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Posted: 12/15/2016 7:31:23 PM EDT
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Okay, so on my quest to get this pistol build going I have run into a problem. I can't decide on what barrel length. I keep looking at the 7-7.5 to 8-8.5 barrels. Is there that much of a difference in the overall feel of the rifle with these barrels? I know it is an inch to an inch and a half. I want something that is small but not to small. I'm thinking that 8-8.5 is maybe the right fit for me. But something in the back of my head is telling me to go with the 7-7.5 inch barrel.
I am looking at the PSA keymod uppers. Does the keymod upper in both lengths offer enough hand grip? I want to add a grip stop to it. I am so new to pistols that I am trying to learn all that I can before I buy. The deals that I am seeing right now are starting to make me want to jump. I will be going with a KAK shockwave brace and tube kit. I think that is probably my best way to go right out of the box. So with all that being said, will I really notice that much of a difference in the different lengths I have listed above? Thanks everyone. |
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What caliber? Those are good 300blk or 9mm lengths. I'd never want to shoot (or be near someone who is) those lengths in 5.56 without a suppressor. I'm going to be doing a 223/5.56 build. 9mm is tempting but maybe another time. I know the fireball is going to be crazy with either length. I might buy a suppressor down the road. The only time I ever shoot my rifles are when I am in WVA and on family land. Our range here was until most recently not a rifle range. It is now. I'm just worried I might get something to small and not get a good grip on the fore end. |
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Are there any suppressors out there rated for 5.56 in less than 10"? I thought most companies don't recommend going less than 10. Anyway, that Marauder 7.5 upper PSA is selling is pretty bad ass. That upper does look very interesting. Its an odd design too. Do you know if anyone has bought it? |
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Personally I wouldn't go any shorter than 10.25"/10.5" for 5.56 as the blast and concussion gets old quick. Save the shorter barrels for 300blk. It is something to think about. I just hate having to buy new ammo. Can I use a BCG that is made for a 5.56? |
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300blk is only a different barrel. BCG is the same. They are right on the below 10.5" in 5.56. I have both and the 7.5" is find to shoot with a flash can on the front, but everyone says how loud it is. It is way different than a 300blk of that length.
The CAR length gas system in the 10.5" is nicer also. That said it's what your intended use. The 7.5" fits in a standard size backpack. 10.5" I think it would be meh close. Cost of the 5.56 is way better than the 300blk. I gotta say aside from the loud and abrupt recoil vs the 10.5" I still like the 7.5 for convenience. But then again my 10.5" is way heavier build, so that might make a difference in my opinion if they were just the 3" difference. GL SS3 |
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Quoted:
Are there any suppressors out there rated for 5.56 in less than 10"? I thought most companies don't recommend going less than 10. Anyway, that Marauder 7.5 upper PSA is selling is pretty bad ass. |
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I guess I should have said too what I am looking at doing and what I will be using it for. This will be not only a fun "toy" type of range gun but a gun I can put into a pack and throw into my car. Or even carry it since I do have a CCW. It is just an interesting concept and one to play around with and learn things. I am a tinker when it comes to things. The 7-7.5-8.8.5 barrels interest me more than any other size barrels. If I go with 10.5 I feel what is the point. I should just go with an SBR. I will be doing an SBR at some point. But I think that will be a retro rifle.
What muzzle devices help? |
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I'd never want to shoot (or be near someone who is) those lengths in 5.56 without a suppressor. Oh please. I regularly shoot my 8" PSA pistol upper in 5.56, with a single chamber brake to boot, and it's no louder than anything else. Do you even Ear-Pro, Bro? |
| 7 & 7.5 inch pistols tend to kick a bit more then the 10.5s (n up). For a back pack gun (with CCW) I would go with a 7-7.5 inch over an 8-8.5 inch (if you are going with the "stealth" set up, every inch counts). If I were going to make a compact "carry" AR Pistol, I would consider (well more then just consider) a folder system like the Law Tactical or Dead Foot Arms folders. Also remember with the folding systems how they function. The Law Tactical Folder was made to be a "storage" type folder (as in the gun will not cycle more then one round while folded), whereas the Dead Foot Arms Folder is built to function (multi-rounds) while folded. The PSA Marauder (even tho it looks cool) may not be the best pistol upper to start with. Get something you can put Iron Sights (or back-up folding Iron Sights) on. I don't trust just a red dot\holographic alone (Even my Primary Arms with its 5 year battery life). All my ARs (pistol and rifle) have Iron Sights first, then what ever optic you like. Also think about what muzzle device ( if you don't stick with an A2 birdcage) you will use and how much length that will add to your barrel length. |
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Quoted:
7 & 7.5 inch pistols tend to kick a bit more then the 10.5s (n up). For a back pack gun (with CCW) I would go with a 7-7.5 inch over an 8-8.5 inch (if you are going with the "stealth" set up, every inch counts). If I were going to make a compact "carry" AR Pistol, I would consider (well more then just consider) a folder system like the Law Tactical or Dead Foot Arms folders. Also remember with the folding systems how they function. The Law Tactical Folder was made to be a "storage" type folder (as in the gun will not cycle more then one round while folded), whereas the Dead Foot Arms Folder is built to function (multi-rounds) while folded. The PSA Marauder (even tho it looks cool) may not be the best pistol upper to start with. Get something you can put Iron Sights (or back-up folding Iron Sights) on. I don't trust just a red dot\holographic alone (Even my Primary Arms with its 5 year battery life). All my ARs (pistol and rifle) have Iron Sights first, then what ever optic you like. Also think about what muzzle device ( if you don't stick with an A2 birdcage) you will use and how much length that will add to your barrel length. Thank you! I think your answer was one I was not only looking for but needing. I started to order an upper tonight but stopped myself. I still want to get informed. I was looking at the Diamondback 7.5 with a quad rail. I think the price with shipping is $179. I could be into this pistol for $475-$550 when all is said and done if I go with Diamondback. I just don't know enough about the brand. I do know they had issues with pistols so I'm a bit shy to buy. I also like keeping my rifles on the KISS side of things. I don't put optics on my rifles. I like the red dot sights and thought I might venture into that world when I build this one. I wouldn't run it without some sort of iron sights. I actually run MagPul flip up sights on most of my rifles. The only one of my M4's that I do not run it on has an A2 detachable carry handle. So I will go with flip up sights of some sort and more than likely it will be MagPul. I want to build this as a pack gun and truck style gun. Something I can take to the range and have fun with but also have as a gun with good firepower and cover what my handgun wont. It would serve as a backup roll just like my M&P 380 Bodyguard does. The three brands that have caught my eye in this whole build idea I have are as follows. PSA 7 and 8.5 inch Both versions they offer. One with their house made hand guards and the other with 2A hand guards. Diamondback 7.5 inch. I have seen their rifles in my local shop and have handled them. They seem great but again I have read things about their 380 handgun and the problems that it had makes me a bit shy to buy. The price point is great so I may give it a shot. Radical Firearms 7.5 inch. This one has my attention. I have found a few different ones being offered online from a few different retailers. The hand guards on each of them are a bit different. I really need to figure out the difference of all the new type of rail systems. I have never owned railed hand guards. The price range on these have been enticing too. $199-$249. I have also looked at Aero Precision. I just don't like the price point. I think I am paying a bit for the name. Okay, now about the folding brace. I would like to know more about that. I think I saw a kit with the Shockwave brace from KAK that has a folder option to it. I didn't know this was possible. Being able to fire more than one round with it folded is an advantage that I like and would like to have it I go this route. I am going to go with the Shockwave brace. I can see me getting into the pistol world of AR's a bit more. I have seven retro's that I am building right now. I'm just waiting for two barrels to come in to finish those builds. It has taken about a year to build those and I am patient and willing to wait to get the right things. I like to buy once and not a million times. So I like being informed. So, with the brands listed above tell me if I should rule one or two out. I am open to suggestions. I would like to stay on a budget. I set my budget at $180 (soft side of things) to $259 (hard side of things) so if there are other options out there worth looking at please let me know. Thanks everyone. You all have been great help to me. The retro guys have all been great and I see the pistol side of ARFcom being that kind of close nit group too. |
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Quoted:Get something you can put Iron Sights (or back-up folding Iron Sights) on. I don't trust just a red dot\holographic alone (Even my Primary Arms with its 5 year battery life). All my ARs (pistol and rifle) have Iron Sights first, then what ever optic you like. Also think about what muzzle device ( if you don't stick with an A2 birdcage) you will use and how much length that will add to your barrel length. Consider no muzzle device at all -- a thread protector adds zero length to the system. |
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Quoted:
I want to build this as a pack gun and truck style gun. Something I can take to the range and have fun with but also have as a gun with good firepower and cover what my handgun wont. It would serve as a backup roll just like my M&P 380 Bodyguard does. There are other cartridges which are better designed to work in very short barrels and lower velocities. 300blk supers, 6.8spc, and 9mm (against unarmored opponents) are all good choices. |
| A few things about uppers shopping. First make sure you look at JSE Surplus uppers. The have a lot of options in pistol uppers and customs (they do sometimes cost a bit more, but worth it). Do be careful and research when thinking about Radical Firearms, they seem to be hit or miss on quality from what I have seen. Im not saying they are all bad, but I have read several "don't buy" posts with their name on it. Also look into the extras you may want to have on your handguard when thinking of which kind you want to get. There a lot of things made for keymod, but they can be a but more costly. M-lok seems to be less cost, but there is not as many things out there (because of how "new" it is in the market). And Pic Rail has a bunch of options (I love the FAB Defense PTK\VTS combo myself). Between Picatinny Rail, KeyMod and M-Lok I think all 3 are good. That being said, KeyMod or M-Lok might be better for a "pull quick out of bag" use as Pic rails can snag on things (unless you drop extra cash for rail covers). Lastly I would consider a muzzle device that also will have less of a chance to get caught up when being pulled out of a bag. There are a bunch that seem like they would reduce\redirect blast well, but my get caught up in a quick deploy action. |
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I am still doing some research. I did see where Radical Firearms can be hit or miss. I think I will keep thinking on that one. PSA is one of the better options I have. Diamondback seems to also be a good option. I am seeing good things about their new line of AR-15's. It also looks as if they switched out the upper hand guard to both keymod and pic rail. I think I really like that combination.
Muzzle device is something I have added to my list to look for. I'm just not sure what to really look for in those. I have always used A1-A2 flash hider. Just something more for me to look at later on. It seems something easy to add in the future. I will be going with MagPul flip up sights. Maybe later on I will add a red dot to it. I have looked at the difference in loads and how they work. I would like to see a ballistic gel test on these. I need to see if I can find one or two on YouTube. It would be interesting to know the difference and what ammo works the best. I normally shoot Wolf and I believe it is always 55gr. Its just what I find on the shelf here and I buy and use it. I have looked at JSE Surplus and i like their stuff. I'm not sure I want to spend the money right now for an upper. Maybe after I get one and toy around a bit and see how I like the pistol world of things. If I do then I will build another one and use more expensive things. I'm seeing a lot of places are not using chrome bores. They are using melonite finish. Diamondback is using that in theirs. Is this a concern? I know what I read says that it gives a longer life to a barrel. Again, it is something new to me. This is the Diamondback upper I am looking at. I might take a chance on it. Still thinking. I might buy my Shockwave brace and tube kit since I can get free shipping. Thanks everyone for your help and comments. I do take them all in and think about each point being made. |
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I found a few deals and took advantage of them for Christmas. I bought the Diamondback upper. I watched some reviews and read good things. I also liked that the handguard is both keymod and picitny railed. It was shipped free so that was nice. I also ordered the shockwave brace kit and MagPul flip up front and rear sight. I need an LPK. I have lower receiver and bolt carrier group and charging handle. I will be into this build for $550 or less. I can't wait to get it in and build it out and see how I like it. If I like it I might SBR it or build one for SBR.
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