Which caliber for an SBR? - XDTalk Forums - Your HS2000/SA-XD Information Source!

Hooz · 11-11-2007, 06:53 AM

I just sent in my paperwork for a stamp to build an SBR, but I'm wondering which caliber I should build it in. I was originally thinking of a pistol caliber because the ballistics would fit perfectly with a short (11.5") barrel, but I'm wondering if something else might be better.

There are a ton of good cartridges out there besides the obvious pistol calibers... .458 SOCOM, .450 Bushmaster, 7.62x39 and a few others come to mind.

What would you build and why? Thoughts?

Polymerhead · 11-11-2007, 11:01 AM

What caliber did you put on the form? I'm building mine in .223 Rem. I thought about 9mm but I have an XD w/Arredondo baseplates that holds 22 rounds, so I really didn't see a need to go through all that for something that is heavier and holds 10 more rounds.

I also went super-short, against the popular opinion. I figure if I'm paying $200 and waiting 6 months (I started this project in July), I might as well go all the way. If I don't like it, I'll switch to a 10.5" barrel.

If you want a 7.62, might as well build a Krink in my opinion, though a 5.45 would be the traditional caliber for a shorty AK.

03RangerXLT · 11-11-2007, 11:27 AM

I have pretty much decided to do mine in .223 with a 10.3/10.5 inch barrel. I might actually be able to use it for work as a patrol carbine now that the SWAT team is switching over from HK G36s to Colt shorties. I really want a super shorty and might splurge on the upper later down the line.

Hooz · 11-11-2007, 11:42 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Polymerhead

What caliber did you put on the form? I'm building mine in .223 Rem. I thought about 9mm but I have an XD w/Arredondo baseplates that holds 22 rounds, so I really didn't see a need to go through all that for something that is heavier and holds 10 more rounds.

I also went super-short, against the popular opinion. I figure if I'm paying $200 and waiting 6 months (I started this project in July), I might as well go all the way. If I don't like it, I'll switch to a 10.5" barrel.

If you want a 7.62, might as well build a Krink in my opinion, though a 5.45 would be the traditional caliber for a shorty AK.

I put "multi-caliber" on the form.

Since ARs are so modular, I figured that would cover me whichever way I decided to go. I'll probably do a .223 just for magazine and ammo interchangability, but I can always do another down the road I guess. I just thought it would be cool to change things up a bit and have another caliber that would work well out of a short barrel.

Polymerhead · 11-11-2007, 12:22 PM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Hooz

I put "multi-caliber" on the form.

Let me know how that works for you. Consensus is that you have to put one caliber and one barrel length on the form. Most of the ATF examiners seemed to have gotten together over the summer and decided to start rejecting forms with multiple calibers or barrel lengths. Who knows though - you might catch one on a good day and get approved.

03RangerXLT · 11-11-2007, 03:47 PM

yeah, deffinetly let us know the results. I have heard that listing multiple calibers was the wa to go, but as of recently, I have been warned against it.

Apdl · 11-11-2007, 04:40 PM

I would go 9mm just because of cost and in a SBR there is no need to get a rifle cartage because of the distance

John A. · 11-11-2007, 07:57 PM

I believe I would've at least registered a primary caliber and then list some alternates compared to just saying "MULTI". But if the examiner doesn't like it, I'm sure they'll send the forms back to you and delay it a while so you can make up your mind which one(s) you want to list and use. They'll give you 30 days to decide.

My AR SBR is registered in Primary: 5.56x45/.223 Rem.

Alternates are: 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC.

I would've registered it in 9x19mm also, but I have an MP5-K SBR registered in that caliber, so I wasn't really needing or wanting another in that chambering.

For a fun gun (range) nothing wrong with 9mm at all. Ammo is cheap and that just equals to more trigger time for less money.

Plus if you use an indoor range, they're generally allowed there too whereas many higher power calibers aren't.

The reason a lot of SWAT is moving away from the 9mm is the lack of armor penetration. That isn't a concern of mine, so I don't see anything wrong with the 9mm. For the most part, it is very rare for LEO's to encounter a tango sporting Kevlar anyway. That's why my opinion goes against the norm nowadays.

Is it a bad idea for an LEO round? Or a Military round? Not entirely, but when a team is moving in on a hostile, it's nice to know that you don't have to second guess and hence, why a lot of SRT's are moving away from the 9. Peace of mind is all. Are there better rounds available for certain applications? Of course, but just keep in mind, there is no one perfect round for everything and you can't carry everything at the same time.

My 2 cents.

beaterar · 11-11-2007, 08:18 PM

223 out of a 11.5 with a AAC M4 1000 suppresor gives the same balistics and speed as a 16in carbine barrel. Without the AAC can its about like a 22 hornet. With the intended range and use of the SBR I would go 223, and 22lr drop in conversion for fun.

**eric_t12** · 11-12-2007, 04:17 AM

Quote:

Originally Posted by Apdl

I would go 9mm just because of cost and in a SBR there is no need to get a rifle cartage because of the distance

+1

i also agree with the multi-caliber comment. can't go wrong with more than one size

11-11-2007, 06:53 AM	#1
Hooz XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: Feb 2006 Location: Hilliard, OH Posts: 1,993	Which caliber for an SBR? I just sent in my paperwork for a stamp to build an SBR, but I'm wondering which caliber I should build it in. I was originally thinking of a pistol caliber because the ballistics would fit perfectly with a short (11.5") barrel, but I'm wondering if something else might be better. There are a ton of good cartridges out there besides the obvious pistol calibers... .458 SOCOM, .450 Bushmaster, 7.62x39 and a few others come to mind. What would you build and why? Thoughts? __________________ XD-9 Tactical : XD-45 Tactical Member: IDPA, USPSA, ASSA, NRA, GOA

11-11-2007, 11:01 AM	#2
Polymerhead XDTalk 1K Member Join Date: May 2005 Location: MO, USA Posts: 1,407	What caliber did you put on the form? I'm building mine in .223 Rem. I thought about 9mm but I have an XD w/Arredondo baseplates that holds 22 rounds, so I really didn't see a need to go through all that for something that is heavier and holds 10 more rounds. I also went super-short, against the popular opinion. I figure if I'm paying $200 and waiting 6 months (I started this project in July), I might as well go all the way. If I don't like it, I'll switch to a 10.5" barrel. If you want a 7.62, might as well build a Krink in my opinion, though a 5.45 would be the traditional caliber for a shorty AK. __________________ No alarms and no surprises, please.

11-11-2007, 11:27 AM	#3
03RangerXLT XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta area, Georgia Posts: 2,214	I have pretty much decided to do mine in .223 with a 10.3/10.5 inch barrel. I might actually be able to use it for work as a patrol carbine now that the SWAT team is switching over from HK G36s to Colt shorties. I really want a super shorty and might splurge on the upper later down the line. __________________ -John WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!

11-11-2007, 03:47 PM	#6
03RangerXLT XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Sep 2004 Location: Atlanta area, Georgia Posts: 2,214	yeah, deffinetly let us know the results. I have heard that listing multiple calibers was the wa to go, but as of recently, I have been warned against it. __________________ -John WAR DAMN EAGLE!!!

11-11-2007, 04:40 PM	#7
Apdl XDTalk 2K Member Join Date: Jan 2006 Location: Burnsville, MN Posts: 2,354	I would go 9mm just because of cost and in a SBR there is no need to get a rifle cartage because of the distance __________________ "He took off running, and we caught him, and he just kept resisting. So we just kept whipping his ass." -HulkXD "Only two things are infinite, the universe and human stupidity, and I'm not sure about the former." -Albert Einstein If you are not part of the solution you are part of the precipitate Springfield XD-9 TOTAL COUNT 8206 Daily Carry Springfield 1911 Loaded Target 9mm Walther P22... needs bigger mag Ruger 10/22 Carbine Remington 700 SPS Tactical .308 Win EBR Build in progress

11-11-2007, 07:57 PM	#8
John A. XDTalk 500 Member Join Date: Jun 2006 Location: KY Posts: 522	I believe I would've at least registered a primary caliber and then list some alternates compared to just saying "MULTI". But if the examiner doesn't like it, I'm sure they'll send the forms back to you and delay it a while so you can make up your mind which one(s) you want to list and use. They'll give you 30 days to decide. My AR SBR is registered in Primary: 5.56x45/.223 Rem. Alternates are: 7.62x39, and 6.8 SPC. I would've registered it in 9x19mm also, but I have an MP5-K SBR registered in that caliber, so I wasn't really needing or wanting another in that chambering. For a fun gun (range) nothing wrong with 9mm at all. Ammo is cheap and that just equals to more trigger time for less money. Plus if you use an indoor range, they're generally allowed there too whereas many higher power calibers aren't. The reason a lot of SWAT is moving away from the 9mm is the lack of armor penetration. That isn't a concern of mine, so I don't see anything wrong with the 9mm. For the most part, it is very rare for LEO's to encounter a tango sporting Kevlar anyway. That's why my opinion goes against the norm nowadays. Is it a bad idea for an LEO round? Or a Military round? Not entirely, but when a team is moving in on a hostile, it's nice to know that you don't have to second guess and hence, why a lot of SRT's are moving away from the 9. Peace of mind is all. Are there better rounds available for certain applications? Of course, but just keep in mind, there is no one perfect round for everything and you can't carry everything at the same time. My 2 cents. __________________ "The 2nd Amendment wasn't adopted into the Constitution because the authors liked guns or the destruction they could cause, but to give ordinary citizens the ability to protect themselves and their family and to take up arms against anyone in a governmental position who tried to deny those fundamental and God given rights." Ecclesiastes 3: 1-8

11-11-2007, 08:18 PM	#9
beaterar XDTalk 100 Member Join Date: Mar 2007 Location: Kentucky Posts: 171	223 out of a 11.5 with a AAC M4 1000 suppresor gives the same balistics and speed as a 16in carbine barrel. Without the AAC can its about like a 22 hornet. With the intended range and use of the SBR I would go 223, and 22lr drop in conversion for fun. __________________ *Ron Paul 08 This may be our last hope , This will also be the first time I have hope* *Liberty has one last hope in this country , you have the power .........* *RON PAUL 08!!!!!!*

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