one upper, and I’m swimming in 5.56 and not looking fkr another caliber-no interest in .300blk.
So what’s good? I genuinely don’t know much about them, but I love the idea of a 1 stamp gun.
I’ve seen reviews of the Yhm phantom and the radical integral uppers, and they seem competitive.
Are there other, better options out there?
Ideally between 1 and 2 grand.
I don’t really want/need a suppressor otherwise, and most of my rifles are 18 to 20 inches, so no desire to attach one to any of them.
I’m only really interested in a suppressor in this combination.
Looking at your avatar, I hope you had a blessed Pascha!
This would be best if you have a can that comes apart so you can clean the barrel without filling the suppressor up with chemicals or patches.
I’ll argue the opposite of georgeib. My 556 cans never get shot. I hate shooting suppressed ARs. Bolt guns? Hell yes, but gas guns suck. And the shorter the more challenging.
Just build a dedicated upper and pin a can on it. Use a tube from BRT to reduce the gas or get a small port barrel, and use a 2 piece handguard or one that will fit over the can.
How often do you travel out of state with an AR? Will you travel with this AR? That is really the only reason in my mind to do it. I dont think its worth the stamp. Maybe in a 22lr. For $200 more you would be better off to SBR a lower and buy a can even if its direct thread.
556 guns with a can get very hot, and if the can is under a handguard the handguard gets very hot. Like, doesn’t matter if your wearing gloved hot.
There’s a reason integrally suppressed ARs aren’t everywhere. Actually, there are several.
Heat is a major issue. Most integrally suppressed designs place the can under the handguard. The handguard gets hot and the heat gets distributed across the entire handguard. I’ve shot the Gemtech one and it was good for less than a magazine without gloves. The S&W/Gemtech rep suggested having separate duty and training rifles or uppers (sure…).
Serviceability is also a problem. If you can’t remove the can, it’s harder to clean the barrel. If the can is serviceable (such as a pinned sleeve and removable core), there is generally a weight tax (since most 5.56 cans are welded baffle stacks).
Performance is also a factor since there just aren’t that many options out there so you’re sacrificing access to the best designs for the integral design.
Finally, price. You’re probably not going to see a cost savings over buying the components separately, so the most you’re going to save is the $200 stamp on the SBR.
The only scenario I see where an integrally suppressed AR makes sense is in a state where a suppressor is legal and an SBR is not.
I will not SBR a rifle, just won’t do it.
It’s not about money, and I know it may sound silly, but I simply will not.
However some mentioned having a suppressor pinned to a barrel which I hadn’t thought of. I have a Gibbs side charging upper laying around that would be great for the application, and I’d much prefer an 11.5 to a 10”.
I’ve had an earlier gen patrolman for several years now. No issues with it, it is not pinned but resides full time on an 11.5 middy upper. It’s pretty light and short and has less backpressure than a saker k. I don’t use patched jags or foaming cleaners. Be really careful checking alignment before test firing and pinning.
Just noticed this thread and coincidentally enough I recently picked up a Gemtech Integra in 5.56 (and the Integra for the M&P 15-22 as well but I digress). I’m pretty happy with it, it runs great without any hiccups and basically all you hear at the ear is the sproing of the buffer spring. The handguard does heat up if you rapidly dump a mag or 2 but otherwise it’s very comfortable though it is on the heavier side. I’m shooting yotes and pdogs with it the next time we head out west.
