10.5 Fde Upper
Jasmine Lemaitre
!0.5 and 14.5 are both too short. Hard to make power factor. A lot of 16s are used, 18 and 20 are more common. Some of the iron shooters are going 22 or longer but thats for sight radius more than anything Flashers and plates at 300+ yds are just a bit much for the short guns, even with optics. The short guns can be a lot of fun at the local type carbine matches at pistol or slightly longer range.----------------Larry
I'm using a 10.5" barrel AR in 9mm. Makes minor rifle easy. If you use an optic then site radius doesn't matter. That being said, my local range only goes out to 70 yards max and I'd shoot my regular AR if were anything over 100 yards. But for the close tight stuff it works great!
Forgive my ignorance, but where can I find an easily digested explanation of divisions, power factors, etc. so that I can figure out where I'd likely end up? Right now here's what I'll likely be shooting:
you have iron sights on your AR or Tactical if you have a single optic on your AR and. You have to go to the Appendix of the individual Rifle, Pistol or Shotgun rules for power factor and other requirements. Not exactly easy.
I have run my 7.5" iron sighted SBR in local matchs just for shits and giggles, and was astounded to drop LaRues out beyond 400yds ! With that said, I doubt I could do it consistently, and even on hoser stages the advantage of a shorter barrel is marginal. A longer barrel makes much more sense (longer sight radius, flatter shooting, more convincing impacts etc.) - I would recommend a flat-top 20" to start. With the price of ammo being what it is these days, the ability to make hits with les rounds fired will pay for iteself very quickly (at least thats the rationalle I gave myself for spending $1000 on a scope and mount recently) .
I have had not problems making power factor with my 14.5 inch Noveske n4 with 77 grain Sierra Match bullets. In fact I took the rifle portion of the last three gun match I was at with this scope and rifle ammo combination.
In the end you can make anything work. If you look at the top competitors though, I don't think you will find any of them shooting anything less than an 18". So if you are wanting an AR just for 3 gun it would make sense to get one that fits that mold. Can you shoot what you already have, yes, is there probably a better option, yes.
FYI, the majority of 3gun matches, other than USPSA matches, could care less what power factor you shoot. Just put holes in the targets or hit the steel and you're good to go. So your short gun is fine. 3gun matches shoot a lot of MGM swingers and R&R racing 10" round plates at distance. The MGM's are 10" round plate with a 4" head on it. If you're confident to hit those size target at the furthest distance for the match, then you're good to go.
BCM builds life-saving tools to meet the needs of professional soldiers, law enforcement, and responsible citizens. Each BCM complete upper receiver group is fully assembled, head-spaced, and test-fired prior to shipping.
BCM M4 upper receivers are machined to Mil-Specs from 7075 T6 forgings and equipped with our forward assist assembly and ejection port cover assembly, allowing the end user to upgrade or rebuild their individual components with other Mil-Spec parts in the future.
Upper receivers with integral carry handles and iron sights have been relegated to history. Optics are now synonymous with forward deployed carbines, featuring modular optics ready flat top upper receivers. Driven by a sense of urgency to improve effectiveness and save American lives in real-time, this innovation has inadvertently introduced a degradation in the rigidity of the upper receiver, with the weakest point being the area around the ejection port.
This enhanced rigidity aids accuracy by limiting barrel deflection from external loads such as a bipod or vertical grip. This prevents unwanted deflection of moving components, reducing the chance for premature damage and wear of the bolt and barrel lugs which results from misalignment.
In addition to weapon optics, suppressors have also become standard in modern operations. With added gas expansion areas and new channels added around the charging handle opening, venting gas away from the end user's face reduces distractions when employing the weapon system with a can.
Every BCM chrome-lined barrel uses the same Independently Certified Mil-Spec 11595E Barrel Steel (CMV) used in the USGI M16 family of rifles. Built to perform in extreme environments, BCM barrels are stronger and more durable than typical commercial barrels due to high concentrations of carbon and/or vanadium in the alloy.
A chrome-lined bore and chamber are now a worldwide standard in the industry for an AR-15 rifle. The chrome bore and chamber is harder than the typical barrel steel and on the USGI M16/M4 rifles will aid in chambering, extraction, and reliability. It increases velocity and also resists fouling and corrosion from extended use in the field. This gives the end user a longer barrel life with less required time performing maintenance and cleaning.
Originally pioneered by European armorers, hammer-forged barrels feature a honed interior finish and a tungsten carbide mandrel with the entire rifling pattern ground in relief onto its surface. The resulting barrel is both extremely durable and highly accurate. As with all BCM barrels, the BCM BFH series of barrels are made in the USA.
Machined from 410 stainless steel with a 556 NATO Match Chamber. Featuring hand-lapped bore and chamber, 1/8 twist rate button rifling and M4 feed ramps barrel extensions, the 410 stainless barrel gives the shooter an excellent balance of weight and accuracy. 410 stainless is also harder and more corrosion resistant than conventional 416 stainless found in other precision barrels.
Mid-length systems deliver the same compact size of a carbine, with less overpressure and recoil as opposed to the USGI M4 Carbine gas system. Giving the smoother running platform. The mid-length system can also allow for a longer handguard and by extension, a longer iron sight radius for improved accuracy when engaging with iron sights.
Carbine length gas systems, as designed and originally fielded by the US Military in the XM177 carbine. The carbine length system was designed to be as compact as possible while reliably cycling rounds. The carbine length gas system is still in use, powering M4, M4A1, and MK18 carbines issued to members of the US Military today.
Government profile barrels have a .750 gas block diameter; lightweight barrels use a .625 diameter gas block. Lightweight profile barrels are similar to government profile up to the handguard cap and then slimmer from the gas block mounting area forward.
BCM proprietary tapered profiles eliminate the handguard cap shoulder and feature a sleek, light, yet durable barrel, in both standard button rifled, and BFH cold hammer forged barrels. The tapered profile keeps the barrel heavy where most of the heat is generated, and lighter where it is less.
Designed to the specification of end users, BCM Rail Systems are built free float, for improved accuracy, with aircraft grade aluminum alloys, that are lightweight but do not compromise rigidity. Mission flexible platforms, ideal for end-user customization in the placement of optics and accessories such as light mounts, vertical grips, hand stops, lasers, and bi-pods; BCM Rail Systems are available in three interface systems.
All BCM Rail Systems and accessories unite state-of-the-art manufacturing with lightweight and durable materials to ensure components that last a lifetime, performing far beyond performance requirements established nearly six decades ago. Like all BCM rifles and accessories, all BCM Rail Systems are made in the USA.
The KMR-A features ergonomics tailored to end-user requirements, with its reduced profile maximized for positive control of the weapon system in the lightest possible package. The KMR uses our patented lock up** system where self-locking cross bolts apply force at the 12:00 position of the handguard equally distributing force around the surface area of the rail.
Capable of mounting optics, laser and other accessories along the length of the system at 12, 3, 6 and 9 o'clock, the extended length railed handguard allows for faster manipulation and improved accuracy when engaging targets at close to intermediate ranges.
Models are available without a free float hand guard to allow the use of the installed Delta Ring, handguard retaining cap, and a separate drop-in handguard. BCM PKMR and BCM PMCR Polymer Handguards are available as an additional option for purchase on many models.
Every AR-15 complete upper receiver group comes standard with an A2 Flash hider. Optional flash hiders, compensators, muzzle breaks, and suppressor-ready muzzle devices can be installed from the pick lists before purchase.
The BCM Bolt Carrier Group features a parkerized exterior and chrome lined inside carrier, machined to support automatic fire and properly hardened parts to ensure a strong staking and proper gas system functioning.
The bolt assembly is machined from the correct Mil-Spec Carpenter No. 158 steel, shot peened for increased strength. Also includes a tool steel machined extractor and ejector, BCM Extractor Spring, and HPT (High-Pressure Tested), and MPI (Magnetic Particle Inspected).
Machined to USGI specifications, this M16/M4 carrier includes the proper Mil-Spec gas key. The gas key is chrome lined and heat treated, per GI specifications, secured to the carrier via USGI domestic manufacturing Grade 8 fasteners, and properly staked per Military Specifications.
Quality control is paramount at BCM. For decades BCM has set the industry standard for dimensional and mechanical quality control with a focus on reliability. BCM has designed in-house quality control inspection processes that far exceed the industry mil-standards and has been implemented into many of the USGI supply lines.
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