Crabcakes wrote:But not sure what to go with
I have a registered RRA lower waiting for the right upper. I'm also wanting to get started on the suppressor paperwork and the long 6+ month wait to get it approved.
I tried asking for help on THR but got one useful response and the rest was kind of off topic
Hopefully I can get some better help here?
Mostly I want to make sure I get an upper that will work with the suppressor I choose. I've read a few stories about the 10.5" not having enough barrel between the gas block and the muzzle for a suppressor to fit so I really don't want to drop a bunch of cash on two things that won't even work together.
I'm looking to spend between $1500 and $2000 on the upper and suppressor (not counting the tax stamp). The rifle is going to be for fun mostly. My cousin owns some property in the country and we want to shoot without disturbing the neighbors. Longest we'll shoot is probably 100 yards but most everything will be < 50 yards. Mostly plan on just shooting cans, milk jugs, 2 liter bottles, etc etc. Just want something that will be reliable and go bang every time I pull the trigger.
I have a couple other AR15s in 5.56 so I'd want the suppressor to also work on those (they are 16+" so I doubt it'd be a problem). One of the AR's is pretty cheap (JSE upper) and it gets frustrating having to clear a jam at least once every other magazine. So mostly I want to avoid something so cheap that I have to keep messing with it to enjoy shooting.
Can anyone assist in helping out a complete noob? This is my first NFA purchase so I just want to make sure I do it right. Don't plan on ever selling this stuff as it will belong to my trust and go to my sister if anything ever happens to me. Thanks in advance!
I will try to be as close to your OP as possible.
I have a 12" 5.56 and it is a BLAST w/o a silencer. A 10.5" will be worse I use a .30 silencer and I highly sugest you do NOT get a .224" silencer.
1) a 5.56 silencer will cause a LOT of gas in your face. It has a lot more back pressure it will over gas your gas system for one and second it will cause blow back from the chamber contributing to the over gas problem. On full auto a tight 5.56 silencer will almost double the rate of fire.
2) since you want to SBR 5.56 (which I think is a mistake I would NOT go below a 14.5 and prefer 16" for many reasons) but back on topic when you cut a 5.56 down to 10.5" it will have a LOT of Muzzle pressure.. This is what blows up silencers and caused speedy baffle erosion.. SOOooo since you want a 10.5 the best way to deal with the added MP is to have a full auto rated .30 silencer.. It still will erode fast but not like a 5.56 can will.
OK now that I have explained how a .30 silencer will reduce the excessive gas, help reduce over speeding your rate of fire/beating your upper it's what to do for a .30 can.
A fast attach silencer will need mounts they are about $100 each. If you don't mind spending that for each upper that is a nice way to go. The New SilencerCo. Mounting system will be WELL worth the wait. They have announced the 5.56 silencer but a .30 is due out.
If you do not mind a thread on silencer which eliminates a mount, you can get a less expensive just as quiet .30 silencer.
I get a thread adapter from US Machinegun.com to go from 1/2-28 to 5/8-24 for my uppers. Then use my Cyclone-K from AAC on all my uppers and my bolt guns as well. No mounts, simple and very quiet. It is only a few dB off from the best 5.56 silencers is lighter than some and about the same size as some. I use it on my 5.56, 260 Rem, 308, Long barrel 30-06
Check Byron Gaston's Major Malfunction's web site for dB numbers, weights, costs, and reviews. John Titsworth tested a .30 on a 5.56 as have others. A good .30 can will be a very good choice even more so with a 5.56 SBR.
Things to keep in mind
a 5.56 10.5" barrel will
1) loose a LOT of FPS.
2) will cut the life of your silencer by more than 50% It will become a "consumable" not a durable good.
3) it's freaking LOUD suppressed or not. Hearing Protection absolutely will be needed even out in the open
4) it will over gas more than a longer barrel when suppressed
I would NEVER pay to SBR a 5.56, the only reason I have a 12" is it came on my M16A1.
You may be aware of these things already but we are trying to help save you from disappointment. It's about EXPECTATIONS.
As long as you understand the consequences of cutting a 5.56 to 10.5" you will not be overly disappointed. I do know a feew people who "like them" with no regrets but they don't pay for silencers, ammo and did not have a BLK to choose from at the time. They are quickly adopting a better mousetrap and abandoning the 5.56 SBR. Only time they use them now it to make NOISE and FLASH to make a "show" or to trash a can.
Avoid the 18 tooth AAC mounting system like the plague. An AAC 7.62 SDn6 or SD is a nice can but for a few hundred less a Cyclone-K is MY choice.
Look at Major Malfunction's site and check all the .30 cans out. Read more and think about flexibility and the other points I talked about as to the advantages of the .30 over the 5.56 silencer ESPECIALLY for a SBR in 5.56.
I can understand why you are annoyed by the suggestions and what you think is off topic. If you already are aware of the drawbacks of a 10.5" 5.56 SBR why the hell should you have to hear all that BS over again... But since many here do not know what you HAVE done, heard, and the work you may have done to make the choice people are only trying to HELP you from making a mistake that many many have made and regret.
Good luck with your project and enjoy it.. The hardest part will be the long BATF&E wait!
People have said the 5.56 SBR is rough on a silencer... It is really ASTOUNDING at just how bad it really is. I know it was bad by sight and sound, but seeing the #'s I was really shocked and understood why only 60 rounds in my 12" barrel caused 1000s of rounds of erosion! I was seriously saying out loud WTF! when I looked at my blast baffle
So just check out the Numbers.
Barrel Length Muzzle Pressure Ft lbs of energy 5.56/BLK & difference
--------BLK ----------- 5.56 ---- Ft/lbs 5.56/BLK ------ delta
16" ---- 4,851 PSI ---- 11,434 psi ---1118/1370 ------- 252 ft lbs
14" ----5,672 PSI ----- 13,235 PSI -- 1040/1306 ------ 266 ft lbs
10.5" - 7, 917 PSI ---- 17,921 PSI --- 867/1163 ------- 296 ft lbs less energy than a BLK and 10,000 PSI more!
that is a real silencer eater.
Nuff comparison BS..
With that out of the way why not for your 5.56 build:
I got a 16"SS barreled upper from DSA for $400 Threaded in 300 BLK they make 5.56 uppers as well. Why not just get a bare upper in 5.56 from them for cheap and have it cut and threaded in 5/8-24. With a copy of your Form 4 for your lower they will ship you a SBR upper. (Machine gun trumps SBR) Then just use your current BCG from your MG upper?
$400 Upper or less for the 5.56, that's my 300 BLK price
$200 SBR tax stamp
$800 Cyclone-K
$200 to cut thread
$200 Silencer Tax
$1800 total
