Muzzle blast difference between AR pistol 556 v. 9mm

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Balrog

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I have never shot an AR pistol and am wondering about the differences between shooting an AR pistol in 556 v. 9mm. Seems like most AR pistols in 223 have a barrel of about 10 inches, and 9mm is a little shorter.

What is the difference in muzzle blast?
Is the 9mm more comfortable to shoot?

I have fired a 9mm AR carbine with 16 inch barrel, and its not much different to me than a 556 in terms of recoil or muzzle blast, but I wonder if a shorter barrel may make the difference more noticeable.
 
AR pistols probably vary by type of muzzle device. I have an Extar EXP,
and that puppy is brutally concussive. The muzzle brake offsets almost
all recoil and muzzle-rise, at the expense of report & concussion behind
the muzzle. It's not something you'd ever want to fire without ear pro, and
definitely not indoors without ear pro (as in "home defense").

Based on volume of powder burned, I would speculate that a 9mm version
with the same brake, would be noticeably "nicer"...
:cool:
 
AR pistols probably vary by type of muzzle device. I have an Extar EXP,
and that puppy is brutally concussive. The muzzle brake offsets almost
all recoil and muzzle-rise, at the expense of report & concussion behind
the muzzle.

Based on volume of powder burned, I would speculate that a 9mm version
with the same brake, would be noticeably "nicer"...
:cool:

It's my experience that brakes are more efficient on higher pressure cartridges.

As to concussion. Just go to an indoor range. A 556 Pistol has way more concussion from 12 lanes away than a 9mm in the next lane.
 
I have fired a 9mm AR carbine with 16 inch barrel, and its not much different to me than a 556 in terms of recoil or muzzle blast, but I wonder if a shorter barrel may make the difference more noticeable.

:confused:

Recoil impulse, no, not a huge difference, but there's no comparison in the muzzle blast of a 9mm vs. a 5.56, regardless of barrel length. The difference will be ever more pronounced as the barrels get shorter. Touch off a 4 or 5" barreled 9mm indoors without ear pro, it'll ring your bell. Do it with a 7.5" 5.56, you'll be shopping for hearing aids after your ears stop bleeding.
 
They feel about the same to shoot, but the blast from the rifle cartridge is substantial.
 
There's no comparison:
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A 9mm pistol sounds like a gun. A 10.5" .223 sounds like an accident that ruined a gun. Without the flash diverter it'll clear your sinuses, and the firing line; with, it's slightly better.
 
I have 10.5" AR's and my son has a 7.5", and just the difference between the muzzle blast with them is very noticeable. All guns have AAC flash suppressor type muzzle devices on them. The 10.5's aren't really all that bad, the 7.5 is obnoxious.

I've never understood putting a brake on an AR, and I had a couple of guns back in the ban era that came with them, but, I cut them off and put flash suppressor on them. They really didn't bother the shooter as much as those to the side and slightly behind though. If you were shooting at a range, it usually guaranteed you had open benches next to you if it wasn't crowded, and lots of bitching if it was. And that was with guns with 16" barrels. I would imagine that would go up exponentially with one of the pistols that had one.

I've shot a lot of 9mm from short barreled SMG's, and they were about the same as a handgun, maybe a tad quieter. Shoot a hand gun next to the AR, and you'll have your answer.
 
The AR will always produce more blast in 223, regardless of barrel length or what is on the end of it (unless what is on the end is a suppressor).
 
I've seen quite a few of the 5.56 guns fired at matches. They are LOUD and have significant blast. Much louder than 9mm guns.
 
I have never shot an AR pistol and am wondering about the differences between shooting an AR pistol in 556 v. 9mm. Seems like most AR pistols in 223 have a barrel of about 10 inches, and 9mm is a little shorter.

What is the difference in muzzle blast?
Is the 9mm more comfortable to shoot?

I have fired a 9mm AR carbine with 16 inch barrel, and its not much different to me than a 556 in terms of recoil or muzzle blast, but I wonder if a shorter barrel may make the difference more noticeable.

How can you barely notice the noise difference between a 9mm and a 5.56mm carbine? My CZ Scorpion even wears a muzzle brake and I'd describe it as an overgrown .22LR sound-wise. My Colt 6920 is borderline obnoxious to shoot, with significantly more noise and concussion.

I've been under a covered firing point when a gentleman was firing a 5.56mm AR pistol. No idea the exact barrel length. Let's just say even with plugs and muffs, I waited until he was done before returning to shooting my little .22LR rifle. A 9mm pistol is obnoxious to my sinuses under a tin roof. A 5.56mm pistol is like standing next to some kind of pyrotechnic display.
 
I owned a 10” P556 pistol. The muzzle blast and flash were unpleasant to say the least. It’s one of the reasons I got rid of it.

A 9mm will be a lot more pleasant.
 
Perhaps compromise and go 300 blackout
Yeah, that might help. I’m probably just going to stick with pistol caliber carbines. They’re easy to load my own with carbide dies, and do everything I require.

147 or 150 gr 9mms from a 7+ inch barrel will thump a home invader nicely, and with a can may not even deafen my animals.
 
I have an AK pistol. Even with custom plugs and very good muffs, it is unpleasantly loud. I already have compromised hearing, so the AK is mostly a safe queen. Also have a Kel Tec Sub 2000 in 9mm. No comparison, the 2000 is a pleasure to shoot. Well, from a noise perspective. Ergonomics is another issue.
 
I owned a 10” P556 pistol. The muzzle blast and flash were unpleasant to say the least. It’s one of the reasons I got rid of it.

A 9mm will be a lot more pleasant.

You just needed to accessorize it!

Even the 7.5" can be tamed: This is with my flagship 5.56 model, which is only 5" long, so the OAL is still shorter than a 10.5 with a flash hider

 
A 5.56 pistol is only mildly annoying.
A local club used to have an indoor rifle range rated for magnum calibers.
It started raining and I stowed my rifles and went inside to shoot some PCC. Some Yahoo came in and started shooting a 7.5" 5.56 next to me (plenty of lanes, don't know why). Funny he didn't stay long after I went and got my .338 Win Mag.
 
As others have said, it is a gigantic difference. A typical 9mm carbine will be a little quieter than a pistol. A pistol length .223 is concussive. I do a lot of indoor range shooting. When someone is shooting a .223 with a short barrel, you can feel it in your chest. Small objects vibrate on benchtops. Dust may fall from things hanging from the ceiling.

This question is like asking whether there is a difference between the sound of a Honda Civic and an obnoxiously loud Harley Davidson motorcycle.
 
I was at the range Friday and done dude three lanes over came in with an AR10. Then about ten minutes later some guy came in, sat next to the first guy, two lanes from me with an AR15. This is only a 30 yard max indoor range.

Meanwhile I was over on the end with my little old 45s, trying not to flinch when those two were shooting.
 
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