What would be so bad about an AR w/an 11.5" barrel and a 5.5" FH?

[Taurus44]

A few inches of barrel doesn't make that much of an impact on velocity with the .223 round. Here is a great page that hashes it all out. They test from 22" to 10" in one inch increments to see how velocity is affected in a variety of .223 loads.

With their fastest load, a 20" barrel yields 3292fps and 2842fps from an 11" barrel. Losing 450fps for 9" of barrel doesn't seem too bad to me... But I like the shorties myself.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Effectiveness depends on a small bullet travelling at high velocity. Cut back to an 11.5" barrel, you might as well use a .22 Hornet.

That depends on the ammo you are using and what you are trying to get done.

The 75gr TAP for example is extremely effective out of the 11.5" barrel and for closer quarters stuff who cares what terminal ballistics are at 200 yards.

Inside 80-100 yards with the proper ammo you are still very much inside the sweet spot for maximum damage from the round.

At the last carbine class I took with this rifle I was able to maneuver the shoot house quicker than almost everyone simply because of the shorter piece of pipe swinging on the end of the thing.

And from the shooters perspective it isn't that much louder or that much more blast if you use the Noveske FH.

Not even in the same playground as the 22 Hornet.

 

[Art Eatman]

Aw, I gotta exaggerate from time to time. Still, if I want a carbine or rifle, I want all of it. Inside a fun house, might's well use a pistol.

Now, for game-playing, such as shoot-house stuff and competition matches, all well and good. No different from IPSC race guns.

 

[agtman]

Agree with TexasRifleman's comments.

If you accept an SBR's limitations, you can still appreciate its advantages. Diminished effective range is a given, but if you're using the heavier 75gn/77gn OTM loads you're still fine out to 100yds or so, in my view.

My experience working the Live Fire Houses during my last tac rifle course was pretty much as TexasRifleman said. Noveske's KX3 provided significant blast reduction (there and outdoors too), and the SBR's maneuverability and handling in confined spaces is a real advantage.

 

[Bartholomew Roberts]

If it is just the look you like (XM177 retro), they make a flash hider that slips back over the barrel. It gives the same look as the 11.5" barrel and 5.5" flash hider; but you get the 16" of performance.

 

[highorder]

If it is just the look you like (XM177 retro), they make a flash hider that slips back over the barrel. It gives the same look as the 11.5" barrel and 5.5" flash hider; but you get the 16" of performance.

I've seen these advertised, but I haven't seen pics of one of the "slip over" flash hiders installed... anyone have pics?

Also, doe these attach to the standard 1/2-28 thread?

 

[MMcfpd]

Obviously a true SBR would be a better option, but I'm disinclined to pursue that right now.

If it is just the look you like (XM177 retro), they make a flash hider that slips back over the barrel. It gives the same look as the 11.5" barrel and 5.5" flash hider...

That's antithetical to my relationship with my BRD. Thanks for the input. While I can't leave these poor parts unemployed, the non-SBR shortie's waning in my considerations. Looming now is a search for a 14.5" 7.62x39 barrel a little less dear to its maker than Sabre's are.