Any love for 12.5" AR builds?

[CaliGunner]

I started a new mini-Recce type build last week. My goals were keep it simple, keep it light (just the necessities), and with the ability to reach out to 600 yards without much trouble.

- M4E1 Aero Stripped Lower
- Midwest Industries AR-15 5.56 NATO Completed Assembly 12.5" barrel, 11.5" M-LOK MI Handguard
- Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 AR-BDC reticle on Burris PEPR Mount
- Streamlight 88066 ProTac Rail Mounted Light / 1000 Lumen
- HERA Arms HFG Pistol Grip Model A
- Troy padded 2-point rifle sling

 

[toddnjoyce]

Not in 5.56.

 

[CaliGunner]

Not in 5.56.

You run one in 300blk I'm guessing? .308?

 

[BeatTheTunaUp]

Why try to shoot 600yds on a 12.5 barrel? It's only going to fragment for the first 150-200 yards. Wrong concept for the build.

 

[Sam Colt]

300BLK is designed for 9” bbl.

 

[CaliGunner]

Why try to shoot 600yds on a 12.5 barrel? It's only going to fragment for the first 150-200 yards. Wrong concept for the build.

Yeah I've heard that before, and it's probably scientifically correct. But I wouldn't want to take hits past 200 yards from a short AR barrel.

When I was in Nevada last year, me and a friend did a test on a 10.5" AR 5.56 build. We put two pieces of solid wood at 500 yards, each 1 inch thick. Then we put some of those reactive sticker targets on the front piece of wood, and started throwing lead down range.

From 500 yards away, out of a 10.5" inch barrel, we were cleanly penetrating through 2 inches of wood no problem, the bullets were 55 grain and going clean through both pieces of wood. That shows me that 5.56 could easily penetrate someone's body lethally from 500+ yards away even from a short barrel.

 

[toddnjoyce]

You run one in 300blk I'm guessing? .308?

.458S in 10”. 5.56 just wasn’t designed to be an SBR caliber.

 

[BeatTheTunaUp]

Yeah I've heard that before, and it's probably scientifically correct. But I wouldn't want to take hits past 200 yards from a short AR barrel.

When I was in Nevada last year, me and a friend did a test on a 10.5" AR 5.56 build. We put two pieces of solid wood at 500 yards, each 1 inch thick. Then we put some of those reactive sticker targets on the front piece of wood, and started throwing lead down range.

From 500 yards away, out of a 10.5" inch barrel, we were cleanly penetrating through 2 inches of wood no problem, the bullets were 55 grain and going clean through both pieces of wood. That shows me that 5.56 could easily penetrate someone's body lethally from 500+ yards away even from a short barrel.

It's not the penetration that's in question. Your basically shooting a 22lr at those distances. 5.56 has to fragment to do what it's supposed to do. I hate the argument I wouldn't want to be hit by it. Of course not, but I also don't want to take a round of 22lr either. Doesn't make it an effective round at that distance.

 

[brashears9567]

I built a 10.5 inch 556 AR pistol. It's just a range gun. Never shot groups with it. It has a blast can. If I want to shoot groups, I'll grab a 16 or 18 in. It's just a fun gun.


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[CaliGunner]

I built a 10.5 inch 556 AR pistol. It's just a range gun. Never shot groups with it. It has a blast can. If I want to shoot groups, I'll grab a 16 or 18 in. It's just a fun gun.


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Yeah I've got the whole gamut.

7.5", 10.5", 12.5", 16" and 20".


I guess I could build a 14.5" and an 18" and collect the whole set.

 

[EZ-E]

I recently finished a 12.5" build. Its similar to the OPs build. Aero upper & lower, BA barrel, Tailhook brace, 1x6 strike eagle. It shoots pretty good out to 100.... I haven't stretched it out further yet. I really dont plan to shoot it farther than 300 or so.

50 yards

100 yards

 

[lightflyer1]

I built a 10.5 inch 556 AR pistol. It's just a range gun. Never shot groups with it. It has a blast can. If I want to shoot groups, I'll grab a 16 or 18 in. It's just a fun gun.


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I have a similar setup, including the blast can. Man does it have a blast!

That flashlight over the flash suppressor might not last long.

 

[brashears9567]

I only have one AR pistol. All of my other ARs are 16 inch, except for one that is an 18. Like I said, shorter bbl is fun but I don't think I'll do another. The only reason I would is to build another true left hander with the Stag upper and bcg and it'd probably be an 11.5.


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[CaliGunner]

I recently finished a 12.5" build. Its similar to the OPs build. Aero upper & lower, BA barrel, Tailhook brace, 1x6 strike eagle. It shoots pretty good out to 100.... I haven't stretched it out further yet. I really dont plan to shoot it farther than 300 or so.

View attachment 344091

50 yards

View attachment 344092

100 yards

View attachment 344095

Nice.
I'm going to take mine out to 300 yards in the next week or so, I'll let you know how it goes.

 

[baboon]

Top picture was the way I bought my M16A2 left the factory in 1986 as a commando. My updated interpitation of a modern commando, after I first got it.

This was just to heavy with to much shit to get caught on. Now the DBAL & SureFire vampire scout light are gone in favor of a SureFire XVL2 IRC WEAPONLIGHT. Those monolithic upper add a lot of weight.

 

[CaliGunner]

View attachment 344093 View attachment 344094
Top picture was the way I bought my M16A2 left the factory in 1986 as a commando. My updated interpitation of a modern commando, after I first got it. View attachment 344096
This was just to heavy with to much shit to get caught on. Now the DBAL & SureFire vampire scout light are gone in favor of a SureFire XVL2 IRC WEAPONLIGHT. Those monolithic upper add a lot of weight.

Damn, some nice hardware there!

 

[EZ-E]

Nice.
I'm going to take mine out to 300 yards in the next week or so, I'll let you know how it goes.

I can shoot to 250 at my place. I'll probably try it Sunday.
I can't wait to break this out of jail to add to it.

 

[Sam7sf]

First of all, nice gun.

Secondly, as others have said I think you're not being realist to the use of that build. Just my grumpy middle aged guy opinion. Light weight and can reach out to 400-450 yards...A plain AR-15 with a red dot. A short barrel ar is good for cqb out to 300 yards...If it's a good shooter you can have body hits at 300 yards no problem. It's just your thoughts that this thing will do anything at 600 yards is not real. Wrong weapon. Many cartridges drop like a rock at 500 yards. They do different things past 500 hundred, but none magnums right at 500 don't do well at all and all drop bad. 400-450 doesn't drop that bad. 100-300 will be no problem. Speaking from seeing not reading.

 

[CaliGunner]

First of all, nice gun.

Secondly, as others have said I think you're not being realist to the use of that build. Just my grumpy middle aged guy opinion. Light weight and can reach out to 400-450 yards...A plain AR-15 with a red dot. A short barrel ar is good for cqb out to 300 yards...If it's a good shooter you can have body hits at 300 yards no problem. It's just your thoughts that this thing will do anything at 600 yards is not real. Wrong weapon. Many cartridges drop like a rock at 500 yards. They do different things past 500 hundred, but none magnums right at 500 don't do well at all and all drop bad. 400-450 doesn't drop that bad. 100-300 will be no problem. Speaking from seeing not reading.

Sam the man. What's going on my friend? How's the truck, and the grip zone treating you?

Here's the deal, I have hit a a 24 inch steel plate at 500 yards 7 out of 10 times with a 10.5" barrel using a 3x magnifier and red dot setup.

I'd have ZERO problem hitting the same plate at 600 yards with a 12.5" criterion barrel and 1x-6x LPVO (given normal wind conditions). No doubt in my mind.

I'm not bragging that I'm some crack shot sniper, but I do consider myself a good competent shooter who knows the effects of wind, ballistics, I've read all of the Bryan Litz books, and have attended multiple carbine and marksmen courses, most of the time utilizing the AR platform which is my favorite rifle platform by far. I believe I'm an above average shooter (again, not bragging, but just based on my own personal results).

I have a friend who I've attended these courses with and he has a Noveske Infidel 5.56 NATO build (12.5" barrel), and has recorded shots of him hitting at 750 yards, and 800+ using that gun. They are on his Youtube channel, let me know if you want to see them, and I'll DM you.

I think you'd be surprised at how far 5.56 can reach out in the hands of a capable shooter.

 

[Darkpriest667]

I started a new mini-Recce type build last week. My goals were keep it simple, keep it light (just the necessities), and with the ability to reach out to 600 yards without much trouble.

- M4E1 Aero Stripped Lower
- Midwest Industries AR-15 5.56 NATO Completed Assembly 12.5" barrel, 11.5" M-LOK MI Handguard
- Vortex Strike Eagle 1-6x24 AR-BDC reticle on Burris PEPR Mount
- Streamlight 88066 ProTac Rail Mounted Light / 1000 Lumen
- HERA Arms HFG Pistol Grip Model A
- Troy padded 2-point rifle sling

View attachment 344078

You're new to texas and playing with all the toys. God love you for it. I like it.. I have a 5.56 pistol in my trunk as a car gun. Not planning on shooting more than 100 yards (if that) ever, but I get it. Cool dude. Looks cool bet its fun~!

Also not this weekend or next but sometime soon you need to come shooting with me and some of hte other centex folks.