OP
OP
14.5" or 16" barrel AR-15?
- Thread starter TacticalSpeed
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It would depend on what caliber your AR15 is, there are many calibers for the AR15 platform.
I own a .223/5.56 with a 7" barreled pistol, then there is a .300 blk pistol with a 8.5" barrel that I used to hut deer with. I now hunt with a 18" barreled 350 Legend rifle & there are many others.
I own a .223/5.56 with a 7" barreled pistol, then there is a .300 blk pistol with a 8.5" barrel that I used to hut deer with. I now hunt with a 18" barreled 350 Legend rifle & there are many others.
OP
OP
TacticalSpeed
member
Skylerbone
Member
Retro? Camo? Precision? The ones I’m happiest with had a purpose before all else, the rest thrown together like soup salad in a race to own more.
I’d like to do a lightweight BCG/JP Silent Capture/tuned gas next and see how flat a shooter I can come up with. That’s me though.
I’d like to do a lightweight BCG/JP Silent Capture/tuned gas next and see how flat a shooter I can come up with. That’s me though.
GunnyUSMC
Member
It always helps to be a little more clear on what you want other people’s opinions on. After reading several of your post, it appears that you plan to build a pistol. A 14.5” barrel with a pistol brace will give you something that is close to a carbide.
I much prefer a 10.5” barrel on a pistol. It keeps the gun short enough to use in the confines of a vehicle and long enough to use outside of a vehicle. If you have never taken a class where you fire from inside a vehicle, I highly recommend taking one.
I do prefer an SBR over a pistol due to the choice of better buttstocks and better stock adjustments. This is my 10.5” SBR. It wears a three prong flash hider now.
My son shooting my SBR.
I also have a 10” barrel carbide with a pin and welded flash hider. It a super fun gun to shoot.
I much prefer a 10.5” barrel on a pistol. It keeps the gun short enough to use in the confines of a vehicle and long enough to use outside of a vehicle. If you have never taken a class where you fire from inside a vehicle, I highly recommend taking one.
I do prefer an SBR over a pistol due to the choice of better buttstocks and better stock adjustments. This is my 10.5” SBR. It wears a three prong flash hider now.
My son shooting my SBR.
I also have a 10” barrel carbide with a pin and welded flash hider. It a super fun gun to shoot.
OP
OP
TacticalSpeed
member
Just range toys for me. the 16" I already have is the SHTF rifle
OP
OP
TacticalSpeed
member
Except I'm not going the tax stamp route so all of mine will have braces
GunnyUSMC
Member
I had to read several of your post to figure out that you were planning on building an AR pistol. You would have gotten better answers if you would have been more clear in your first post.
But if you go back and read my first post, I stated that I prefer a 10.5” barrel on an AR pistol, and reasons for my preference.
I didn’t say anything about you getting a tax stamp for an SBR. I just stated that I prefer a SBR over a pistol brace.
FL-NC
Member
-1.5 inches + either a $200 tax stamp and the drama that goes with it, or needing to be compliant through the use of a pistol brace and what regs go with that. Not worth it, IMO.
243winxb
Member
All the short barrels do is provide less velocity & more noise closer to my ears. The 14.5 barrel is short enough. If i could have a do over, i would take the 20" rifle & skip the M16A1 carbine. View attachment 1031746
Pin or welding something on to a 10"/14.5" bbl to make a legal rifle, make zero sense to me.
Thats 1.5 inch difference. Go 10" pistol. Makes more sense. Or does it.
Pin or welding something on to a 10"/14.5" bbl to make a legal rifle, make zero sense to me.
Thats 1.5 inch difference. Go 10" pistol. Makes more sense. Or does it.
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I have a 14.5" mid-length with a pinned battlecomp that doesn't require paperwork because the length is still 16 inches. I sold my 16" mid-length because I like the 14.5" better. Everyone that shoots it loves it but your mileage may vary.
Bcwitt
Member
Everybody raves about 556 ballistics figures (from a 20") then the first thing they do is cut 6" off of it & throw away the best thing 556 has to offer. If you really want compact high performance, mabey you should look @ an AK? X39's dont loose much velocity in a short barrel, and will always be 4 to 5 " shorter then same barrel on an AR (buffer tube). My 11 3/4" AR pistol is the same length as my folded AK 16" barrel rifle. Just some food for thought.
OP
OP
TacticalSpeed
member
Not stocking another caliber
Skylerbone
Member
Everybody doesn’t rave about the ballistics, they rave about the versatility of the platform. In a world of 1-trick ponies the AR stands shoulders above most whether in a 4” 9mm sprayer or 24” bull barrel 6.5 Creedmoor. Stuff any of those in yer AK (tongue in cheek).
Bcwitt
Member
Was just a thought. I wasn't harping on 15's. Lol
R.W.Dale
Member
Rumor has it you can still build a 20" AR-15
Which imo is the finest handling configuration of the family
Which imo is the finest handling configuration of the family
GunnyUSMC
Member
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The barrel length seems to be important, but the ATF is playing games with the 26" overall length. Shorter, it's an AR pistol, that usually means a 10.5" barrel. The loss in velocity isn't that much, the Army approved it for use in the 1960's. Before the M16 was issued.
But, under 26" means no vertical pistol grip in front. Angled, ok. Over 26" as a pistol then starts playing with Any Other Weapon, which is NOT a pistol and which cannot be loaded and transported concealed like a shorter pistol. There are laws about that, too, originally based on "road hunting" but which the ATF now uses for making things complicated.
For now, I'd go NFA legal over 16" or 10.5" pistol. The recent ATF comment period over the use of a new form 4999 complicates things as they will be working thru 200,000 comments before they post their determination in Jan 2022. And that will likely create more problems one way or another for AR pistols - but we simply don't know yet. The whole point was to outlaw Braces entirely.
I would not plan on being able to use a Brace in the way or style we presently see, and certainly not get financially struck for one that costs $100 or more. Is that a major loss, no. We can shoulder the buffer same as we could before,and for all that, a foam cover did most of it. It's not like 5.56 is a major bone breaker - when I was 17 we took a tour of Fort Leonard Wood - about 1970 - and the instructors where holding the butt plate to their chin and shooting it.
No big deal. A few years back somebody tried a cheek brace for the pistol which worked but never sold. Whether we keep or lose the Brace, it's not going to stop AR pistols. At one time they were allowed to have a carbine stock pinned short - things change and nobody should trust the ATF to stick to anything long.
But, under 26" means no vertical pistol grip in front. Angled, ok. Over 26" as a pistol then starts playing with Any Other Weapon, which is NOT a pistol and which cannot be loaded and transported concealed like a shorter pistol. There are laws about that, too, originally based on "road hunting" but which the ATF now uses for making things complicated.
For now, I'd go NFA legal over 16" or 10.5" pistol. The recent ATF comment period over the use of a new form 4999 complicates things as they will be working thru 200,000 comments before they post their determination in Jan 2022. And that will likely create more problems one way or another for AR pistols - but we simply don't know yet. The whole point was to outlaw Braces entirely.
I would not plan on being able to use a Brace in the way or style we presently see, and certainly not get financially struck for one that costs $100 or more. Is that a major loss, no. We can shoulder the buffer same as we could before,and for all that, a foam cover did most of it. It's not like 5.56 is a major bone breaker - when I was 17 we took a tour of Fort Leonard Wood - about 1970 - and the instructors where holding the butt plate to their chin and shooting it.
No big deal. A few years back somebody tried a cheek brace for the pistol which worked but never sold. Whether we keep or lose the Brace, it's not going to stop AR pistols. At one time they were allowed to have a carbine stock pinned short - things change and nobody should trust the ATF to stick to anything long.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
I put this one together with a 14.5" P&W upper and really don't see the point over a 16". Just makes it harder to change your muzzle device.
However, the braced 10.5" is the bees knees! Can't wait to get a suppressor on it.
For me the 7.5" is silly on a 5.56 but it will keep your eyebrows from looking like Lee Marvin. It is now a .300BLK.
However, the braced 10.5" is the bees knees! Can't wait to get a suppressor on it.
For me the 7.5" is silly on a 5.56 but it will keep your eyebrows from looking like Lee Marvin. It is now a .300BLK.
Varminterror
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Super barf.
Skylerbone
Member
That’s one way to let the guy know you don’t negotiate with terrorists lol.
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Varminterror
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Incorrect.
A firearm designed and built over 26” which is not designed specifically to be concealed on one’s person and not actively concealed on one’s person AND not including a buttstock designed to be fired from the shoulder is NOT an AOW, it’s a Title 1 “Firearm.”
Some states do preclude concealed carry of “specialty pistols” within the definitions of their constitutional or permitted CCH laws (for example KS), but these State laws have absolutely nothing to do with the NFA, or AOW’s.
CraigC
Sixgun Nut
What are you talking about, I saved Ron Jeremy from the evil terrorist Macaulay Culkin!
Lol! Well said.
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