14.5" or 16" barrel AR-15?

[herrwalther]

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.

Depending on what the ATF says about braces, this is an option I am considering. Take off the brace and put a foam cover on it. $10 per foam cap is a lot easier to swallow than all my pistol builds becoming illegal at the drop of ATF's hat.

 

[TacticalSpeed]

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.

Lots of misinformation out there.

All of my builds that are less than 26" OAL have a brace on them & I use the AFG, not VFG, on some. Next up is my 11.5" 5.56 upper. That will have another SBA3 brace on it. This time in FDE.

I'm likely going to do a 16" barrel with the build in question so I can use a stock. Have a Magpul SL-S & an MOE stock sitting around waiting to be used.

I do really enjoy my 10.5" barrel AR9, though. (Has a brace on it)
I got my FM 7.5" AR9 upper back today. Now I need to get back to the range & hope that it is actually fixed. It was fun to shoot for the few rounds it worked right.

 

[Bcwitt]

Say what you will. Superior ballistics in a more compacted platform. Less expensive to boot. That's win win.

 

[Peakbagger46]

Not worth jumping through the legal hoops for 1.5" less barrel. If I were going shorter than 16" I'd go with a 10" pistol AR and use an arm brace.

What hoops? A pined 14.5” is legal without a stamp and is easier to maneuver in houses without sacrificing meaningful external ballistics.

Want to try that 10” braced “pistol” for reliability or muzzle energy vs a 14.5? Didn’t think so.

 

[Uffdaphil]

Since you already have a go-to 16”, I would definitely do the pinned 14.5. With a lighter or Hanson profile barrel the balance is notably better. I only have one since I like shooting suppressed, but it’s a keeper.

For me braces are for 12.5” and under. But I have three SBR lowers for my favorite shorties.

 

[LiveLife]

14.5 and 16 are the same.

Build an 18, rifle gas, this time.

I started out with 20"/16" ARs and now have 18" .223 Wylde ARs with mid length gas tube, 16" 9mm/45ACP PCCs and 9mm AR pistol with Tailhook2 brace along with CMMG 22LR conversion kits.

 

[twarr1]

@CraigC , I wondered why is this guy choking that kid until I scrolled down further and saw the bottom of the pic.

 

[twarr1]

@GunnyUSMC - Every time you post pics of your guns I feel better about the $$$ I spend on mine. Thanks! Lol

 

[GunnyUSMC]

@GunnyUSMC - Every time you post pics of your guns I feel better about the $$$ I spend on mine. Thanks! Lol

I do tend to spend my money on things I like, and I do like ARs.
I have a few more ARs to build, just need to get around to it, the parts are in my shop. I’ve got seven or eighth stripped lowers.
I was going to build one with a 14.5” barrel, but a friend needed a barrel for a build so, I gave him my 14.5” barrel.