It was nice to get my Form 1 approved. This thing is smooooooth. Radian upper, lower, and BCG, Hodge (FN) 12.5” barrel, Maxim stock, Geissele Tricon trigger, and Aimpoint Micro T-2.





The pattern on the lower matching the PMAG is sooo cute.

I have a DeadAir Xeno 3-prong FH on the way to add my Nomad Ti can.

Radian makes some really nice stuff.
I don't need any more AR's and still have un built parts for three now, BUT I like the Radian bones, a lot!

That’s a fine looking rifle! 12.5” is my favorite length for 5.56.

quote:

Originally posted by arabiancowboy:
That’s a fine looking rifle! 12.5” is my favorite length for 5.56.

I'm curious as to your experience with it. This is my first short barrel AR. 12.5 seemed to be in a sweet spot for velocity vs. length.

I have an 11.5. But I think a 12.5 is probably the sweet spot for a handy SBR that is going to be primarily shot unsuppressed.

Like someone said, kind of a sweet spot for velocity and handiness.

quote:

Originally posted by flesheatingvirus:

quote:

Originally posted by arabiancowboy:
That’s a fine looking rifle! 12.5” is my favorite length for 5.56.

I'm curious as to your experience with it. This is my first short barrel AR. 12.5 seemed to be in a sweet spot for velocity vs. length.

I have no experience with Radian, but out of all the 5.56 barrel lengths I’ve used 12.5 is my favorite balance of handiness while still feeling like a rifle. 16 is too big, 14.5 isn’t much better, 8.5 is way to small. I had a 12.5 (B&T) and loved it. Never owned a 10.5 but I’ve used many; for suppressed that might be my choice but for unsuppressed I love the 12.5. You can tell I’m not a ballistics expert from this highly subjective analysis, but you asked!

I got you. The 12.5 is the “just right” porridge.

FINALLY got the mount after some UPS fuckery. Dead Air messed up and the order got missed. After a month, I pinged them. They stepped up and Next Day Air'd the mount. UPS sent it to AZ, then back to KY, then to me. It took almost 2 weeks for a Next Day Air package.

I don't have a 12.5" as those have only become more available in the last few years. I do have an 11.5" and it's the shortest I would go for several reasons. Primarily because it's just barely above 2600FPS in the brand of M193 that I have the most of. That seems to be the generally accepted velocity required to ensure fragmentation. It also increases the dwell time by 40% over the 10.3" rifles that were all the rage during GWOT. For the added speed and durability at the expense of an extra inch, I see no disadvantages and only positives in a 12.5.