SBR question

General Firearms NFA
1

Hello & thank you for help with this question.

I have built a couple legal Form 1 AR SBRs for myself in 9mm & .22 LR.in these cases, the SBR & caliber are are not much of an issue with velocity & (in theory) terminal ballistics.

I’ve been considering making another legal AR SBR, but have read about loss of velocity & muzzle blast issues with 5.56 NATO SBRs. Please note that I DO NOT own the SBR barrel, and haven’t decided on a legnth. I do have a Gemtech G5 bi-lock I can use on an SBR. I do notice quite a POI shift with this set up, and won’t if anyone has ideas to minimize this problem?

My question: for those with 5.56 SBRs–do you find the blast or ballistics unpleasant & regret your purchase? Do you use a can every time you shoot it? I’m considering contacting a FFL 02/07 to just make an SBR with integral can, is why I ask this question. I realize I would have a dedicated lower engraved, but already have one for my 9mm.

Thank you for the help.

2

I have two 11.5 SBRs, don’t own a suppressor. Both have BattleComp compensators. They’re a little blastier, but not significantly so. They’re mostly what I prefer to shoot.

3

My personal opinion is that shooting anything shorter than a 12.5 without a suppressor indoors is decidedly unpleasant, even with ear pro. Outside, not as big a deal but noticeable. A linear comp can help reduce perceived sound, but increases muzzle flash.

4

Get an 11.5 or 12.5 and be fine. It shouldn’t be a long range gun so no worries about ballistics. They work out to 500 even in 11.5. Solid performance out to 300yrds.

5

Do you SBR shooters run 77grain or M193 or M855?

6

All 3.

77gr is great for bringing the 12.5" out to 600 yards and pissing off all of the 26" barreled .308 guys, but for everything else I use M855 and M193. M855 is the least accurate.

7

I shoot mostly 77’s. But we sling 62 -69 etc. as well.

8

I’m mostly 50 yards or less. Mostly shoot .223 in 55 grain but do use a lot of M193.

9

I love my 10.5" LMT SBR. I don’t find it unpleasant. I actually don’t like shooting anything longer. My 16" 6920 never gets shot because I feel it’s too long… My 10.5 wears a BattleComp, until my SpecWar gets released from NFA hell.

10

My SBRs are frequently the only rifles that get shot, also. Suppressed 90% of the time. My Sig 716 sees a bit of use, as do the bolt guns, but my last 16" AR rarely gets shot. The only reason I regret my first SBR is because they’re like suppressors and Lay’s potato chips…

11

I do regret one thing about getting my sbr…and that is, not buying a suppressor with it at the same time, I can’t stand another waiting period

12

An SBR and 77 gr bullets go hand in hand. An 11.5 will give you nasty fragmentation with deep penetration too. If you don’t put a painful brake on the gun, you can enjoy it very much with no silencer.

Just be sure to get a good barrel that’s not over ported. Nothing pisses on an SBR build more than an over gassed barrel.