SBR AR or Long Range Rig?

Status
Not open for further replies.
Robert

Robert

Administrator
Staff member
Joined
Jun 7, 2006
Messages
14,375
Location
Texan by birth, in Colorado cause I hate humidity
So I need a new project. Something to focus on for a future build, but I can't decide so I need so help putting my thoughts in order.

The price of all things AR is coming down and now may be a great time to start a new AR build. But I want an SBR. Is it really worth the hassle to build and pay $200 for a shorter barrel? I like the idea of a short fighting carbine that I could put a suppressor on in the future. But then I'd really like an SPR as well... Agghhhh

And to compound the issues Justin has been going on at great length about putting together a long range rig in something like .260AI. Source the donor gun from a pawn shop, have a local smith tune it up, rebarrel and the like, whack it in a chassis and top it off with good glass. Damn him :neener:

For the price of the long range gun and glass I could build both an SPR and SBR AR. But there is just something about the allure of long range shooting that seems like it would be so much fun. So I am at a cross roads, neither direction is wrong, just not sure which way to go.:confused:

Or do I buy an AR10...
 
I opted for SBR. I was initially going to build a bull barreled critter getter AR, had even ordered the upper. Well, when I tried to call the company I ordered from to make a small change and got a disconnected number, I cancelled the card immediately. Then I suddenly got the bug for a short critter, so over a weekend, I sourced all the parts and built an AR pistol, then submitted the paperwork a couple weeks later. It took the better part of 8 months to get my stamp, but it was worth it. Shorties are just plain fun, and it's a neat feeling knowing that you are not legally constrained from putting any barrel/upper you want on the thing.

101_1778_zpsc4d258cd.jpg

101_1779_zps36fe7140.jpg
 
You could build a .300 SBR - all the fun of an SBR, with all of the challenge of long range shooting without having to find a range longer than 300yds ;). The best of both worlds :)

I appreciate your dilemma. I had been mulling over the same choices except I already had an SPR type AR, so I was down to an AI or SBR. I went SBR and now I am thinking I should have gone AI just so I wouldn't have to mess with paperwork.
 
my take would be to buy/build what you envision shooting the most. for me, if i lived in co, that would be a long range rig. i have one now, but where i live, it's dang hard to find a range to really stretch it's legs.

also, if you don't have much experience in the long range precision game, see if you can shoot a friend's a few times to see if you actually enjoy it. one of the guys i shoot with sticks to handguns and shotguns mostly because he doesn't seem to have the patience for precision rifle shooting (he just likes to blast away).
 
If budget is an issue, the SPR has everything you need to shoot to 600yds, the ammo is the cheap, and you already have a lot of common accessories that can be used with it.

The SBR has many of the same advantages (AR based) but 600yds will be a ways out.

Any type of precision rig is going to be pricey if done right - and not cheap to learn to shoot well either.

I guess the question is would you benefit enough from the cheap mid-range practice you could get from an SPR to go that way or are you already at a skill level where you might as well skip that step and just jump to the inevitable long range rig now?
 
I can make repeated hits on steel plate all the way out to 425y now with my 20" AR and ACOG so an SPR might be redundant. But like you said, the cost of a proper long range gun, chassis, and glass is prety hefty. I am leaning towards the long range route only because my other bolt actions are all milsurp or my 375H&H.
 
My buddy used my Nikon 3-9x40 P-223 on his SPR and we were hitting a steel plate pretty easily at 600 yards. He has an 18" BCM barrel on his and it's a pretty sweet rifle
 

Attachments

  • 20130612_142426.jpg
    20130612_142426.jpg
    90.6 KB · Views: 22
I would go with the SBR. The wait isn't great, but to echo MachIV, it is a nice feeling to know that you can put any upper you want on the gun. And if you ever decide to put a suppressor on the gun, it is much easier to deal with a short barreled suppressed rifle as opposed to a full length rifle. My SBR with can is the same OAL as a 16" barreled rifle.
 
Last edited:
I'd opt for the SBR, I had a 24 inch tack driver on one of my AR's, would rather have had the SBR instead.

Jim

MachIVshooter, what is the length of that quad rail on the top picture??
 
Wait time is about a year now for a NFA stamp. I have a stamp coming in for an SBR any day. I was going to buy a can, but my ADHD told me I can't wait a year.

If you can wait, SBR. Build it as a pistol so you can shoot it until your stamp comes in.
 
MachIVshooter, what is the length of that quad rail on the top picture??
Click to expand...

13"

It's a BCM 12.5" with a Troy Claymore. I really like the 12.5; Long enough to get respectable velocities, still very handy in tight confines. Thing is a tack driver, too-I haven't worked it much at distance, but it will consistently put 5 pills (or 10, or 20) into one ragged hole at 50 yards with ball ammo. The Nikon P-223 scope isn't exactly a long range target optic, either. Fine for prairie rats at 150 yards, but very heavy cross hairs and low magnification for true precision work.
 
The really nice thing about .300 BLK is you can go with some really short barrel lengths and not sacrifice performance like you would with .223. An 8" .300 isn't running dramatically slower than a 16".
 
I was in the same boat a few months ago. 20" AR, 16" AR, and mil-surp rifles. Was thinking about an SPR but already had a 20" AR. SBR but don't wan't to wait a year. That was when grandpa's rusty barreled, cracked stock, busted barrel nut Savage was willed to me. $250 stock, $300 barrel, and a $200 Redfield Battlefield 3-9x40, and $50 dollar rings. It had a 3 1/2 pound trigger already, it wasn't an accu-trigger but so what. I also bought the barrel nut tool and go-no go guages for $50. Muzzle brake was $100 Total: $950.

Add $250 to $300 for an older Savage. I will surely buy a better scope but for now the Redfield will do. If you could find a Savage for $250 that would put someone at a $1200 total. I could be close if I bought a factory gun but I probably wouldn't have a barrel that was as well made. I will say this, when I get the Savage out I enjoy the challenge of long range shooting compared to shorter range plinking a lot more. It costs less to shoot also because I fire 1/10 of the ammo than I would with my ARs. I would imagine if you sourced all the parts for an SPR build you might be at $1200, so flipping a coin might be in order.
 
keep it at 16 inches and you won't need federal permission to take it out of state if you want to shoot it.200 bucks buys ammo or other parts.plus,if you need cash in a hurry,or emergency,your stuck doing the xfer.another plus,no need for the feds to come to visit if they want to check.
 
Robert,

I love your idea for a Suppressed SBR. Any idea what caliber you'd want it in? Are you allowed to forego the SBR stamp if the OAL meets the requirement with the suppressor?

I say buy 2 lowers and start one build while keeping an eye out for great deals on the other. Build one and take the other at your leisure. Or go another route and buy two 80% lowers. I know this kind of defeats the purpose of avoiding the DROS, but you still have the satisfaction of building it yourself.

Any idea on how you want to build it, or are you going to buy it compete?
 
suppressed SBR is definitely worth the money. very very useful and fun.

long range rig is more of a niche. it's a lot more enjoyable to me though.
 
Do both, put in for a SBR and suppressor and while you wait 8+ months to get the approved forms back build a long range setup.... thats what Im in the middle of FYI. Did an 8" SBR in 300blk with a YHM Phantom QD and am almost done building a 243 from a Savage action. All I need is a stock for the 243 and the forms should be in my mailbox any day now
 
Status
Not open for further replies.

Similar threads

D
  • Locked
AR SBR questions/pics
Replies
7
Views
1K
Javelin
J
R
  • Locked
Best SBR AR-15 BBL Length
2
Replies
32
Views
7K
sappyg
sappyg
C
  • Locked
Question for the AR Experts :)
Replies
21
Views
2K
JustinJ
J
R
  • Locked
Scope for a long range AR?
Replies
9
Views
768
Roadwild17
R
Olympus
  • Locked
Help me work through a 6.5 Grendel AR build.
Replies
11
Views
2K
Leadbutt
Leadbutt
Back
Top