Help Deciding!

addiboi

addiboi

Member
Rating - 100%
140   0   0
Location
Ottawa, ON
I am joining your ranks very soon but I am having a hard time deciding between the m305 short or the standard length.

I have access to 1 or 2 second-hand short models for sale, or I could pay more and get the standard length new. I like the standard length but I don't know enough about the short to make a decision. Is there anything I should know about the short that would sway my choice? Does it have weird quirks that the standard doesn't?

Any info will be helpful, thanks :D

** Edit *** So it appears from all the comments that the short models have some QC issues, as well as messing with a tried and true rifle design. I'm quite sold on the standard length model now, as well any immediate upgrades I should perform? Spring guide? or?
 
Last edited:
"...anything I should know about the short..." Marstar has quit selling 'em due to QC issues for one. Muzzle blast, flash(Not a big deal. All things considered. You won't ever likely be shooting at night.) and noise are excessive with a loss of velocity as well. Short barreled M-14 style rifles are a marketing thing too. No such thing militarily.
 
I love my shorty, it did not have any issues I personally could not fix.

All of these guns have minor issues. It seems that a few shorties missed the QC bus. If your worried, get the shorties checked out by a gunsmith with some experience with this platform.
 
Standard length. Lets the shooter enjoy the rifle the way it was meant to be used. With lots of range, great accuracy and plenty of punch out to and past 500m, semi auto .308's!? Love it!. Mine is an awesome 'Norcenstine' in a JAE-100, all the upgrades but with the org. pipe. Its seen over 2000 rounds and never an issue. Great riffle, just a bit heavy though. But then again, I have my Tavor when I want to travel light. :)

addiboi said:
I am joining your ranks very soon but I am having a hard time deciding between the m305 short or the standard length.

I have access to 1 or 2 second-hand short models for sale, or I could pay more and get the standard length new. I like the standard length but I don't know enough about the short to make a decision. Is there anything I should know about the short that would sway my choice? Does it have weird quirks that the standard doesn't?

Any info will be helpful, thanks :D
Click to expand...
 
I've both. I kike both but the shorty has issues. The reg length 22" seems to be put together better too.
 
Rifles with high powered cartridges should have adequate barrel length to take advantage of the round. M14's should be standard length. If you want something lighter and handier a 223 caliber is a better choice in my opinion. I see no useful purpose for a 9" or 11" AR either so what do I know.
 
Tengoo said:
I have two shorties; neither have any issues aside from the crappy rear sights [replaced with BM-59 sights].
Click to expand...

The rear sights on my 22" were damn near perfect and don't need replacing. The barrel was not out of index. The trigger group fit into a variety of different stocks and still passed the "hammer follow test". The fit and finish was better.

My 18.5" shorty was the exact opposite on all these points.
 
Seafury said:
Rifles with high powered cartridges should have adequate barrel length to take advantage of the round. M14's should be standard length. If you want something lighter and handier a 223 caliber is a better choice in my opinion. I see no useful purpose for a 9" or 11" AR either so what do I know.
Click to expand...

The velocity loss going from 22" to 18.5" is neglegable.
The 22", even in a collapsable stock, sticks out both sides of my 2012 yamaha grizzly... No good.
The 18.5" will lob a 165gr nosler at sufficient velocity and energy to kill anything I'm hunting out to 300 yards..... And in a collapseable stock, doesn't stick out the sides of my quad.
The Ar in 223/556 is a poodle shooter in any length, whereas the m14 in any length, remains a formidable weapon.
 
45ACPKING said:
The velocity loss going from 22" to 18.5" is neglegable.
The 22", even in a collapsable stock, sticks out both sides of my 2012 yamaha grizzly... No good.
The 18.5" will lob a 165gr nosler at sufficient velocity and energy to kill anything I'm hunting out to 300 yards..... And in a collapseable stock, doesn't stick out the sides of my quad.
The Ar in 223/556 is a poodle shooter in any length, whereas the m14 in any length, remains a formidable weapon.
Click to expand...

What is negligible exactly? Say in a percentage basis because the long range shooters I've seen like them as long as possible. I like the longer sight radius and the overall look of the longer barrel. I don't care for space stocks or folders. I don't hunt with M14 type rifle. I like a bolt action of which I have a good selection. 223 will kill what it was designed to kill. It's a poor choice for Grizzly bears. Great at the range. My opinion, what do I know.
 
shorties are good out to 600 yards, dont know too many ranges east of the Mississippi over 300 unless they are DND

OP is in Ottawa and never indicated he is a competing long range shooter...if hes competing he should really buy a M1A
 
Seafury said:
What is negligible exactly? Say in a percentage basis because the long range shooters I've seen like them as long as possible. I like the longer sight radius and the overall look of the longer barrel. I don't care for space stocks or folders. I don't hunt with M14 type rifle. I like a bolt action of which I have a good selection. 223 will kill what it was designed to kill. It's a poor choice for Grizzly bears. Great at the range. My opinion, what do I know.
Click to expand...

Don't get me wrong Seafury, not debating ;)
I'm a firm believer in "to each his own"
"They" say about 25 to 100 ft per second velocity loss per inch from a 22 barrel once you start chopping.
So, removing 3.5" should calculate to an average velocity loss of say 100 to 350 foot per second.
I have not chronographed a rifle before and after chopping.
Perhaps we could get a few guys with chrongraphs and different length barrels using same factory ammo and see for real.
 
45ACPKING said:
The velocity loss going from 22" to 18.5" is neglegable.
The 22", even in a collapsable stock, sticks out both sides of my 2012 yamaha grizzly... No good.
The 18.5" will lob a 165gr nosler at sufficient velocity and energy to kill anything I'm hunting out to 300 yards..... And in a collapseable stock, doesn't stick out the sides of my quad.
The Ar in 223/556 is a poodle shooter in any length, whereas the m14 in any length, remains a formidable weapon.
Click to expand...


yeah no debating- you like what you like. an 18.5" 308 is a perfect compromise IMO- as mentioned you arent gonna see much practical difference in velocity, unless sight radius is a thing for you or you're shooting at crazy ranges(with a norinco m14??) where you need every bit

had both- kept the shorty.
 
GunNewb said:
yeah no debating- you like what you like. an 18.5" 308 is a perfect compromise IMO- as mentioned you arent gonna see much practical difference in velocity, unless sight radius is a thing for you or you're shooting at crazy ranges(with a norinco m14??) where you need every bit

had both- kept the shorty.
Click to expand...

Comprimise for what. The 12" 308? For me the difference in my shooting skill with my Armalite 20" vs my Armalite 14.5" is night and day. This could be due to the sight radius and larger aperture but I prefer full length barrels. If I had to sell one the carbine would be gone without second thoughts. According to my little friend I Snipe assuming 350 fps reduction:

308 150gr FMJ

Velocity/Trajectory
Table A Muzzle 100 yds 200 yds 300 yds 400 yds
22 inch 2820/-1.5 2631/0 2450/-3.52 2276/-12.05 2108/-28.9
18 inch 2470/-1.5 2295/0 2127/-5.09 1966/-17.88 1813/-39.69

Hardly negligible in my opinion not to mention your USGI sight graduations mean jack.
 
Last edited:
You must log in or register to reply here.
Back
Top Bottom