Lets talk about 10.3".. 5.56 barrels.

[Boom]

So you guys that have used them what do you think, Good.. Bad?

I'm looking for some good data regarding the energy the bullet delivers under 50 yards. I know I will not be able to find hard facts in writing so I was hoping some of you would talk to me about your experience with the short rifle. Have you found the roundd to perform poorly at under 50yards? What would be the max range you would trust the round to frag at?

[KevinB]

I've used Diemaco 10" and LMT 10.5" barrels (and Colt 11.5's)

Quite frankly from doing chrono testing the 10-10.5 will frag with M855 to about 15-30m (depending if you use 2700 or 2500 as your frag threshhold).

Mk262 will go to 55-70m IRRC

However I hit a guy at almost 400m with M855 from a 10.5 leading me to beleive frag is not the be all end all...

[Boom]

I've used Diemaco 10" and LMT 10.5" barrels (and Colt 11.5's)

Quite frankly from doing chrono testing the 10-10.5 will frag with M855 to about 15-30m (depending if you use 2700 or 2500 as your frag threshhold).

Mk262 will go to 55-70m IRRC

However I hit a guy at almost 400m with M855 from a 10.5 leading me to beleive frag is not the be all end all...

Kevin thx for sharing. My main concern is under 50 meters. Shorty barrels are new to me, it's time I did some hard training with my new gun. Having a 10.3" barrel is a completely new feel for me. Its nice not to have all the extra weight hanging off the front. I'll be using XM193 as my main rd. Don't shoot AP very much for cost reasons.

I have been thinking of switching from my main HD gun an 870 to the rifle. Having a short rifle makes a big difference in the hallways and house. But I'm still undecided if it would be a wise move. I'm old school and believe in the 12ga for CQB. Not sure if switching to a rifle round would be the best decision.

[KevinB]

Hmm -- I dont think I have anything on 55gr in a 10"

IF you are thinking AR for HD usage -- I'd look into 68+gr BTHPs

[GYates]

I don't know shit about the ballistics, but I know that it will be very LOUD inside a house or a vehicle. Get a suppressor.

[Boom]

Hmm -- I dont think I have anything on 55gr in a 10"

IF you are thinking AR for HD usage -- I'd look into 68+gr BTHPs

Excellent point thank you. I forget you get real good frag/stopping power out of the 68gr BTHPs. Who would you recommend as a supplier Black Hills? I know they make a good red tipped 68gr BTHP round, are there any other decent manufacturers that you know of who make a good 68gr BTHP round?

[Boom]

I don't know shit about the ballistics, but I know that it will be very LOUD inside a house or a vehicle. Get a suppressor.


I agree working on it. :D

[C4IGrant]

I've used Diemaco 10" and LMT 10.5" barrels (and Colt 11.5's)

Quite frankly from doing chrono testing the 10-10.5 will frag with M855 to about 15-30m (depending if you use 2700 or 2500 as your frag threshhold).

Mk262 will go to 55-70m IRRC

However I hit a guy at almost 400m with M855 from a 10.5 leading me to beleive frag is not the be all end all...

I would agree 100% on the frag thing. This leads into the 6.8 vs 6.5 discussion. The 6.8 crowd believes you HAVE to have fragmentation. The 6.5 is a bigger & packs more punch and has more power at longer ranges.



C4

[C4IGrant]

Excellent point thank you. I forget you get real good frag/stopping power out of the 68gr BTHPs. Who would you recommend as a supplier Black Hills? I know they make a good red tipped 68gr BTHP round, are there any other decent manufacturers that you know of who make a good 68gr BTHP round?


For 10.5's/11.5's I really like the Hornady 75gr TAP and the BH 77gr MK's. Both are excellent in houses as they will fragment as soon as they hit anything. The down side to that is if you have to shoot through a door/wall to get to a guy, you most likely won't do any damage to him (no free lunch I guess).



C4

[Boom]

For 10.5's/11.5's I really like the Hornady 75gr TAP and the BH 77gr MK's. Both are excellent in houses as they will fragment as soon as they hit anything. The down side to that is if you have to shoot through a door/wall to get to a guy, you most likely won't do any damage to him (no free lunch I guess).

C4

Good idea Grant, I'll look into the Hornady.

[BB493]

Does anyone have any experience with the Winchester 64 grn power point in 10.5 and 11.5 barrels?

[fiend]

The Hornady loads are quite expensive, a good alternative is the Hunting Shack loads in 5.56 75 grain

http://www.thehuntingshack.com/specials.htm

They are loaded at 5.56 pressure, which is nearly impossible to find commercially from Hornady unless your LE/MIL. They also have .223 pressure loads for the same price.

There are some ammo reviews on ar15.com about it, it seems to be pretty good stuff and is loaded into new brass. You won't be finding Hornady for .35 cents a round anywhere.

[Boom]

fiend that is a great idea. I'll look into that as well. Thx