What to expect from super short barrel PDW type ARs?

X-man

X-man

CGN Ultra frequent flyer
EE Expired
Rating - 100%
249   0   0
Location
Newfoundland
My shortest build to date has been a 10.5". An H2 buffer and full auto bolt carrier served to ensure 100% reliability. Other than being obnoxiously loud and spewing throughly spectacular fireballs (which was the whole point) I really haven't noticed any really significant differences between it and say a standard 14.5-16" carbine in terms of manual of arms and/or performance at sub-200 M. As a courtesy I don't break out my shorties when sharing the firing line with others, but as I normally shoot during off-hours this is rarely an issue.

Until recently my self-imposed cut-off point for quasi-practical barrel length has been 10.5-11.5". However, I've been thinking of picking up a super short barrel PDW to play with for the novelty factor, if nothing else. Just wondering what quirks I can expect from the wee 7.5" PDW beasties? Please feel free to chime in with any personal experiences, opinions, likes/dislikes or recommendations you may have to offer on the subject?
 
Nothing if the gas port size is correct, it just gets dirty much faster and the muzzle flash is huge with regular A2 compensator. I ran mine with H-buffer back then.
 
X-man said:
As a courtesy I don't break out my shorties when sharing the firing line with others, but as I normally shoot during off-hours this is rarely an issue.
Click to expand...

IMHO this works better - Break out your shorty on the firing line, pop a few mags in between everyone else, then let everyone else try it! Any time I go to the public range with a selection, the 7.5" is the most popular thing people want to shoot. YMMV depending on the FUDDfactor of your range though. Shooting someone elses' is what got me in to short barreled rifles. Fun factor 10.
 
I only own 1 AR over 12.5". I like to piss the guys off in Buffalo when I show them pics at the gun store ;)

My 7.5" 9mm is a blast to shoot. It's light and incredibly fast on target.
 
Mine ran pretty good with only a 9mm buffer. It was a 7.5", Dirty up fast.


PDW2.jpg
 
Last edited:
As Greentips said, if your gas port size is correct it will chug away just fine

Interestingly though the original DPMS Kitty Kat ( .059 ..ie #53 drill ) run fine on 5.56 but will not cycle properly on lower power .223 so people opt to open up gas port ( next reamer size #52 which is .063 )

Having said that I have used WOA 7.5 factory barrels that had similar .059 and runs just fine with everything

Keep in mind there is no "correct" gas port size because there are so many other variables that will determine perfect gas port size

Some people opt for the goofy pigtail gas tube to play with timing etc but I think thats a bit of a waste

The easiest thing to do to ensure reliable function is with a KX-3 or the PWS CQB brake . At the same time it you have a muzzle device that will direct blast downrange very effectively

Lots of people balk at this because they claim the length / weight is too much. REality is you will not notice the extra weight on a 7.5" . As far as the length IMO its non issue

I would highly suggest that if you are assembling yourself, you should have a forend that covers the KX-3 or any of the linear compensator style brakes

I have on more than one occasion put my hand on a hot KX-3 / PWS since I am so use to grabbing the forend of a rifle or mid length forend !

My upper that gives the most concussion under a shooting bench that has a roof is a Battlecomp on a 10.5 , then a 16" with Surefire MB-556 . My 7.5 with PWS has far less concussion !

Bottom line is my 7.5" is lots of fun...everyone wants to shoot it . IMO it does not point any better than a 10.5 ...it's actually worst since the hold on a 7.5" is un natural and awkward...just doesn't point as well
 
RobertMcC said:
Mine ran pretty good with only a 9mm buffer. It was a 7.5", Dirty up fast.


PDW2.jpg
Click to expand...

I've always opted for a fixed FSB with all of my builds. I guess it goes to my old school mindset and a reluctance to rely on optics alone. "Before all else," my dad always preached, "Know how to shoot your irons son!" However, I'm now leaning toward a clean flat top and maybe just a micro aimpoint. Magpul AFG and perhaps a Noveske KX3 or the Dlask clone. I know, nothing groundbreaking, but should make for a compact, functional little bang stick.
 
X-man said:
I've always opted for a fixed FSB with all of my builds. I guess it goes to my old school mindset and a reluctance to rely on optics alone. "Before all else," my dad always preached, "Know how to shoot your irons son!" However, I'm now leaning toward a clean flat top and maybe just a micro aimpoint. Magpul AFG and perhaps a Noveske KX3 or the Dlask clone. I know, nothing groundbreaking, but should make for a compact, functional little bang stick.
Click to expand...

Harder to find short FSB barrels.
 
X-man said:
I can believe it. Love of the look of a short bbl with fixed FSB led me to build my very first AR, a copy of the retro shortie used by Diniro and Kilmer in HEAT. Looking at yours, is that a YHM handguard and FH?
Click to expand...

Yes. I'm building another one of these.
 
X-man said:
I can believe it. Love of the look of a short bbl with fixed FSB led me to build my very first AR, a copy of the retro shortie used by Diniro and Kilmer in HEAT. Looking at yours, is that a YHM handguard and FH?
Click to expand...

Colt Commando. I'll be building an upper like that too. Same reason. Heat was a good movie.
 
Probably one of the coolest PDWs I've seen here on CGN (not mine). If the owner is still here, I'd like to pick their brain on this one

imagejpg1_zpsed9038b5.jpg
 
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom