unfortunately thats kinda the point with all these "content creators" who arent creative. rage bait gets clicks and thats all they care about... like buzzfeed of the youtube world lol
Its called smooth brain tards hahaha! I just watched and had a discussion with current operators about the mk18. They stated that the URGI development will not even come to the the MK18 as of now. It will stay as the MK18 and the plan is to use it till future notice.
A 10.3/.5 with heavy grain ammo does phenomenal at short ranges. And let‘s be honest most people that use guns for defensive situations won‘t shoot at anything/anyone beyond what they can identify by eye. So I‘d much rather keep using my mk18 with 77grs ftx for homedefense then any longer rifle with 55s
Perfect use for a mid range caliber: short range. Could just suck up to outdated Seal lore, or we could adapt our rifles so they perform significantly better, and you don't have to stupidly justify losing ballistic capability
@@eindride1268 you can do what ever you want, I just pointed out that these barrel lengths work for me. I prefere to lose some range for having a compact rifle with cqb in mind (mind you it is for homedefense). I switched to a .300 anyways but I still think that even with 5.56 the shorter barrels are more than enough for my mission, as long as you pick the right round for the barrel ofc.
I run the Barnes 50-gr TSX optimized rounds in the MK18 as my go-to round of choice. Really like those rounds. Otherwise, just standard 55 grain XM193 works fine given my purposes/needs.
@@LilStout you’re really going to argue the over penetration between a 10.5 556 and a 6in 300bo?? If over penetration is the concern then stick to pistol calibers, or subsonic 300bo. I live in the country and am not concerned with over penetration.
I love the penetration argument like all of these won’t fly drywall anyways. If money wasn’t an option a 300blk would definitely be my bedside as well but I can’t afford another upper, and the price of ammo to train, maybe one day tho
You are going to potentially throw your life away to fight someone that has nothing to lose? I'm running with this guy, not about to catch a charge to fight some loser
Longer barrels preform better it’s just the way it is. The military can afford to shoot only 77 grain to help that silly short barrel I have to buy my own projectiles and I shoot thousands so I shoot 55 grain and of course I need a longer barrel 16” minimum for me
I mean the mk18 is designed for cqb.. so when youre asking for more velocity, you're already choosing the wrong tool for the job. You cant say a tool is dead because it doesnt do its job. Its like preferring 1 crescent wrench over the correct wrench for the job.
@@AllThingsLoud_ like what? Better in what ways? The mk18 isnt the best but certainly aint dead. 98% of the civilian population wont ever reach the life span of one anyways
Ya but if u only get 1 wrench a crescent wrench is a good option 16” is minimum for me in 556 otherwise if shorter I only use 300 Bo . So ya the mk18 is lacking.
I’ve wanted to do that myself as well and have had that idea for awhile too. But now I’m having second thoughts and don’t know if I wanna go 300 blk or 5.56 on my shorty build🤣
I know everyone wants an SBR, but I deployed to Syria with an M16 A4 with a 20 inch barrel. With proper muzzle awareness and training getting in and out of vehicles, or maneuvering under pressure is a non-issue. I run 16 inch barrels on my AR's because it's less paperwork, and a sweet spot for ballistic performance without having to go for a 20 inch barrel.
25 fps per inch on the barrel. Speed isn’t the reason for the change in 10.3 to 11.5. The reason is dwell time and easier on the bolt after 150 k rounds. 10.3 barrels are still killing people fins all over the world bro. 11.5 was because the program ended and they tried to find a new reason. Speed has absolutely zero to do with it.
Bullet velocity does pay into it because 5.56 relies on velocity to achieve lethality requiring Mach 1 speed minimum to fragment and transfer energy after entering the body that being said his first rifle as he described it with the 7 inch barrel doesn't have that velocity so it basically is just a hole puncher but mk18 length (10.3_11.5) offers the velocity needed especially when fitting mk318 ammunition which was designed for shorter barrels such as the mk18, if you use the right tool for the job it will perform just fine hating the mk18 and using a 7 inch upper as an example is like hating an 8mm wrench because it can't unscrew a 10mm bolt.
Different bullet designs behave differently at different velocities. Some designs, like Barnes TSX perform very well out of short barrels, especially the 50gr Optimized loading from Black Hills. The terminal ballistics are phenomenal out of short barrels, and it retains its ability to expand down to very low velocities. Out of my 11.5" it will reliably expand out to about 150 yards. Which is all I want from that gun. Even out of a 10.3", these rounds perform exceptionally well out to around 100 yards, which realistically, is well within the range the Mk18 is likely to be used at. This whole "fragmentation" myth stems mostly from M193 and M855, and if you're running either of those in a defensive gun you're an idiot. Different guns for different use-cases. People who deal in absolutes usually don't know what they're talking about... Or just want clicks.
Glad someone else is using the TSX. I keep my entire load out full of 70 gr. TSX. The energy dump and penetration compared to just about every other 5.56 load is significant to say the least.
I completely understand that ballistics matter, and shorter barrels do take away from velocities, but that design seems to have sent plenty of our enemies to their graves, so it obviously works.
I love the potential for controversy here lol and great quality content btw however the MK 18 will never die imo and that 1 inch difference wouldn’t be enough for me to do away with my DD. 👍🏾
Yeah super sick the mk18 is. Only thing I've done is went to piston platforms in every gun. 9mm PDW MP5, 556 SPR, 308 AR10 battle rifle (superlative arms kits), 556 JaKL!
There is almost no situation you’ll find yourself in where an 11.5 would have got the job done and the MK18 left you hanging. We are talking 100, maybe 150fps, difference. A 10.3 for short work, a 14.5 or 16 when you need more range.
My Block 2 never let me down when it mattered. We carried them on deployment after deployment, you add a suppressor to it & its right around 15”. Later in GWOT HK416’s came on the scene but honestly the Block 2 or MK18 style was as good if not more reliable when you’re putting a lot of rounds through it. MK18’s will always be one of the best performing weapons you can use. But what do any of us early GWOT guys know.
The only dudes saying the "mk18 is dead" are couch warrior tactibros who think they know more than people who've actually seen combat like yourself. I just find it funny these guys really think their 11.5 or longer barrel versus 10.3 is going to save them somehow lmfao.
I’ve been running a mk18 for 7 years now, on my third barrel and I have no plans to change. If you find something that works and does everything you need don’t change it. Far from dead
2 semi-pro tips- 1~NEVER EVER EVER go shorter than a carbine length gas system. a pistol length gas tube isnt a true "in-spec"part, It's considered novelty. Yes, they're now mainstream and some manufacturers have managed to master their reliable but that doesn't change the facts. It's also why pigtail gas tubes were created, an attempt to make pistol length gas systems more reliable. And #2~ the MK18 is absolutely NOT DEAD. It may not be the best DMR but It 100% has a place in today's battlefields. Especially when it's paired with projectiles that aren't dependant on speed. But yeah 11.3•12•12.5👌
I have chronographed a 10.5 and 11.5 and the difference in velocity was very minimal. I cant remember the exact numbers but I wrote them down for reference when loading rounds into my ballistics calculator for use with the Nikon Spot on p223 scope I prefer. That extra inch doesnt make a hell of alot of difference, it's the combination of parts, like buffer weight, BCG weight, gas tube position, any muzzle devices that can add back pressure, spring weights and so forth. Going from a 10.5 to an 11.5 is very minimal from what I tested. I federal green tips and some of the slower of the rounds from 11.5s were the same speed as the quicker (but not the fastest) of the 10.5s. If you want to really know what velocity your ammo is getting you, you really need to buy a chronograph and actually test the ammo you use even if you hand loaded them. I wouldn't even suggest hand loading without a chrono to test by. Yeah sub 9" barreled 5.56s are a waste by my tests and opinion. They just dont get enough performance from a sub 9" barrel but they make an impressive muzzle blast and massive concussion that almost requires plugs and muffs but eith my 10.5s it's still loud but the performance is good for 200 yards which is all a gun built like that should be expect to do. Yeah, an 11.5 will gain a little and the longer the barrel the more you'll get out of it to an extent. But I do see from testing that a 10.5 vs 11.5 velocity is negligible. If the gun is sprung and buffered correctly and gets enough gas pressure they both will preform perfectly for any distance that is appropriate for that gun. You ain't shooting 500 yards from a 10.5 or 11.5 and the difference at 200 yards is much different at all between the 10.5 and 11.5. You have to build it to work with the other parts with any configuration. A 10.5 is perfectly fine to use in select distances and the 11.5 isnt going to add anything substantial.
Counter argument. 11.5 is useless. 10.3 is and has proven to be the ideal CQB weapon of choice for engagements within 50 yards with 77 MK262 ammo. Probably even better with 62 and 75 speer gold dot and 62 grain federal fusion. Anything outside of that range, you grab a 12.5, 13.9, or 14.5. 14.5 is my personal preference of the 3. Especially if all you have is 55 grain ammo - then I wouldn't want anything shorter than a 14.5. If you have a large enough stock of quality defense ammo, you can get away with going shorter. I would say go 11.5 over 10.3 if reliability proved to be an issue, but with thousands of rounds through a DD MK18 without failure and perfect 3'oclock ejection using H2 and H3 buffers, it's hard to justify the switch.
I concur with this counter argument. I would go so far as to even argue that barrel lengths or weapon platform choices are subjective (at least in the civilian world). It all depends on a person's needs/"mission" they need to fulfill.
@Elijah Ford Exactly 💯. I'd have no problems stretching my MK18 out to 300 yards if I absolutely had to. Let's face it, though, in a true SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/Zombie Apocalypse scenario (joking), the last thing you'll want to be doing is getting into any kind of engagements, whether CQB or at range, unless there's no other option. You'll want to remain as far under the radar as possible; especially if the medical system has broken down and all the hospitals are not functioning.
Me and a few other gents have used 10.3s downrange. Seemed to work pretty good...even with fmjs. Hell, even out to 300, I've seen it do its thing. Granted at that range and further id prefer something longer, but its hard to beat suppressed with the balance and capabilities.
300 blk mk18. 10.3”, super sonic rounds, short can, 0-250 ish. With supers and a 10.3 250 is probably doable. Low key a proper mk18 in 300 blk a 14.5 in 556 and a 16” in 308. Now that’s 3 solid set ups to have.
It seems the 5.56 loses its ability to fragment beyond 50m out of a 10.3 barrel. It’s still a deadly projectile obviously beyond 50, but it’s maximum effectiveness reduces the shorter the barrel goes. A MK18 build, with a can, is still a strong contender for home defense or close quarters situations.
Everyone saying the mk18 is dead are trying to do things it wasn’t meant for. They always talk about distance and terminal velocity. This ain’t Afghanistan. Who they think they fighting 😂
MK18 is designed for CQB. Good to have a MK18 for home defense and a 16 inch barrel for an op where you’d be using your weapon at ranges of 150M or more in my opinion.
Someone should call all the guys who were unalived by mk18’s during its deployment overseas and with law enforcement to let them know about how ineffective it is. 😂
In a squad. Your mk18 is your personal defense weapon. If you have contact past 300, your squad has tools far better than a longer barrel 5.56. 11.5 and 10.5 accomplish the same goals as a personal defense weapon.
The mk18 hasnt changed, judging your shirt, riser, beard, etc. you follow what ever the current trend is. We started with 20" m16's then shortened them more & more, and now are going back the other direction. We started with tall scope mounts, the shortened them, and now going back the other direction. Physics hasn't changed, trends have.
Your 7.5 barrel failed because its too short, 10.3 is the minimum for 5.56 to achieve lethality, 20 in the maximum before you start losing velocity. Plenty of Taliban, Al Queda, ISIS, Al Shebab, and plenty more have met their end by the MK18, it's about understanding ballistics and having the right tool for the job, if the military is still using MK18s and other rifles with the same barrel length, then it's probably not dead.
For inside 100 yards, which is the application for a MK18, the 10.3” barrel is just fine. For your SHTF go to war gun, run a 16”. That’s what the Marines are doing now with the M27.
Honestly 5.56 is only really effective with at least 14.5” minimum. Ya might as well go for 16+. If you want something short, .300 blackout is far superior.
Not dead. Right weapon for the right mission and environment. There is no “shorter is best or longer is best.” Though 7.5 is meant for .300 really. 10.3 is really pushing the bleeding edge of lack of effectiveness for 5.56
I'm going to assume if it couldn't perform the job it needs to perform the military wouldn't use it 😂 but you are right the biggest jump in velocity on barrel lengths is the jump between 10.3 and 11.5 that inch does make a big difference but if your within 100 yards and get hit by a 556 out of a 10.3 barrel it's going to be devastating. Your still getting 2500-2600 fps out of a 10.3 which will still cause fragmentation if it doesn't zip straight through you. Also people need to know there barrel twist and make sure they are using the correct grain bullet for their twist to get the maximum performance
Everyone’s jumping on this mk18 is dead bandwagon but it’s still effective as hell in a lot of situations their plenty of bad dudes sleeping six feet deep that will attest to that.
So 10.5 I think is ok. Wouldn’t say it’s dead. Although personally, if I’m going below 14.5, I’m switching to 300blk. If you’re going 10.5, you’re not looking for long range and you’re not gonna get it. 5.56 was quite literally designed to penetrate a Russian helmet at 600 meters. If you’re going for a short cqb type weapon, might as well switch to something designed to hit hard up close. There’s a lot of things to consider. Obviously 5.56 is a nato cartridge and 300blk is not. Should the Mk18 concept be dead to those who have more options? Maybe. I don’t like short barrels and 5.56. That’s just my opinion. In the armed forces where 5.56 is the intermediate cartridge of choice? Probably gonna stick around a while.
Yeah but 5.56 out of a 7 inch barrel is just as deadly than a 9mm pcc. It carry’s more terminal velocity than a 9mm and still has the potential to penetrate soft body armor. For example a 7 inch ar15 is exactly the same size and length as a mp5. But nobody calls the mph useless. Plus the manual of arms is better.
So here's the thing civilians don't realize when they buy military style civilian market guns, the military doesn't use civilian ammo. Your "5.56" AR 15, shoots civilian .223 rounds, a military 5.56 is wayyy hotter then a civ round, shooting military ammo through your AR15 will damage it. So as a civilian the Mk18 build is probably not as effective as you'd like, but a tier 1 SOF MK18 is 10 times the rifle you have and I'm not even trying to be disrespectful. An M4 /Mk18/M16/C7/C8/ any other military rifle is built differently then a rifle you'd buy on the civilian market, and you can upgrade it your personal rifle to be better, but you won't have access to a lot of the stuff these tier one guys use, but you make an awesome point to beginners, short barrels are not always the answer and this is a huge reason why
Most AR15s that are made today are built to handle 5.56. Most of their parts roll off the same exact forges and machines that the military guns do. In fact I can't think of a single commercially available AR15 off the top of my head that can't, because no one wants to buy a gun that practically slices their ammo availability in half by limiting them to just .223.You think DD, Sig, LMT, KAC, etc are retooling all their shit to make an objectively inferior product for the commercial market when they can just make everything on the same tooling for cheaper and still charge a premium for it because of their name? You can buy military M193 and M855 5.56 right now, made by Lake City (the same ammo plant that makes all the military's ammo), and shoot it through almost any competently built commercial AR15 and it will be fine. AR15s are fighting rifles, making shit up about how apparently terrible they are (they aren't) helps absolutely no one.
Almost all of this is not true. That's not even how DoD contracts work. My civilian guns are better quality than my military issue ones. Military has access to certain prototypes, but for the most part, the stuff available on the civilian market is the exact same quality as military issue.
MK18 is for CQB, doesn't need large barrels, the shorter the barrel is, the better will be for CQB environment like a house, you're gonna be able to operate it better, with a long rifle in a CQB environment it's gonna be hard to you to handle it
dont listen to this guy. The MK18 upper is a very specific use barrel. As well as reliability and toughness. It is absolutely meant for CQB engagements. between 5 feet and 500 feet. or greater. And its a pic rail so it can mount a flashlight/ir optics, ir laser system, a vert grip of some kind or angled foregrip whatever. regular laser or offsets. And its an incredibly rigid upper. Itll take abuse and also withstand full-auto use.
![Roddy Ricch - Survivors Remorse [Official Music Video]](http://i.ytimg.com/vi/J5IeFzr2GgE/mqdefault.jpg)
I hear a buzzing sound. Must be the hornets nest that was stirred up. 😂
...that or the tinnitus from shooting that 7.5 inch barrel rifle.
unfortunately thats kinda the point with all these "content creators" who arent creative. rage bait gets clicks and thats all they care about... like buzzfeed of the youtube world lol
The mk18 isn’t dead, it’s seen too many successful deployments. It was the standard for the URGI to beat.
What’s the URGI?
@@EternalDawnjust an m4 with mlok handguard
@@AdoroBiscoff i meant what does URGI mean, sorry, though thats good to know as additional context :D
@@EternalDawn cooler upper receiver
@@AdoroBiscoff oh ok i thought it was some sort of acryonym, cheers.
There are a whole lot of dead taliban due to a short barrel. In other words
Rifle is fine
🧢 MK18 the goat
😂
I own lots of ARs. Most all of them get neglected accept the MK18. Where I go, it goes!
True
SR15
😂😂😂😂🤝🤝
Mk18 ain't dead, idk why people can never grasp the idea of having the right tool for the job.
Its called smooth brain tards hahaha! I just watched and had a discussion with current operators about the mk18. They stated that the URGI development will not even come to the the MK18 as of now. It will stay as the MK18 and the plan is to use it till future notice.
Right. You aren’t going to be hitting 200meter shots with a mk18 but that’s not what it’s built for. Classic click bait video from a RUclips warrior.
@@TwoPappaThree a guy with no real training that admitted he originally bought a 7.5" and now is a Gun tuber giving out expertise .
@@jonsingleton203 right 🤣
Yeah it seems like this a hard concept to grasp for some.
A 10.3/.5 with heavy grain ammo does phenomenal at short ranges. And let‘s be honest most people that use guns for defensive situations won‘t shoot at anything/anyone beyond what they can identify by eye. So I‘d much rather keep using my mk18 with 77grs ftx for homedefense then any longer rifle with 55s
Good points, also barrel whip is something 16" and longer have problems with, small thing but shooting 14.5 and below really are stiffer shooting.
Perfect use for a mid range caliber: short range. Could just suck up to outdated Seal lore, or we could adapt our rifles so they perform significantly better, and you don't have to stupidly justify losing ballistic capability
@@eindride1268 you can do what ever you want, I just pointed out that these barrel lengths work for me. I prefere to lose some range for having a compact rifle with cqb in mind (mind you it is for homedefense).
I switched to a .300 anyways but I still think that even with 5.56 the shorter barrels are more than enough for my mission, as long as you pick the right round for the barrel ofc.
I run the Barnes 50-gr TSX optimized rounds in the MK18 as my go-to round of choice. Really like those rounds. Otherwise, just standard 55 grain XM193 works fine given my purposes/needs.
@The Ghost 50 grains? Going more for piercing with that set up?
The mk18 was designed to use rounds like 77gr otm
Still ideal for home self defense, just keep sleeping with it like I do.
300 blackout out of a 6in is way better for home defense
@@josh2711 right... cuz that won't penetrate drywall and hit someone in the next room over or your neighbors house
@@LilStout you’re really going to argue the over penetration between a 10.5 556 and a 6in 300bo?? If over penetration is the concern then stick to pistol calibers, or subsonic 300bo. I live in the country and am not concerned with over penetration.
@@LilStout depends on alot of factors chief
I love the penetration argument like all of these won’t fly drywall anyways. If money wasn’t an option a 300blk would definitely be my bedside as well but I can’t afford another upper, and the price of ammo to train, maybe one day tho
MK18 is far from dead lol.
MK18 will never be dead to me.
Just to let you know this guy will run away from a street fight.
You are going to potentially throw your life away to fight someone that has nothing to lose? I'm running with this guy, not about to catch a charge to fight some loser
@@user-hz7ti2dz3k thats just an excure to cowardness
You are crazy bro, one of the best guns in the world haha.
Longer barrels preform better it’s just the way it is. The military can afford to shoot only 77 grain to help that silly short barrel I have to buy my own projectiles and I shoot thousands so I shoot 55 grain and of course I need a longer barrel 16” minimum for me
I mean the mk18 is designed for cqb.. so when youre asking for more velocity, you're already choosing the wrong tool for the job. You cant say a tool is dead because it doesnt do its job. Its like preferring 1 crescent wrench over the correct wrench for the job.
2 words: better options
@@AllThingsLoud_ like what? Better in what ways? The mk18 isnt the best but certainly aint dead. 98% of the civilian population wont ever reach the life span of one anyways
Ya but if u only get 1 wrench a crescent wrench is a good option 16” is minimum for me in 556 otherwise if shorter I only use 300 Bo . So ya the mk18 is lacking.
@@jefferyboring4410Except it’s not lacking. It does exactly what it was designed to do…
Your still dead if shot 3 times to the chest with a mk18
I just went 300 blk for my shorty and I'm swapping my 16 for a 20 on the 5.56.
I’ve wanted to do that myself as well and have had that idea for awhile too. But now I’m having second thoughts and don’t know if I wanna go 300 blk or 5.56 on my shorty build🤣
@@etxgunman1122300blk is better for shorter barrels always
Waiting on my 10.5" 300 blk rn, personally im gonna keep the 16" for my 5 56 but will do an m16 clone aat some point
Bruh. This rifle has killed so many people. Never gonna be dead
Still doesn’t mean a 20 inch ar is better in every aspect except length and weight
Source: I made it the fuck up
Meanwhile half the seals I met prefer the 18.
Agree but for those who already have a 10.5, just use 77 grain. More weight helps.
or swap your barrel to 300blk
@@ClitoridectomyGroyper no
I know everyone wants an SBR, but I deployed to Syria with an M16 A4 with a 20 inch barrel. With proper muzzle awareness and training getting in and out of vehicles, or maneuvering under pressure is a non-issue. I run 16 inch barrels on my AR's because it's less paperwork, and a sweet spot for ballistic performance without having to go for a 20 inch barrel.
25 fps per inch on the barrel. Speed isn’t the reason for the change in 10.3 to 11.5. The reason is dwell time and easier on the bolt after 150 k rounds. 10.3 barrels are still killing people fins all over the world bro. 11.5 was because the program ended and they tried to find a new reason. Speed has absolutely zero to do with it.
I wish you were as right about what you’re saying as you are passionate about it 😉
Bullet velocity does pay into it because 5.56 relies on velocity to achieve lethality requiring Mach 1 speed minimum to fragment and transfer energy after entering the body that being said his first rifle as he described it with the 7 inch barrel doesn't have that velocity so it basically is just a hole puncher but mk18 length (10.3_11.5) offers the velocity needed especially when fitting mk318 ammunition which was designed for shorter barrels such as the mk18, if you use the right tool for the job it will perform just fine hating the mk18 and using a 7 inch upper as an example is like hating an 8mm wrench because it can't unscrew a 10mm bolt.
@@mikecriticalthinker8805You couldn’t even get the quote right…
Different bullet designs behave differently at different velocities. Some designs, like Barnes TSX perform very well out of short barrels, especially the 50gr Optimized loading from Black Hills.
The terminal ballistics are phenomenal out of short barrels, and it retains its ability to expand down to very low velocities. Out of my 11.5" it will reliably expand out to about 150 yards. Which is all I want from that gun. Even out of a 10.3", these rounds perform exceptionally well out to around 100 yards, which realistically, is well within the range the Mk18 is likely to be used at.
This whole "fragmentation" myth stems mostly from M193 and M855, and if you're running either of those in a defensive gun you're an idiot. Different guns for different use-cases. People who deal in absolutes usually don't know what they're talking about... Or just want clicks.
Glad someone else is using the TSX. I keep my entire load out full of 70 gr. TSX. The energy dump and penetration compared to just about every other 5.56 load is significant to say the least.
Exactly 💯. I'm rocking the 50 grain TSX in my MK18 as well. Awesome stuff worth every penny.
Mk18 + Mk262 77gr = GOATED
maybe because the mk18 isnt made for range, the whole point of it was to be a cqb version of the sopmod for the navy seals...
I completely understand that ballistics matter, and shorter barrels do take away from velocities, but that design seems to have sent plenty of our enemies to their graves, so it obviously works.
I love the potential for controversy here lol and great quality content btw however the MK 18 will never die imo and that 1 inch difference wouldn’t be enough for me to do away with my DD. 👍🏾
Especially for cqb
Yeah super sick the mk18 is. Only thing I've done is went to piston platforms in every gun. 9mm PDW MP5, 556 SPR, 308 AR10 battle rifle (superlative arms kits), 556 JaKL!
Mk18 with can = perfection
There is almost no situation you’ll find yourself in where an 11.5 would have got the job done and the MK18 left you hanging. We are talking 100, maybe 150fps, difference.
A 10.3 for short work, a 14.5 or 16 when you need more range.
My Block 2 never let me down when it mattered. We carried them on deployment after deployment, you add a suppressor to it & its right around 15”. Later in GWOT HK416’s came on the scene but honestly the Block 2 or MK18 style was as good if not more reliable when you’re putting a lot of rounds through it. MK18’s will always be one of the best performing weapons you can use. But what do any of us early GWOT guys know.
The only dudes saying the "mk18 is dead" are couch warrior tactibros who think they know more than people who've actually seen combat like yourself. I just find it funny these guys really think their 11.5 or longer barrel versus 10.3 is going to save them somehow lmfao.
Unless the NFA goes away or you want to suppress it, a pinned and welded 14.5” is the way to go imo.
1-3 months for a form 1 SBR. Eh
Tax simp
I’ve been running a mk18 for 7 years now, on my third barrel and I have no plans to change. If you find something that works and does everything you need don’t change it. Far from dead
Mark 18 was built for the use of a suppressor so 10.3 was good to cut down the length, especially for cqc
2 semi-pro tips- 1~NEVER EVER EVER go shorter than a carbine length gas system. a pistol length gas tube isnt a true "in-spec"part, It's considered novelty. Yes, they're now mainstream and some manufacturers have managed to master their reliable but that doesn't change the facts. It's also why pigtail gas tubes were created, an attempt to make pistol length gas systems more reliable. And #2~ the MK18 is absolutely NOT DEAD. It may not be the best DMR but It 100% has a place in today's battlefields. Especially when it's paired with projectiles that aren't dependant on speed. But yeah 11.3•12•12.5👌
I have chronographed a 10.5 and 11.5 and the difference in velocity was very minimal. I cant remember the exact numbers but I wrote them down for reference when loading rounds into my ballistics calculator for use with the Nikon Spot on p223 scope I prefer. That extra inch doesnt make a hell of alot of difference, it's the combination of parts, like buffer weight, BCG weight, gas tube position, any muzzle devices that can add back pressure, spring weights and so forth. Going from a 10.5 to an 11.5 is very minimal from what I tested. I federal green tips and some of the slower of the rounds from 11.5s were the same speed as the quicker (but not the fastest) of the 10.5s. If you want to really know what velocity your ammo is getting you, you really need to buy a chronograph and actually test the ammo you use even if you hand loaded them. I wouldn't even suggest hand loading without a chrono to test by. Yeah sub 9" barreled 5.56s are a waste by my tests and opinion. They just dont get enough performance from a sub 9" barrel but they make an impressive muzzle blast and massive concussion that almost requires plugs and muffs but eith my 10.5s it's still loud but the performance is good for 200 yards which is all a gun built like that should be expect to do. Yeah, an 11.5 will gain a little and the longer the barrel the more you'll get out of it to an extent. But I do see from testing that a 10.5 vs 11.5 velocity is negligible. If the gun is sprung and buffered correctly and gets enough gas pressure they both will preform perfectly for any distance that is appropriate for that gun. You ain't shooting 500 yards from a 10.5 or 11.5 and the difference at 200 yards is much different at all between the 10.5 and 11.5. You have to build it to work with the other parts with any configuration. A 10.5 is perfectly fine to use in select distances and the 11.5 isnt going to add anything substantial.
Couldn't agree more, I made the same argument on another comment here but you explained it better
Mk18 is for CQB, you don’t need reach.
Counter argument.
11.5 is useless.
10.3 is and has proven to be the ideal CQB weapon of choice for engagements within 50 yards with 77 MK262 ammo. Probably even better with 62 and 75 speer gold dot and 62 grain federal fusion.
Anything outside of that range, you grab a 12.5, 13.9, or 14.5.
14.5 is my personal preference of the 3. Especially if all you have is 55 grain ammo - then I wouldn't want anything shorter than a 14.5.
If you have a large enough stock of quality defense ammo, you can get away with going shorter.
I would say go 11.5 over 10.3 if reliability proved to be an issue, but with thousands of rounds through a DD MK18 without failure and perfect 3'oclock ejection using H2 and H3 buffers, it's hard to justify the switch.
This 👆
Clapping sounds
Agreed. Mk 18 isn't intended to hit targets at distance. It's a cqb gun. If you're fighting at range 14.5 is the way to go.
I concur with this counter argument. I would go so far as to even argue that barrel lengths or weapon platform choices are subjective (at least in the civilian world). It all depends on a person's needs/"mission" they need to fulfill.
@Elijah Ford Exactly 💯. I'd have no problems stretching my MK18 out to 300 yards if I absolutely had to. Let's face it, though, in a true SHTF/TEOTWAWKI/Zombie Apocalypse scenario (joking), the last thing you'll want to be doing is getting into any kind of engagements, whether CQB or at range, unless there's no other option. You'll want to remain as far under the radar as possible; especially if the medical system has broken down and all the hospitals are not functioning.
Idk, if I got hit by an MK18 with MK262 I don't think I'd notice the lack of velocity.
*LARP intensifies
Me and a few other gents have used 10.3s downrange. Seemed to work pretty good...even with fmjs. Hell, even out to 300, I've seen it do its thing. Granted at that range and further id prefer something longer, but its hard to beat suppressed with the balance and capabilities.
Worked well for me overseas🤷♂️
300 blk mk18. 10.3”, super sonic rounds, short can, 0-250 ish. With supers and a 10.3 250 is probably doable. Low key a proper mk18 in 300 blk a 14.5 in 556 and a 16” in 308. Now that’s 3 solid set ups to have.
11.5 is allways better commen sense but a 10.5 is good too especially for concealment and close quarter combat
In CQB do you really care about the distant ballistics performance?
Never heard anyone in a CQB scenario say “Man if only it was an 11.5, I would have got that dude”. 😂
77 grain works well in it
Tell this to Jeff Gurwitch
It seems the 5.56 loses its ability to fragment beyond 50m out of a 10.3 barrel. It’s still a deadly projectile obviously beyond 50, but it’s maximum effectiveness reduces the shorter the barrel goes. A MK18 build, with a can, is still a strong contender for home defense or close quarters situations.
MK18 is not dead nether is the MK12. Nice fake news though
Mk18 doesn’t need distance…it’s wasn’t the design requirement. Get on the boat, do work, disappear. The MK18 is plenty effective on cargo ships.
I’m becoming a two barrel kind of guy. 10.5 will get the job done but if you need the velocity and distance a quick barrel swap is sooo convenient
Honestly man, I love my Mk18 just because it looks like what I used during Call of Duty® modern warfare
Love when dudes who've never used a rifle as a profession are experts.
Everyone saying the mk18 is dead are trying to do things it wasn’t meant for. They always talk about distance and terminal velocity. This ain’t Afghanistan. Who they think they fighting 😂
Bullpups out here with 16 inch barrels and a suppressor while still being as long or maybe a little shorter than a MK18.
Yeah but then your have shitty mushy triggers on bullpups and weird ergonomics, especially if you're used to training with normal rifles.
Bull pups ain America's gun
I love my MK18 clone, but I’m reaching for my MK12 clone in the worst case scenario.
I’ve shot MK18s that will damn near “same hole” at 50 yards. 10.3” is pushing it but it’s far, far from dead.
A Mk18 in .300blk might suit you well
The fact 11.5 brings up the effective terminal range from 100 to 250 meters is actually fucking crazy
MK18 is designed for CQB. Good to have a MK18 for home defense and a 16 inch barrel for an op where you’d be using your weapon at ranges of 150M or more in my opinion.
What if I told you a Tavor X95 with a 13" barrel with a suppressor is the same length as an unsuppressed MK18?
*(user was banned for this post)*
You have to sbr a bullpup rifle under 26 inches
Facts! I started my 1st AR build the same way. 12" mid gas now👌🏿
Someone should call all the guys who were unalived by mk18’s during its deployment overseas and with law enforcement to let them know about how ineffective it is. 😂
In a squad. Your mk18 is your personal defense weapon. If you have contact past 300, your squad has tools far better than a longer barrel 5.56. 11.5 and 10.5 accomplish the same goals as a personal defense weapon.
Special forces dudes still use the mark18 it's not dead at all. Fyi they run mark 262 ammo.
If your running a mk18, it's always best to shoot heavy 75g or 77g
The mk18 hasnt changed, judging your shirt, riser, beard, etc. you follow what ever the current trend is. We started with 20" m16's then shortened them more & more, and now are going back the other direction. We started with tall scope mounts, the shortened them, and now going back the other direction. Physics hasn't changed, trends have.
Just get a bullpup and call it a day.
The MK18 is dead? What do the Seals, Ranges and Green Berets know anyways??
It's almost like the mk18 was specially designed for CQB and the velocities within those ranges is sufficient for 5.56 to perform
Have you ever stood in front of one
Mk18 is life you just chose wrong😂
Your 7.5 barrel failed because its too short, 10.3 is the minimum for 5.56 to achieve lethality, 20 in the maximum before you start losing velocity. Plenty of Taliban, Al Queda, ISIS, Al Shebab, and plenty more have met their end by the MK18, it's about understanding ballistics and having the right tool for the job, if the military is still using MK18s and other rifles with the same barrel length, then it's probably not dead.
For inside 100 yards, which is the application for a MK18, the 10.3” barrel is just fine. For your SHTF go to war gun, run a 16”. That’s what the Marines are doing now with the M27.
Dudes Talking about ballistics and shit like he’s about to go Rambo 😂 I dont think it matters much
Mk 18 is far from dead seeing as in how it’s one of our military’s best ever weapons
Honestly 5.56 is only really effective with at least 14.5” minimum. Ya might as well go for 16+. If you want something short, .300 blackout is far superior.
MK18 was made for SF units for CQC.
A mk18 needs a suppressor, its still perfect tho.
Shorter should be for home defense/ close range. If you are ever in a situation where you need distance then it’s worthless .
I stopped listening to this guy when he did a video on why you should never, ever co-witness your pistol iron sights to your RDS.
Does it go bang when you pull the trigger and can you hit you aim at? Then it's not dead.
Not dead. Right weapon for the right mission and environment. There is no “shorter is best or longer is best.”
Though 7.5 is meant for .300 really. 10.3 is really pushing the bleeding edge of lack of effectiveness for 5.56
Use a m1 garand for clearing rooms. Got it
I'm going to assume if it couldn't perform the job it needs to perform the military wouldn't use it 😂 but you are right the biggest jump in velocity on barrel lengths is the jump between 10.3 and 11.5 that inch does make a big difference but if your within 100 yards and get hit by a 556 out of a 10.3 barrel it's going to be devastating. Your still getting 2500-2600 fps out of a 10.3 which will still cause fragmentation if it doesn't zip straight through you. Also people need to know there barrel twist and make sure they are using the correct grain bullet for their twist to get the maximum performance
lots of jihadist have met alah from an 10.3 or 10.5 barrel, but you what really matters is training
Everyone’s jumping on this mk18 is dead bandwagon but it’s still effective as hell in a lot of situations their plenty of bad dudes sleeping six feet deep that will attest to that.
Derringers left a lot dead to 😊
@@AllThingsLoud_ that’s why I still respect them lol different tools for different jobs 😅
So 10.5 I think is ok. Wouldn’t say it’s dead. Although personally, if I’m going below 14.5, I’m switching to 300blk. If you’re going 10.5, you’re not looking for long range and you’re not gonna get it. 5.56 was quite literally designed to penetrate a Russian helmet at 600 meters. If you’re going for a short cqb type weapon, might as well switch to something designed to hit hard up close.
There’s a lot of things to consider. Obviously 5.56 is a nato cartridge and 300blk is not. Should the Mk18 concept be dead to those who have more options? Maybe. I don’t like short barrels and 5.56. That’s just my opinion. In the armed forces where 5.56 is the intermediate cartridge of choice? Probably gonna stick around a while.
Mk18 is dead because i fucking cant find any online to buy 😢
I gave it an extra 2 inches and went with a 12.5 inch. Got one with a .223 Wylde barrel, and another in .300 Blackout both 12.5's and I love them
Mk18 with law folder fits in a backpack tho.
300 blackout is the way to go for shorter barrels.
10.3- 10.5 minimum for 223/556. Still has great ballistics. Glad you ditched the extra shorty barrel
Yeah but 5.56 out of a 7 inch barrel is just as deadly than a 9mm pcc. It carry’s more terminal velocity than a 9mm and still has the potential to penetrate soft body armor. For example a 7 inch ar15 is exactly the same size and length as a mp5. But nobody calls the mph useless. Plus the manual of arms is better.
If that’s what’s your thinking, I feel like 14.5 is the true way to go, if you’re only getting one rifle
Dude, I am going to be nice, but I am going to check you... Are you Prior Service? Did you fight in the GWOT?
Eh, people say this but its not a huge enough difference to actually matter.
Ahem, it’s supposed to be short for CQB…
Bad guy: AHHHHHH * and grabs your muzzle*
But if it’s short, you can’t do dat
So here's the thing civilians don't realize when they buy military style civilian market guns, the military doesn't use civilian ammo. Your "5.56" AR 15, shoots civilian .223 rounds, a military 5.56 is wayyy hotter then a civ round, shooting military ammo through your AR15 will damage it. So as a civilian the Mk18 build is probably not as effective as you'd like, but a tier 1 SOF MK18 is 10 times the rifle you have and I'm not even trying to be disrespectful. An M4 /Mk18/M16/C7/C8/ any other military rifle is built differently then a rifle you'd buy on the civilian market, and you can upgrade it your personal rifle to be better, but you won't have access to a lot of the stuff these tier one guys use, but you make an awesome point to beginners, short barrels are not always the answer and this is a huge reason why
Most AR15s that are made today are built to handle 5.56. Most of their parts roll off the same exact forges and machines that the military guns do. In fact I can't think of a single commercially available AR15 off the top of my head that can't, because no one wants to buy a gun that practically slices their ammo availability in half by limiting them to just .223.You think DD, Sig, LMT, KAC, etc are retooling all their shit to make an objectively inferior product for the commercial market when they can just make everything on the same tooling for cheaper and still charge a premium for it because of their name?
You can buy military M193 and M855 5.56 right now, made by Lake City (the same ammo plant that makes all the military's ammo), and shoot it through almost any competently built commercial AR15 and it will be fine.
AR15s are fighting rifles, making shit up about how apparently terrible they are (they aren't) helps absolutely no one.
Almost all of this is not true. That's not even how DoD contracts work. My civilian guns are better quality than my military issue ones. Military has access to certain prototypes, but for the most part, the stuff available on the civilian market is the exact same quality as military issue.
If you've never had to use a rifle to defend your your life then you have no business telling people on the internet what is good and what is bad
MK18 is for CQB, doesn't need large barrels, the shorter the barrel is, the better will be for CQB environment like a house, you're gonna be able to operate it better, with a long rifle in a CQB environment it's gonna be hard to you to handle it
dont listen to this guy. The MK18 upper is a very specific use barrel. As well as reliability and toughness.
It is absolutely meant for CQB engagements. between 5 feet and 500 feet. or greater. And its a pic rail so it can mount a flashlight/ir optics, ir laser system, a vert grip of some kind or angled foregrip whatever. regular laser or offsets.
And its an incredibly rigid upper. Itll take abuse and also withstand full-auto use.