AR-155.56 NATOballistics
AR-15 5.56 Barrel Length Guide
Quickly compare 11.5" through 20" configurations with velocity, range, and OAL visuals to match your mission.
Updated with suppressor notes and gas system tips.
Deep dives that pair with the guided builder. Explore ballistics, compatibility notes, and mission-first decision tools designed for AR-pattern platforms.
These references distill vetted knowledge from armorers and ballistic labs into quick decision helpers. Use them before or after running a build to sanity check your choices.
Quickly compare 11.5" through 20" configurations with velocity, range, and OAL visuals to match your mission.
Updated with suppressor notes and gas system tips.
Contrast PSA, Aero, BCM, DD, LMT, KAC, Geissele, Sig Sauer, Smith & Wesson, and Noveske across price tiers, QC, and mission fit.
Breaks down value tiers, support policies, and upgrade paths.
Compare flash hiders, compensators, brakes, and hybrids with decision matrices for mission-driven device selection.
Performance metrics and use-case recommendations included.
Match barrel length, gas system, buffer weight, and springs for reliable cycling suppressed and unsuppressed.
Includes dwell time cheatsheets and troubleshooting flows.
Compare LPVOs, red dots, prisms, and magnifier setups with mission-driven recommendations and weight data.
Decision tables for home, patrol, Recce, and night use.
IR lasers, passive aiming, and optic height considerations with NVG setup recommendations for AR platforms.
Covers mount heights, IR devices, and training requirements.
Prep hosts, manage backpressure, and track POI shift to keep suppressed ARs reliable across calibers.
Mount selection and over-gassing mitigations explained.
Review triggers, springs, buffers, and small-part kits by tier with upgrade priorities for reliability.
Includes round-count driven replacement schedules.
Component recipes and rationale for Home Defense, Patrol, Recce/SPR, PCC crossover, and minimalist truck builds.
Each playbook lists parts, accessories, and training notes.
Use round-count checkpoints to inspect bolts, gas rings, springs, and barrels with printable log templates.
Add-on worksheets keep fleet rifles mission ready.