You might be thinking to yourself that an AR15 upper build kit with a shorter barrel is a good option.
The short barrel rifle build kits are seductive. That much is true. But whether or not they’re actually better will depend on what you expect from the rifle in terms of performance.
Here are a few things to expect.
On the Benefits of Shorter Barrels?
First, the shorter the barrel, the lighter the overall weight of the (un-outfitted) rifle will be, and the smaller and more compact the overall profile.
This makes short barrel rifles, and to a similar degree, AR15 pistols, better for use in tight quarters. They are lighter and handle more quickly and responsively than full-size rifles.
An AR15 pistol is even better with respect to concealment. With a pistol build you have an ultra-compact platform that’s easier to keep hidden.
Shorter barrels also exhibit more consistent harmonics, which actually means that conversely accuracy – just from the gun itself, not how well you can shoot it – will be better. There’s less barrel whip with a shorter barrel.
Now for the Caveats
As all things in the world of building firearms, there are two sides to every coin. This applies to short barreled AR15 upper build kits as well.
First, short barrel rifles will not offer the same power or flat trajectory as their counterparts with longer barrels.
Second, the shorter sight radius makes it harder for some operators to fire a short-barreled rifle accurately.
And then, there is the obvious drawback that SBRs are NFA items, which means you will need to do extra paperwork and pay more money for one.
Although, an AR15 pistol kit is a way around that, since these are considered handguns, not rifles.
The Flipside: What About a Longer Barrel?
In the spirit of fairness, let’s talk about some of the reasons that full-size rifles, such as AR15 build kits with 20” barrels, offer.
First, the longer barrel gives powder more time to burn, which means you get more power and a flatter trajectory, the longer the barrel is.
This categorically makes rifles with longer barrels more effective for extreme long-range shooting.
Then, there is the longer sight radius. While barrel whip can be worse with a longer barrel, the longer sight radius makes aiming not only easier but also more forgiving.
When a Longer Barrel Is Not So Hot
With all of this being said, there are still a number of reasons that a longer barrel is not unequivocally better than a shorter barrel.
For one thing, the rifle will be heavier, which will make it harder for you to carry and shoot the rifle for longer periods of time.
The longer barrel will also expand the footprint of the rifle, which will make it a little less suitable for use in cramped spaces and other close-quarters engagements in general.
If these concerns are poignant to you, then it might make more sense for you to gravitate towards an AR15 build kit with a shorter barrel. You just need to know where to do that.
Explore AR15 Upper Build Kits
Whether you’re looking for a short barrel rifle AR15 upper build kit, an AR15 pistol upper, or parts or a build kit for a full-sized rifle, check out what MCS Gearup offers over on their website.
They carry a wide range of AR15 build kits along with assembled uppers in addition to a massive inventory of gun parts for making customizations to those builds.
Visit their website or get in touch with them at [email protected].
