Which would be more effective as an SBR or pistol?

[DMK]

I've always wanted a rifle caliber SBR, but didn't want to go for the whole NFA legal hassle. Lately I've been looking at pistol builds of AKs and ARs. Apparently the death of the '94 AWB had made it easier to build one. I love the idea of a stockless Kinkov, and an AR pistol would be super easy to build.

This would pretty much be dedicated to range toy use, but still the question does entice. Which would be more effective from a 10"-12" barrel out to maybe 75 yards, 5.56x45 or 7.62x39? Both seem to be used seriously in short barrels by military and police of various countries. Would either be any better than 9mm out of the same barrel length?

 

[Deer Hunter]

Even if the velocity is deminished via the shorter barrel length, the bullet will still have more energy than the 9mm round.

I would think those shorty ARs and AKs would be a great home defense weapon.

 

[PAC 762]

7.62 has more mass, so i'd think it would be the better round.

I love my AK pistol and my buddy is just finishng his pistol build right now.

 

[Hkmp5sd]

I'd go with the AR due to all of the toys you can hang off it and the ease you can aquire and swap uppers. Some day you can register it as a SBR and add a collapsible or folding stock and/or vertical foregrip. Maybe even a nice sound suppressor...

 

[TexasRifleman]

SBR is worth the $200. You likely won't run into another at the range

As for effectiveness, inside of 50 yards or so XM193 is fine. Beyond that you have to start looking into specialty loads, I like the Hornady 75gr BTHP "TAP". This in 5.56 of course.

I considered 9mm for my shorty AR but it is nice to have some range if I need it.

I make 100 yard shots regularly with this shorty at 2-3MOA even with the Eotech. I don't think 9mm would be that accurate at distance, and even if it was you'd have no energy left.

7.62x39 seems like it would overpenetrate to the extreme, but that's only second hand information, based on things I've read. I have not played with that round out of anything this short.

 

[DMK]

Good points TexasSIGman. Up close you'd probably want to take advantage of the fragmentation effects of 5.56. After playing with the numbers, it looks like that would be possible out to maybe 75-90 yards with some 75gr OTM and an 11.5" barrel.

 

[TexasRifleman]

Good points TexasSIGman. Up close you'd probably want to take advantage of the fragmentation effects of 5.56. After playing with the numbers, it looks like that would be possible out to maybe 75-90 yards with some 75gr OTM and an 11.5" barrel.

More than you wanted to know, but there's plenty on the 5.56 here, including a discussion on short barrels. You have likely seen this already, but I post the link for anyone that's curious.

http://ammo-oracle.com/

 

[albanian]

I have a 10 1/4" AR-14 pistol and while it is fun, it is also just a toy. Without the stock, it is reduced to the role of hip shooter since it is too large and heavy to use as a real pistol. I wouldn't use it as a HD gun because reliability can be an issue and I would think it would overpenetrate. I use a Beretta 92fs 9mm as my HD gun and I am happy with it. It has a factory 20rd mag, nite sights, hogues and trigger job. I load it with Speed Gold Dots 124gr and I am happy with what it can do.

 

[MartinS]

Toys? We're talkin' close in zombie defense and general vampire hunting, right? This is a serious and deadly business.
Get your short barrel gas system issues sorted out. These things have to function, at close quarters there is no time for Imediate Action drills.
7.62x39 Ulyanovsk HP's will frag from a 16 inch tube, don't know what they do from pistol length. Wolf and Golden Tiger M43 FMJBT's should tumble even at reduced velocities. Test everything before darkness falls.

 

[DMK]

Without the stock, it is reduced to the role of hip shooter since it is too large and heavy to use as a real pistol.

Interesting that you say that because it was shooting my AK with the stock folded that got me thinking about an AK or AR pistol. Now granted, the SAR1's 16" barrel probably weighted it down and kept barrel flip controllable, but I found that I could hold it out at arms length and shoot it like a big handgun. My nephew and I were having a ball punching out the 9 and ten ring of an SR1 at 25 yards. I'd imagine with some practice (and some frequent quality time with the curl bar) I could do much better with it. An AR with it's lighter recoil should be even easier.

 

[Otherguy Overby]

Toys? We're talkin' close in zombie defense and general vampire hunting, right? This is a serious and deadly business.
Get your short barrel gas system issues sorted out. These things have to function, at close quarters there is no time for Imediate Action drills.
7.62x39 Ulyanovsk HP's will frag from a 16 inch tube, don't know what they do from pistol length. Wolf and Golden Tiger M43 FMJBT's should tumble even at reduced velocities. Test everything before darkness falls.

It occurs to me an SBR chambered for .223 brass necked up to 9mm might just be great. How does 9X45 sound? Kinda like a small .444 Marlin or something... Whaddya think?

 

[444]

I have an AR15 SBR with a 7.5" barrel, and an AR15 SBR with a 10.5" barrel, and an AR15 SBR in 9mm with an 11.5" barrel. I have a lower put together as a pistol for the 5.56s if I am in a pistol mood.
But for home defense, I would prefer my SBS with a 14" barrel (Vang Comped).