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Trying to decide what barrel length I should go with on my one and only AR build at the moment. I have heavier caliber rifles for impact and long distance. What distance does the 14.5 start losing effectiveness and accuracy? I am trying to build more of a lightweight tactical/defense/3 gun type rifle rather than a long distance MOA rifle.
I am also pondering a suppressor for this rifle.
Recommend going 16 inch as it will give you more flexibility for flash hiders, comps, and future suppressor mounts.
I thought it would be cool to have a 14.5". Pinned and welded YHM suppressor adapter in it. Then decided to put a Lantac Dragon on the rifle. So drilled it out and welded the comp on it. Then decided to change the forearm.
Long story short, I should've just put a 16" on the build. Totally not worth the hassle to have to keep the darn thing legal. Now, if you just do stuff to rifles and then leave it be, it would work for you. Apparently, I'm not that guy!
Oh, then I built another AR around the barrel, dedicating it to the YHM flash-hider/suppressor adapter. I have been looking a it again lately, though.....
SBR a 14.5" and you don't have to worry about pin and welding it... Or go 11.5" :)
Or get a can with a dedicated mount. That will make you think twice about switching flash hiders
You lose about 80 fps going down to a 14.5 vs 16. Not a lot. 16 is going to be more flexible since you don't have to pin the flash hider (unless you SBR). I have a 14.5, it's cool but also have several 16's and just wanted to be well rounded :-)
I like Kwando's idea of just SBR the shorter and the dedicated mount :)
If that's not an option then I would always go with the 16". Most flexible like the other guys are saying
Tactical/defense & 3 gun are different needs. As stated before, a normal 16" will be the easiest to change around and will work adequately (not optimally) for all those purposes.
So 16 it is.. if I get a suppressor for it should I be concerned about the extra weight at the muzzle and the barrel profile? For instance would POI be effected more if you stuck a suppressor on a pencil barrel vs a medium weight barrel?
Depends on your acceptable level of poi shift.
ive had an all steel can on the end of a 16" barrel for a couple years. Never had an issue with it. The barrel profile for that barrel is ....uhh...medium, I guess..
Not once on my deployments have I ever thought "Man, if only I had an extra inch and a half of barrel..."
I say save length where you can. I see more benefit in having a little less material swinging around in front of you when moving/shooting than in... what, an extra 80fps according to mtnrider?