time for a new AR build

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taliv

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before i ask my question... a few pics of past and current ARs that I have built, significantly modified, or if factory, are at least not something you'd find in your local gunshop, intended to be generally representative of what I've shot this millennium

General purpose...
current go-to carbine (SBR+suppressed)
sbr1.jpg
older go-to carbine (w/happy switch)
fa3.jpg
first go-to carbine (after particularly muddy match)
blackgun2.JPG
magpul noveske special edition (too nice to shoot much lol)
PICT0307.JPG
misc builds when i got a little too carried away with duracoat
green and brown.JPG

Precision...
semi-precision / 3gun
greenar2.JPG
SR25 (suppressed) 308
sr25field1.JPG
mk11mod0 (suppressed) 308
mk11mod0casesmall.JPG
got a little too excited about atacs camo dip
aratacs8.jpg

Lightweight and compact...
all metal 5lb
index.php


all carbon fiber
blue1.jpg
backpack gun (suppressed), fits in ammo can (300blk)
index.php



so, on to my question...
I'm trying to decide what my next go-to carbine will be. i want it to be much lighter weight than my current, and capable of longer shots, and I want to be able to drive across state lines without a permission slip

I like my backpack gun a lot, but the dolos just isn't durable enough to train or practice with

am I crazy to think a pistol build with a 12" match barrel might work? anyone done anything like that?
i mean, a short match barrel with a shockwave blade and a nightforce low power variable, sounds like the dumbest thing ever, but i'm so tempted to try it. maybe a bcm kmr handrail for IR laser
 
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taliv said:
...am I crazy to think a pistol build with a 12" match barrel might work? anyone done anything like that?
i mean, a short match barrel with a shockwave blade and a nightforce low power variable, sounds like the dumbest thing ever, but i'm so tempted to try it. maybe a bcm kmr handrail for IR laser
Click to expand...
No, you're not crazy. No, it's not the dumbest thing ever. I'm currently playing with a suppressed 11.5" pistol with a Leupold 1.25-4x and it shoots great all the way out to 300 yards or more. The scope is easier to use than an RDS or irons, especially with my aging eyes.

One change I'd make to your recipe is to use the SBA3 with the Split Fix or the Tailhook Mod 2. Both are more comfortable to use than the Blade. My favorite is the SBA3 because it's comfortable, uses any carbine or A5 RE assembly and is adjustable. The SBA3 comes with a carbine RE. The Split Fix stiffens the "wings" to keep them from folding or slipping over each other without modifying the brace, increasing stability. When you want to use the SBA3 as an arm brace, simply "un-Velcro" the split Fix, and slip your arm in.

The Tailhook Mod 2 is made of rigid reinforced polymer. It uses a proprietary carbine length RE and is adjustable for length. It's very stable and looks to be durable.

I've put a lot of rounds downrange using the SBA3 and it works great. It's by far my favorite SB arm brace. By a lot, I mean several range sessions where I put 2-3 hundred rounds through it each time, sometimes more. It holds up well. If you have to pogo a stuck round out of the chamber, remove the brace before doing so. I lost a cover plate awhile back when I had to pogo a stuck case. Fortunately, it's the only time I've had to pogo one of my ARs in the last few years. O its own, the SBA3 works as well as any other version of the SB arm braces. With the Split Fix, it works even better and is a "must have" for the owner of an SBA3. The upside of the SBA3 compared to the Blade is comfort, convenience and adjustability. Downside is cost. The SBA3 costs more than a Blade and in addition, it really needs the Split Fix.

I have not had the chance to actually use a Tailhook Mod2 but I've looked at one up close. I plan to get one when I can afford it. Upside is it's rigid, adjustable and looks durable enough for serious use. It's more comfortable to use than a Blade. Downside is cost and it uses a proprietary RE. I don't know if the Tailhook can be removed from its RE but if it could, it can't be used with any other type of RE. The Tailhook is the most expensive of the three, even after adding the cost of the Split Fix to the price of the SBA3.

The only advantage the Shockwave Blade has is cost. It's not readily adjustable and for me, it's uncomfortable and only gets worse with each shot.

Your idea of building a shorty with an LPV is a good one. If you don't plan to suppress it, use a BRT Covert Comp. I shot an 11.5" 5.56 with one and it works well. It reduces flash better than an A2, helps some with muzzle rise and does a great job of sending concussion down range.

Build it. It will prove to be versatile and you'll enjoy shooting it.
 
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thanks! i'll look those up. haven't heard of the tailhook or split fix. the advantage of the blade for me was size. i like it out of the way and easy to pack and it doesn't have a lot of crap hanging off of it so it isn't as likely to get hung up on stuff on the inside of a pack
 
taliv said:
...the advantage of the blade for me was size. i like it out of the way and easy to pack and it doesn't have a lot of crap hanging off of it so it isn't as likely to get hung up on stuff on the inside of a pack
Click to expand...
I hadn't considered that. The SBA3 and Tailhook Mod 2 are both thicker than the Blade, but no thicker than most AR stocks.

SBA3 with Split Fix. The SBA3 has QD cups so a sling can be mounted. I use a Blue Force padded sling
View attachment 834102

My Colt pistol is one of my favorites to shoot. One of its duties is house defense. A5 RE, A5H2 buffer, Sprinco green spring and shaved FSB with BRT .063" micro port. Upper is from a Colt 6933. I don't have handy a photo of the upper with the Leupold. I'll try to get one uploaded later
View attachment 834103
 
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taliv said:
...a few pics of past and current ARs.
Click to expand...

Nice! I believe I feel some envy right now.:D
Very nice rifles.

taliv said:
...Am I crazy to think a pistol build with a 12" match barrel might work?
Click to expand...

I have a Blade on an eleven inch Blackout that sports a match B.A. barrel. It doesn't usually wear a scope but, with a twelve power, turned in a few nice five touching groups at one hundred. Rings at two hundred consistantly as well. (Not a great long ways, but farther than I thought I could do with it.)
I have it for inside the house, but it seems to do fine outdoors too.

I believe in nice match barrels, no matter the length. If that is what you mean.


The Backpack Pistol is awesome. :thumbup:
 
I have a 10.5” 5.56 and a 10.5” 6.8, as well as a 12” 5.56 which were built with the intention of hunting. Minimized package to be able to hunt double stamped as an SBR, then pull the stock and can to cross state lines without a hall pass, and still be productive.

But saying I share the same idea isn’t really the same thing as saying it’s not crazy.
 
An SBR lower must have a travel pass to leave the state if a short upper is installed, regardless if it has a buttstock or not. The only way it can leave the state without travel papers is if it's configured as a non NFA rifle. (I'm unsure about transporting the lower without any upper, but I assume it would be ok.) This is where the "Once a rifle, always a rifle" rule does apply apply.
 
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taliv said:
. . . a few pics of past and current ARs. . .
Click to expand...
Well then, since you've got the outrageously dressed ARs out of your system. . .

What I did was build 2 good-quality AR pistols for about $500 each. They are the sort of thing you would hand to someone, with a half-dozen mags and 500 rounds, who needed to be armed now and wasn't. For what they cost I won't mind if that comes; and they're light, short, and kinda giggly fun when you see the 4' fireball.

ETA: and they stow in a pink polka dot diaper bag for easy transport!
 
I'm also building a pistol lower to accompany a short-barreled upper and can when I don't want to take out a travel pass for my SBR'd lower.

My objective for that short upper (whichever lower it's on) is primarily for quick, close-in work (50 yards or less off-hand); I haven't put a match barrel in it and it wears an RDS.

I love how quickly it swings and handles, but I'd have to do a lot of work to make it 200 or 300 yard accurate in my hands.

Taliv, what accuracy would you want to see at, say, 300 yards? MistWolf, what groups have you gotten at 300?

Maybe I've undersold the whole concept of the shorty upper.
 
I use Federal XM193 because it's affordable and get 2 - 2.5 MOA, depending on which upper I shoot it out of. Two uppers are 11.5 suppressed, two are pinned 14.5 unsuppressed.

My first shorty upper had a 10.5 barrel and using a 4moa RDS and various brands of quality ammo, it would shoot .75 - 1.75 MOA at 200 yards.

The range I shoot at the most is marked out to 300 yards. Longer shots can be safely taken, but nothing is marked beyond 300. At the 300 yard berm, the shorties will bust torso sized rocks with no trouble as long as I'm doing my part.
 
It’s always time for another AR build. :cool:
Even if you’ve already built a few.
936555EF-E930-4D66-8796-C959BB87C749.jpeg

This is my current 5.56 pistol.
BD0084EC-BC78-4627-8F9C-E5C8C304CE6E.jpeg

Last week a friend gave me a binary trigger.
I had an extra lower and a SB3 Tactical pistol brace in my shop so I built a new lower.
I’m using my other pistol upper to try out the lower. I have an upper with a 10” barrel that I’ll put on it.
C6FB10F0-E9BF-4EE8-8A72-04B8085CBE64.jpeg

The good thing is, after you build it and you don’t like it, you can rebuild it.
 
MistWolf said:
An SBR lower must have a travel pass to leave the state if a short upper is installed, regardless if it has a buttstock or not. The only way it can leave the state without travel papers is if it's configured as a non NFA rifle. (I'm unsure about transporting the lower without any upper, but I assume it would be ok.) This is where the "Once a rifle, always a rifle" rule does apply apply.
Click to expand...

My guidance from ATF has been if it starts as a pistol, becomes an SBR, it can always go back to a pistol, just as any pistol which starts as a pistol can go back as a pistol.

I sent the clarification request about a custom 700 several years ago, started as a pistol, went SBR for kicks, and eventually thought to be a Title 1 rifle too. Same applies for AR’s, naturally.

Naturally, if it started as a rifle before being an SBR, it couldn’t ever be a pistol.
 
Naturally lol



Gunny I like several of those builds. Nice collection
 
I did yes. Mines using the “magnesium aluminum alloy” upper lower and handguard with a pencil barrel
I’m a fan of the smaller diameter forearms
 
Varminterror said:
My guidance from ATF has been if it starts as a pistol, becomes an SBR, it can always go back to a pistol, just as any pistol which starts as a pistol can go back as a pistol.

I sent the clarification request about a custom 700 several years ago, started as a pistol, went SBR for kicks, and eventually thought to be a Title 1 rifle too. Same applies for AR’s, naturally.

Naturally, if it started as a rifle before being an SBR, it couldn’t ever be a pistol.
Click to expand...
Well, there ya go! :)
 
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