[shuck99]

Kind of find the 10.5 more appealing, but wanted others opinions on it. Would be used mostly for range work, but also for SHTF if that to ever to happen. Ordered a spike's tactical lower today and plan to have it engraved soon after recieving it.

Suggestions welcome, I am newbie when it comes to SBRs.

 

[garand4life]

With the shorter barrels you're looking at more recoil, and in a lot of instances less reliable operation. I know I've seen a few that had cycling issues because of the reduced gas system. Just something to think about. It's going to be harder to get back on target for followup shots which can be trained out but still. I think 14.5 would be the shortest I would personally go. It's a proven system that the M4 has been using for 2 decades. But going any shorter doesn't really balance the benefit/cost scale as well.

 

[Jon_R]

I am planning on a 11.5" Bravo company upper for my SBR so I split the difference. It was between that and the 10.5. I don't want much barrel past the handguards and FSB.

 

[Jon_R]

With the shorter barrels you're looking at more recoil, and in a lot of instances less reliable operation. I know I've seen a few that had cycling issues because of the reduced gas system. Just something to think about. It's going to be harder to get back on target for followup shots which can be trained out but still. I think 14.5 would be the shortest I would personally go. It's a proven system that the M4 has been using for 2 decades. But going any shorter doesn't really balance the benefit/cost scale as well.

The gas tube / length of gas tube is the same carbine length in a barrel from 10"=16" unless you go with a middy. Does all the barrel length after the gas tube impact performance? If you go less the 10" then you get shorter then carbine length gas system. If I am missing something let me know.

 

[GreyEclipse]

Never would go under 16inches on a AR but that's just me.

 

[shuck99]

The upper I am looking at is the Noveske 10.5 upper with the piggy break. Would this upper solve the reliability issue as stated by previous post? Never heard of them having a problem.

 

[phxfa]

With the shorter barrels you're looking at more recoil, and in a lot of instances less reliable operation. I know I've seen a few that had cycling issues because of the reduced gas system. Just something to think about. It's going to be harder to get back on target for followup shots which can be trained out but still. I think 14.5 would be the shortest I would personally go. It's a proven system that the M4 has been using for 2 decades. But going any shorter doesn't really balance the benefit/cost scale as well.

More recoil? I own 3 AR SBR's 10.5 thru 12.5 all piston guns and they definately have less recoil than there fullsize counterparts, lot less powder burned in the barrel= less recoil. also no gas issues/cycling with piston SBR's versus DI guns

 

[phxfa]

The upper I am looking at is the Noveske 10.5 upper with the piggy break. Would this upper solve the reliability issue as stated by previous post? Never heard of them having a problem.

Definately helps on DI guns, get the switchblock upper if your going to run a can on it

 

[KalashniKEV]

Does all the barrel length after the gas tube impact performance?

Yes.

The pressure dumps after the bullet exits the muzzle, that's why the 10.5 guns were always so finnicky... then Noveske discovered the ancient Commie secret that was the Bulgarian 4-piece Fatty. They cloned it, called it KX3, put a cartoon on the side and the problems were largely solved.

11.5 is the way to go in the SBR realm. The extra inch maintains backpressure for that tiny fraction of a second extra that ensures reliable cycling.

12.5/Stealth is IMO just trying to differentiate from all the new 11.5s that have been out for a bit. In a few years it will be 13.5, and then M4 Spec...

 

[OUSooner]

I like the 10.5 best. If you are going to sbr it then sbr it!

 

[kabob983]

I like the 10.5 best. If you are going to sbr it then sbr it!

By that thought process why not a 7.5" upper?

Personally I think that 11.5" really is the sweet spot, but if you're buying a Noveske or LMT 10.5" I'd be surprised/upset if it didn't run like a clock.

 

[Gary G23]

I have been seriously considering a SBR myself and think the 11.5" is the best balance of handiness and reliability.

 

[glock22357]

Never would go under 16inches on a AR but that's just me.

The 5.56/.223 round is based on velocity, and 16" is as short as I would care to go. I really struggle to envision a situation where 5" lopped of the end of the barrel would make much of a difference.....maybe a gun-fight inside of a closet?

I would imagine that it is more about getting something that looks kewl, an emotional desire rather than a logical one.

Of course I can be accused of exactly that same thing, since I bought my M4gery to be a kewl looking civilian version of a Military weapon, so to each their own.

Although, based on the OPs suggestion that this would be his SHTF weapon of choice, I would very much suggest against an SBR for that intended purpose, there's just too many downsides to it.

 

[Jon_R]

Mine is just for nothing more then fun. I have plenty of other options if I needed a weapon to fight with. I have a level 2 carbine class in Oct. I want to use it at that for at least half a day to see how it performs. I will probably also run it at 3-Gun some.

The 5.56/.223 round is based on velocity, and 16" is as short as I would care to go. I really struggle to envision a situation where 5" lopped of the end of the barrel would make much of a difference.....maybe a gun-fight inside of a closet?

I would imagine that it is more about getting something that looks kewl, an emotional desire rather than a logical one.

Of course I can be accused of exactly that same thing, since I bought my M4gery to be a kewl looking civilian version of a Military weapon, so to each their own.

Although, based on the OPs suggestion that this would be his SHTF weapon of choice, I would very much suggest against an SBR for that intended purpose, there's just too many downsides to it.

 

[glock22357]

Mine is just for nothing more then fun. I have plenty of other options if I needed a weapon to fight with. I have a level 2 carbine class in Oct. I want to use it at that for at least half a day to see how it performs. I will probably also run it at 3-Gun some.

I was responding to the original post where the OP said his SBR would be his SHTF primary. That doesn't seem like a good idea to me.

 

[durian00]

I have a 10.5" SBR - no issues on reliability and recoil. My thought was to go short but not 7.5 range. In doing research before doing it, I found that SBR'ers said that 7.5 lost velocity, a bit noisy and just a fun gun. That said I hedged my bets and got a 12.5 barrel (yet to be built) as well for a suppressed environment (yet to be purchased).

 

[agtman]

The upper I am looking at is the Noveske 10.5 upper with the piggy break. Would this upper solve the reliability issue as stated by previous post? Never heard of them having a problem.

Yes. The KX3 works just as Noveske says it does - on mine and a lot of others.

A few recent pics of the "Pig" on my 10" SBR are in this BRF thread currently running, if you want to see how that set-up looks:

http://glocktalk.com/forums/showthread.php?t=1200939

 

[MrMurphy]

Under 12" you start to have functioning problems, eat up springs faster, etc.

Kind of like 3" 1911s. Having carried a 14.5" M4 for years, i have no need of ultra-shorty ARs except maybe for PSD work. A 16" with a collapsing stock does everything you honestly need to with a AR.

 

[durian00]

I am going to take a leap and think that the OP may already have BRD and that perhaps he already has a 16 inch AR. SBR is the another phase in BRD. Once you get one length, you try to experiment. So OP - what did you decide on after reading all these comments?

 

[internal]

11.5" all the way.