SBR Advantages?

tacstar · May 5, 2017, 09:33 PM

What are the advantages of a SBR? I've noticed the growing popularity of 14.5" rifles,several manufacturers are now starting to offer them. Is there a benifit to having a 14.5" rifle over a 16" or 20" rifle?

Mobuck · May 5, 2017, 09:46 PM

The 14.5" barrel can end up being a legal 16+" length with a "pinned and welded" muzzle device. Choosing the right QD suppressor mount can allow you to have the shortest legal (no fee) suppressed rifle platform.
Otherwise, a SBR is mostly an expensive range toy-too loud to shoot w/o effective ear protection(maybe doubled up at that) and too much velocity loss to be effective at longer ranges.
I own a pair of AR "pistols" simply because they fit a niche in my state's deer hunting regs giving me an extended season. That's the only time I take either of them out.

Bartholomew Roberts · May 5, 2017, 10:17 PM

Are you curious about the advantages of an SBR (any barrel less than 16") over a 16" rifle? Or the advantages of a 14.5" rifle vs. a 16" rifle? If the latter, then it it about an inch and a half shorter and 80 fps or so slower - plus the muzzle device is welded on or you've paid $200 for a tax stamp and are getting no significant use from it.

ttarp · May 5, 2017, 10:27 PM

The advantage of an SBR is better balance and lighter weight, disadvantages are loss of FPS and increased noise. You have to weigh the options to see if its worth the exchange. Of course the 16" vs 14.5" is hardly worth the $200 stamp, wait time, and paperwork no matter your reasoning.

raimius · May 6, 2017, 01:11 AM

It's shorter and generally lighter.

They are more conveniently sized, especially if you plan on hanging a suppressor off the end of it. A 9in barrel .300blk AR platform with a large can is roughly the same length as a normal 16in AR-15. I can throw the can on my 20in .308 bolt gun, but then the thing is nearly 4ft long and very front heavy!

Pistol caliber carbines work well as SBRs, as the cartridge is designed for shorter barrels. (Same with .300blk) In a .223 AR, you lose a lot of velocity below the 10 to 11-ish inch mark. If you are punching holes in paper, this matters less than for hunting or defensive use.

HistoryJunky · May 6, 2017, 10:17 AM

I'm having this same debate as to whether to build my AR receiver as a pistol with "brace" and a 10.5 barrel or a standard 16" carbine.

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highpower3006 · May 6, 2017, 10:52 AM

I can more or less answer your question as I have both a 14.5" barreled AR and a SBR with a 10.5" barrel.

It makes almost zero sense to pay for the tax stamp just to loose a inch and a half of barrel length. On my M4gery with the 14.5" barrel I just pinned and welded a suppressor adapter to bring my barrel to just over the legal length. You could also do the same with any muzzle device that brings it up to legal length. I like the heck out of that rifle and I especially like it with the can on it even though it is as long a 20" rifle when the suppressor is attached.

The 10'5" AR SBR has quickly become my favorite rifle. I love how handy it is with the short barrel and even with the can, it is about the same length as my 14.5" AR. It has about the same noise level as my longer rifles with the same suppressor.

I guess I am kind of a slave to fashion as I think a AR with a carbine length gas system and a 16" barrel + muzzle device looks goofy whereas the shorter barrels just look "right". I also think that an AR without any sort of flash hider/brake also looks kind of stupid.

I couldn't possibility care any less about the small loss of velocity with shorter barrels, and on my guns at least, I see no appreciable loss of accuracy.

I know that there are going to be those that will say that the cost of the tax stamp is too much, or that you should be trying to eek out the last possible bit of speed of the cartridge, but lets be real here, most of us shoot for recreation and for fun. If it costs me a few extra bucks to have and shoot what I want to shoot, it is worth every penny I spent to me to exercise that option.

YMMV.

T. O'Heir · May 6, 2017, 12:33 PM

Mostly they let you pretend to be a combat "operator" helping to defeat the rampages of assorted varmints. Usually because they've been prominently displayed on TV and in movies. And nearly everybody wants stuff the military uses.
In some cases, it's because the particular State you live in says you can have it.
"...several manufacturers are..." Responding to a demand.

benEzra · May 6, 2017, 02:57 PM

Keep in mind that there are also also a number of very good carbines with 16" barrels that are less than 28" OAL; the Tavor, AUG, and Kel-Tec RDB come to mind. They are not cheap, though.

A 16" Tavor has replaced my 16" AR as my home long gun of choice, since the Tavor is so much handier due to the rearward balance and shorter overall length.

AK103K · May 6, 2017, 05:07 PM

I have 10.5", 16", and 20" AR's in various configurations. The 16" guns have always been my favorites, but since I put together a couple of the 10.5" guns, I find the others have been getting left in the safe a lot more.

Those little "pistols" with a brace, are handy as hell and very easy to like, and they shoot very well too.

Whats really silly here is the whole SBR/Pistol - Brace/Stock thing, especially with the latest round of vague ATF rulings. If you can shoulder a brace, of any kind, or even just the tube, why cant you put a stock on it? They are the same only different, yet one is "OK" while the other is "bad".

And you wonder why this country is in the state it is!

HistoryJunky · May 6, 2017, 11:43 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by AK103K

I have 10.5", 16", and 20" AR's in various configurations. The 16" guns have always been my favorites, but since I put together a couple of the 10.5" guns, I find the others have been getting left in the safe a lot more.

Those little "pistols" with a brace, are handy as hell and very easy to like, and they shoot very well too.

Whats really silly here is the whole SBR/Pistol - Brace/Stock thing, especially with the latest round of vague ATF rulings. If you can shoulder a brace, of any kind, or even just the tube, why cant you put a stock on it? They are the same only different, yet one is "OK" while the other is "bad".

And you wonder why this country is in the state it is!

That ruling is pretty much what prompted my thoughts. Of course I've always wanted an AK "pistol" too, but I don't think the wife would enjoy that. Maybe for the next one.

I was left pretty puzzled by why they wouldn't just make SBRs legal across the board too.

As of right now though, the brace is the only way to go since I live in IL.

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snolden · May 7, 2017, 04:39 PM

Once you get down to <11" barrel it becomes very convenient as you can easily fit it in a backpack. This is nice cause then you don't have to walk around with a slung rifle or a rifle case as you are walking to the range. It also allows MUCH easier transport on a quad when calling predators.

Just more convenient all around. Course you have to choose the right caliber. As mentioned above .223 don't do so well out of a 7"-10" barrel.

AK103K · May 7, 2017, 05:00 PM

It doesnt do to bad out of a 10" barrel. Ive shot a couple of bunnies at about 50 yards, and the "popped" just like they do when I shoot them with my 16" guns.

Not saying it would hold at long distances, but I would think, 100-150-200 yards wouldnt be a problem.

AK103K · May 7, 2017, 06:43 PM

Oh, one other thing..... theyre great for tennis!

ttarp · May 8, 2017, 09:05 AM

Ha ha, use the same case for my tennis racquet I.e. U.S. made MP5.

agtman · May 8, 2017, 07:27 PM

Suppressed 10.5" .300BLK - SDN-6 can.

Why not?

It's awesomely dudenal cool.

May 5, 2017, 09:33 PM	#1
tacstar Member Join Date: December 21, 2005 Posts: 20	SBR Advantages? What are the advantages of a SBR? I've noticed the growing popularity of 14.5" rifles,several manufacturers are now starting to offer them. Is there a benifit to having a 14.5" rifle over a 16" or 20" rifle?

May 6, 2017, 12:33 PM	#8
T. O'Heir Senior Member Join Date: February 13, 2002 Location: Canada Posts: 12,453	Mostly they let you pretend to be a combat "operator" helping to defeat the rampages of assorted varmints. Usually because they've been prominently displayed on TV and in movies. And nearly everybody wants stuff the military uses. In some cases, it's because the particular State you live in says you can have it. "...several manufacturers are..." Responding to a demand. __________________ Spelling and grammar count!

May 5, 2017, 09:46 PM	#2
Mobuck Junior member Join Date: February 2, 2010 Posts: 6,846	The 14.5" barrel can end up being a legal 16+" length with a "pinned and welded" muzzle device. Choosing the right QD suppressor mount can allow you to have the shortest legal (no fee) suppressed rifle platform. Otherwise, a SBR is mostly an expensive range toy-too loud to shoot w/o effective ear protection(maybe doubled up at that) and too much velocity loss to be effective at longer ranges. I own a pair of AR "pistols" simply because they fit a niche in my state's deer hunting regs giving me an extended season. That's the only time I take either of them out.

May 5, 2017, 10:17 PM	#3
Bartholomew Roberts member Join Date: June 12, 2000 Location: Texas and Oklahoma area Posts: 8,462	Are you curious about the advantages of an SBR (any barrel less than 16") over a 16" rifle? Or the advantages of a 14.5" rifle vs. a 16" rifle? If the latter, then it it about an inch and a half shorter and 80 fps or so slower - plus the muzzle device is welded on or you've paid $200 for a tax stamp and are getting no significant use from it.

May 5, 2017, 10:27 PM	#4
ttarp Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2013 Posts: 888	The advantage of an SBR is better balance and lighter weight, disadvantages are loss of FPS and increased noise. You have to weigh the options to see if its worth the exchange. Of course the 16" vs 14.5" is hardly worth the $200 stamp, wait time, and paperwork no matter your reasoning.

May 6, 2017, 01:11 AM	#5
raimius Senior Member Join Date: January 27, 2008 Posts: 2,199	It's shorter and generally lighter. They are more conveniently sized, especially if you plan on hanging a suppressor off the end of it. A 9in barrel .300blk AR platform with a large can is roughly the same length as a normal 16in AR-15. I can throw the can on my 20in .308 bolt gun, but then the thing is nearly 4ft long and very front heavy! Pistol caliber carbines work well as SBRs, as the cartridge is designed for shorter barrels. (Same with .300blk) In a .223 AR, you lose a lot of velocity below the 10 to 11-ish inch mark. If you are punching holes in paper, this matters less than for hunting or defensive use.

May 6, 2017, 10:17 AM	#6
HistoryJunky Senior Member Join Date: April 7, 2010 Location: Freeport, IL Posts: 833	I'm having this same debate as to whether to build my AR receiver as a pistol with "brace" and a 10.5 barrel or a standard 16" carbine. Sent from my SM-G930R4 using Tapatalk

May 6, 2017, 10:52 AM	#7
highpower3006 Senior Member Join Date: July 30, 2011 Location: Savannah TN Posts: 1,220	I can more or less answer your question as I have both a 14.5" barreled AR and a SBR with a 10.5" barrel. It makes almost zero sense to pay for the tax stamp just to loose a inch and a half of barrel length. On my M4gery with the 14.5" barrel I just pinned and welded a suppressor adapter to bring my barrel to just over the legal length. You could also do the same with any muzzle device that brings it up to legal length. I like the heck out of that rifle and I especially like it with the can on it even though it is as long a 20" rifle when the suppressor is attached. The 10'5" AR SBR has quickly become my favorite rifle. I love how handy it is with the short barrel and even with the can, it is about the same length as my 14.5" AR. It has about the same noise level as my longer rifles with the same suppressor. I guess I am kind of a slave to fashion as I think a AR with a carbine length gas system and a 16" barrel + muzzle device looks goofy whereas the shorter barrels just look "right". I also think that an AR without any sort of flash hider/brake also looks kind of stupid. I couldn't possibility care any less about the small loss of velocity with shorter barrels, and on my guns at least, I see no appreciable loss of accuracy. I know that there are going to be those that will say that the cost of the tax stamp is too much, or that you should be trying to eek out the last possible bit of speed of the cartridge, but lets be real here, most of us shoot for recreation and for fun. If it costs me a few extra bucks to have and shoot what I want to shoot, it is worth every penny I spent to me to exercise that option. YMMV.

May 6, 2017, 02:57 PM	#9
benEzra Senior Member Join Date: December 24, 2001 Location: Down East in NC Posts: 220	Keep in mind that there are also also a number of very good carbines with 16" barrels that are less than 28" OAL; the Tavor, AUG, and Kel-Tec RDB come to mind. They are not cheap, though. A 16" Tavor has replaced my 16" AR as my home long gun of choice, since the Tavor is so much handier due to the rearward balance and shorter overall length.

May 6, 2017, 05:07 PM	#10
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	I have 10.5", 16", and 20" AR's in various configurations. The 16" guns have always been my favorites, but since I put together a couple of the 10.5" guns, I find the others have been getting left in the safe a lot more. Those little "pistols" with a brace, are handy as hell and very easy to like, and they shoot very well too. Whats really silly here is the whole SBR/Pistol - Brace/Stock thing, especially with the latest round of vague ATF rulings. If you can shoulder a brace, of any kind, or even just the tube, why cant you put a stock on it? They are the same only different, yet one is "OK" while the other is "bad". And you wonder why this country is in the state it is!

May 7, 2017, 04:39 PM	#12
snolden Senior Member Join Date: January 25, 2006 Location: N. E. AZ Posts: 387	Once you get down to <11" barrel it becomes very convenient as you can easily fit it in a backpack. This is nice cause then you don't have to walk around with a slung rifle or a rifle case as you are walking to the range. It also allows MUCH easier transport on a quad when calling predators. Just more convenient all around. Course you have to choose the right caliber. As mentioned above .223 don't do so well out of a 7"-10" barrel.

May 7, 2017, 05:00 PM	#13
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	It doesnt do to bad out of a 10" barrel. Ive shot a couple of bunnies at about 50 yards, and the "popped" just like they do when I shoot them with my 16" guns. Not saying it would hold at long distances, but I would think, 100-150-200 yards wouldnt be a problem.

May 7, 2017, 06:43 PM	#14
AK103K Senior Member Join Date: May 1, 2001 Posts: 10,223	Oh, one other thing..... theyre great for tennis!

May 8, 2017, 09:05 AM	#15
ttarp Senior Member Join Date: January 4, 2013 Posts: 888	Ha ha, use the same case for my tennis racquet I.e. U.S. made MP5.

May 8, 2017, 07:27 PM	#16
agtman Junior member Join Date: July 26, 2001 Location: midwest Posts: 2,374	Suppressed 10.5" .300BLK - SDN-6 can. Why not? It's awesomely dudenal cool.