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Posted: 4/25/2007 4:02:27 PM EDT
I've been contemplating this build for a year....finally got it done. While a 7.5" barreled AR-15 may not be the most useful tool on the planet, it sure is fun at the range.  Most of the parts list was stuff I had sitting around, but some of it was purchased especially for this build: --Fulton Armory lower receiver --CMT LPK (mostly) --McCormick curved single stage trigger --Magpul CTR stock --H3 buffer --CMT upper receiver --7.5" SS HBAR from Rock Creek, finished by ADCO --JP stainless bolt carrier with stock bolt --Larue 7.0 forearm --Noveske KX3 --Troy BUIS --Eothing Add a coat of flat black Norrell's to barrel, upper and lower and that's that. Gotta love how the Norrell's brings everything together. I had a Surefire 900A on it for a bit but it screwed up the balance....I may yet put a VFG on it but we'll see how it goes-- I like it as is for now. The first range trip went well--250 rounds of M193 and Georgia Arms "69 gr HP heavy match" and one failure to feed. Considering how finicky these shorties are supposed to be, I'm pretty pleased by that. Accuracy was surprisingly good....I almost stopped shooting after the first group posted below as I figured that I wouldn't do any better if I shot all day.The second target is much more representative. For a gun that I'll likely never be shooting at > 50 yards, these are pretty acceptable results, I think. Minute-of-bowling-pin, as it were. Overall, I'm pretty pleased by this build. I've even heard that these shorties have a very high CDI factor. That seemed to be born out when I showed it to my wife; she said: "Awwww, that's really cute."     50 yards, slow fire, iron sights off sandbags:  50 yards, rapid fire, kneeling, Eotech: 
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Badass rifle! I am also suprised at the accuracy. That is pretty good if you ask me. I thought that thing would be all over the place. While 50yds isnt that far I would be very pleased with the outcome. If anyone breaks in your house they are gonna be in a heap of shit! |
I was pleasantly surprised by the accuracy also. I guess it proves out the observation that accuracy is a function of barrel stiffness, not length. With the HBAR profile behind the gas block, this barrel seems to have enough mass to group pretty well. It occurred to me that this little gun would make a good home defense gun. That's what prompted me to try the Surefire 900A on it. Ultimately, it'll likely just remain a fun range toy. There's something about using an NFA firearm for home defense that strikes me as inviting potential (unnecessary) trouble. That point, of course, can be debated at length.
My thoughts exactly......put some glass on it and see what it'll do at 100 yards. If nothing else, it would be a fun exercise.
I can't speak from experience as this shorty is the only one I've dealt with. But 7.5" builds are reputed to be ridiculously loud and to have a large amount of unpleasant muzzle blast even with conventional flash suppressors. The KX3 is supposed to direct a lot of the noise/blast forward thus reducing the perceived noise of the weapon. I can tell you that this build is loud but didn't seem objectionably loud to me.....I'm not sure how the other shooters at the range perceived it, though-- there were no complaints anyway.
0.75" Larue It's a set screw block but I had ADCO dimple under the screws when they did the barrel work. In retrospect, I should've used a 0.875" block for a little extra mass in front of the GB. That was a detail I didn't fully work out before doing the build, but should have. Oh, well. _______________________ Thanks for the compliments, gents. Glad you enjoyed the build. I think a 10.5" with a can is gonna be next.......  |
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